Local phone firms push new Net services

 

latest developments

Following unsuccessful attempts to be big players in the dial-up Net market, Baby Bell companies are looking to tap the high-speed market with new deals. "This project will allow us to achieve the kind of growth we're looking for with DSL." - Steve McGaw, SBC managing director for corporate development

Bells wax creative for more customers Desperate to make inroads to the mass Internet market, the big local phone companies are getting creative and offering new services to stay competitive. SBC, Prodigy team to boost Net access offerings The companies say they have combined their consumer and small business Internet operations and that SBC has taken an equity stake in Prodigy. US West plans TV-based Web services update The local phone service plans to unveil a new package of high-speed Net services aimed at the broad swath of the consumer market that hasn't yet taken to the Internet. Previous coverage Bells bet on DSL for new high-tech image Image is everything in the rapidly evolving telecommunications world, and big local phone companies--classically known to move at a snail's pace--have needed a makeover for some time.