Qwest Communications will begin offering a standalone DSL service starting 28-Feb-2004 regardless of whether they have a voice phone line with Qwest or not. Qwest is the first major telecommunications company to make this service available to customers. Customers can purchase Qwest Choice DSL Deluxe with MSN Premium without Qwest phone service for $49.99 per month. Customers who want to select an Internet service provider (ISP) other than MSN can purchase Qwest Choice DSL Deluxe without phone service for $33 and then select their ISP of choice (Qwest has more than 450 participating ISPs region-wide).
Qwest believes the service will be attractive for customers who have decided only to rely on their mobile phone but still need broadband connectivity. Qwest also said the stand-alone DSL would complement is forthcoming consumer VoIP service, which it hopes to launch across its 14-state territory by the end of 2004.
“Customers are telling us that they want greater flexibility when it comes to selecting communications services, which is why we decided to offer DSL with no phone service,” said Richard C. Notebaert, Qwest chairman and CEO. http://www.qwest.com
