Cable's long road ahead

Where do you want to go today? In its latest gamble, Microsoft spent $212.5 million for an investment in cable Net access provider Road Runner, and the software giant also is in talks with Telstra about a cable joint venture. But the nascent cable modem business faces competition from DSL and other high-speed Net access technologies.

Telstra, Microsoft in cable talks The Australian company says it is in talks with the software giant about a joint venture using the telco's cable network. Microsoft's cable gambit news analysis Having a cool $10 billion on hand, as the software giant does, makes it a lot easier to decide "where you want to go today." Microsoft buys into Road Runner update Microsoft and Compaq will invest a combined $425 million in high-speed Internet access via cable service Road Runner. Cable firms ride PC-TV wave news analysis A small black box continues to redefine the mission of the cable television industry. FCC: Cable boxes must be sold update The FCC votes to mandate the sale of cable set-top boxes at retail stores, a decision that has broad implications for consumer electronics and PC companies alike.