CUPERTINO, CALIF. - Concentric Network Corporation and WebTV Networks Inc. announced today that the Concentric Network has been selected as the first preferred Internet service provider for WebTV’s revolutionary Internet TV service offering.
WebTV will bring the Internet into American family living rooms with an affordable and easy-to-use set-top device that will make surfing the World Wide Web as simple as channel surfing. Concentric Network will provide dialup access to the WebTV set-top boxes through over 200 dialup access points in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. The network covers an estimated 95 percent of the U.S. urban population.
"Concentric will provide the network connectivity required to bring the content of the WebTV Network and the Internet home to the millions of customers who have chosen to stay away from the Internet because they can’t afford a computer or are intimidated by the idea of configuring a computer," said Henry R. Nothhaft, Concentric’s president and chief executive officer. "The quality, ease and affordability of WebTV make this a perfect entry point for that entire category of consumers."
"Concentric Network’s quality of service and wide dial-up availability made it an obvious choice as one of our key Internet service provider partners," said Steve Perlman, Web TV’s president and CEO. "Concentric worked with us to come up with a service and pricing model that makes sense for WebTV."
WebTV came to Concentric with its technology and needs for network connectivity, and Concentric crafted a customized solution that involves providing access on a wholesale basis to WebTV for resale to its end customers. Concentric is in the business of providing Internet and intranet service solutions to individuals as well as to companies like WebTV.
About WebTV
WebTV Networks Inc. is based in Palo Alto, Calif., and is comprised of two elements that work together to provide an integrated, TV-based Internet offering: The WebTV Reference Design, a suite of patent-pending standards-compliant enabling technologies and guidelines for the design of set-top boxes and integrated devices that can be priced aggressively for the consumer marketing; and subscription-based WebTV online service that makes it possible for set-top box customers to use their televisions to easily browse existing and future Internet content, as well as communicate through electronic mail.
About Concentric Network Corporation
Concentric Network Corp., based in Cupertino, Calif., is a leading provider of custom communications solutions designed to connect people to information, entertainment and other people. Founded in 1991, the company is privately held. The company has designed and is building a "next-generation" network. Today, the network provides low latency and fast file transfers using high-performance frame relay technology. Delivering access at speeds of up to 28.8 kilobits per second, the Concentric Network offers fast, high-quality, individual dial-up service to consumers in the United States and Canada and network access on a custom basis to businesses across North America.