AT&T Corp. announced yesterday "that it too was officially
joining the pack" of companies offering consumers and businesses
a way onto the Internet. While AT&T is a "latecomer to the
Internet world," according to Elizabeth Corcoran of the
WASHINGTON POST, the company's base of 90 million home and
business customers has analysts believing that "it could still
become a dominant player in the on-line world." Among the plans:
Within 60 days, AT&T will begin testing "WorldNet Services,"
which will allow customers to reach the Net via phone lines;
software will be provided by Netscape Communications; AT&T will
help businesses and others develop content for the Web and online
services, ImagiNation and Interchange (WASHINGTON POST, 8/16).
Thomas Pincince, senior analyst at Forrester Research: "We
expect within the next six months AT&T will be well on its way to
becoming the dominant Internet access provider. No one else can
match their reach and their ability to target business and
residential customers" (Peter Lewis, N.Y. TIMES, 8/16). Netscape
stock, which debuted on Wall Street after their IPO last week,
jumped 3 3/8 to 54 5/8 (N.Y. POST, 8/16).
FOX GOES ON THE WEB: Fox Broadcasting has created "original
interactive video and design elements" for its new Web site, FOX
WORLD. The site's three main components include FOX
Entertainment, FOX Kids Network and FOX Sports. The sports
location takes advantage of Fox's deals with the NFL and NHL to
deliver info, stats and news. According to a FOX WORLD release,
"Users will have access to real-time news feeds; statistics on
all teams and individual players for all sports; inside reports
and hot tips on all the different teams and leagues; E-mail to
FOX Sports talent; live chats and more." Address:
http://www.foxnetwork.com (FOX).
