@Home Status Update Q1 1996.MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 1996--In a teleconference with key industry influencers @Home today discussed achievements and directions in the company's efforts to deliver cable-based Internet solutions. Topics covered included an articulation articulation In phonetics, the shaping of the vocal tract (larynx, pharynx, and oral and nasal cavities) by positioning mobile organs (such as the tongue) relative to other parts that may be rigid (such as the hard palate) and thus modifying the airstream to produce speech of @Home's technology direction, partnerships and content, and initial availability of the service. Home's Technology Direction Numerous companies are jumping on the Internet access See how to access the Internet. bandwagon band·wag·on n. 1. An elaborately decorated wagon used to transport musicians in a parade. 2. Informal A cause or party that attracts increasing numbers of adherents: this year, including telephone companies, cable operators and even satellite communications firms. Many are promising high speed access to existing Internet resources which may overburden o·ver·bur·den tr.v. o·ver·bur·dened, o·ver·bur·den·ing, o·ver·bur·dens 1. To burden with too much weight; overload. 2. To subject to an excessive burden or strain; overtax. n. 1. the infrastructure. "The Internet was never designed to convey the huge amounts of rich multimedia content that is being posted on the World Wide Web today," said Milo Milo, athlete of ancient Greece Milo (mī`lō) or Milon (mī`lŏn), fl. 500 B.C., athlete of ancient Greece, b. Crotona. Medin, vice president, network for @Home. "So adding thousands of users with 14.4 modems, ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. or even cable modems cable modem Modem used to convert analog data signals to digital form and vise versa, for transmission or receipt over cable television lines, especially for connecting to the Internet. is like putting more cars on a freeway. Even a sportscar is relegated to 5 miles per hour in a traffic jam." To address this challenge, @Home is delivering more than just fast Internet access via cable. The company is currently building its own network to handle high-speed, multimedia Internet traffic Internet traffic is the flow of data around the Internet. It includes web traffic, which is the amount of that data that is related to the World Wide Web, along with the traffic from other major uses of the Internet, such as electronic mail and peer-to-peer networks. . This infrastructure includes two major components: a backbone-the information pipeline that allows national and international communications and information transport, and regional data centers-strategically located computer servers that will store data from around the world in local areas to speed access to customers. "Unlike the existing Internet, our network will be proactively managed," Medin said. "That means that as usage grows we can strategically add bandwidth where it is needed. The fundamental characteristics of cable, like the ability to add channels and increase capacity, make that possible." Partnerships and Content The key to @Home's success going forward, say Medin and Doherty, will be the company's ability to develop partnerships with other industry leaders, provide great content, and deliver a product that provides high quality, performance and ease of use. "As many people know, we have been working with Netscape to develop our @Home browser," Doherty said. "What people may not know is that we are also collaborating with Netscape to develop an open platform for publishing the new kinds of multimedia content that will be possible with the advent of our @Home network." The company has relationships with other software developers, including Macromedia, to explore new opportunities for on-line video, audio, gaming and other types of programming. @Home is also in discussions with a number of companies that develop content for the World Wide Web, and they expect to make some significant announcements in those areas later this year. @Home is currently working very closely with its primary cable partner Tele-Communications, Inc., and is working with additional cable operators interested in delivering the @Home service. The company did not comment regarding any potential negotiations or agreements. Availability The company is currently testing the @Home service in Sunnyvale. Home is also proceeding with testing of the service in a number of other markets throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The company still expects the service will be available in several areas this year. "We have extended our testing phase in Sunnyvale," said Sean Doherty, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. for @Home Network. "And, we are currently working toward phased rollouts in a number of additional U.S. markets." @Home, founded in May 1995, is a joint venture between Tele-Communications, Inc., and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a premier venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California Menlo Park is a city in San Mateo County, California in the United States of America. It is located at latitude 37°29' North, longitude 122°9' East. Menlo Park had 30,785 inhabitants as of the 2000 U.S. Census. . With headquarters in Mountain View, @Home's mission is to provide high-speed Internet See broadband. access to personal computers via cable technology. Visit @Home's web site at http://www.home.net -0- Note to Editors: At Home Corporation uses the "@" symbol as part of its service mark "@Home Network." The company understands that some publishing systems are not capable of printing or transmitting this symbol. In that event, please refer to us as At Home Corporation or At Home Corp. If you have any questions regarding the usage of the At Home Corp. name or the @Home Network service mark, please contact Kelly Schwager at Cunningham Communication, Inc. 408/764-0783. The proper name of the company issuing this news release has an "at" symbol preceding the word Home. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems. CONTACT: Cunningham Communication, Inc. Kelly Schwager, 408/764-0783 kellys@ccipr.com |
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