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From: peter@ficc.ferranti.com (peter da silva)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: A Choice, and Then a Choice
Message-ID: <13834@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 20 Oct 90 13:14:10 GMT
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In article <13761@accuvax.nwu.edu> synsys!jeffj@uunet.uu.net writes:

> "[Summary of the argument for allowing BOCs to provide information
> services and long distance, familiar to most tuning in here.]  Let
> Congress know that you want the right to choose. And, you want it
> now."

SouthWestern Bell has already implemented such a service in Houston,
under the name SourceLine. They did so well at it that it's now out of
business and a commercial competitor, U.S.Videotel, has taken over.
The service is simply horrible, and a lot of people are signing up for
the "free" terminals then calling a local BBS that has installed V.23
compatible modems.

I wouldn't worry too much. USV and Prodigy are the bottom of the
barrel as far as such services go. I think it'll be like when AT&T
went into the computer business... all the monopolistic might in the
world won't help if you're embedded in the Bell Corporate Culture.

SouthWestern Bell *still* hasn't a clue as to what a BBS really is.


Peter da Silva.  
+1 713 274 5180. 
peter@ferranti.com