@Home to make more news

Sixty information services in the television, print, and Web media today joined @Home in its quest to provide high-speed Internet access through cable systems.

The content providers announced today include CUC International (Shoppers Advantage), Discovery Channel Online, E! Online, SportsLine, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, ZD Net, and CNET: The Computer Network. These companies will help @Home offer a wide range of new cable Internet services, allowing customers to bank, videoconference, check stocks, receive sports scores, and go shopping online.

It is another step toward providing what @Home has been promising for more than a year but not yet delivered. A ballyhooed roll-out planned for this spring was postponed for this fall.

@Home faces competition from the telephone companies and other Internet service providers. The company has been testing its cable-modem service in Fremont and Sunnyvale, California, spokeswoman Amy Bonetti stated. It plans to launch its first full-scale service in Fremont this fall, Bonetti added. @Home expects to roll out its first service shortly after Labor Day.

Customers will use cable modems to get Internet connections through systems used for cable TV transmissions, which will send the data to their home PCs. Customers will be charged $30 to $40 per month on top of their normal cable bill for @Home's proprietary service, Bonetti said.

Three cable partners, Tele-Communications Incorporated, Comcast, and Cox Communications will be offering the service to their cable customers. In addition to Fremont, service is slated for Arlington Heights, Illinois; Hartford, Connecticut; Orange County, California, and Baltimore.

The relationships announced today are part of @Home's newly formed Media Development Group, and the company will continue to add partners.

"The Media Development Program is a great opportunity to work closely with leading Internet content providers to create new and compelling applications that take full advantage of our high-speed network," @Home president and CEO Tom Jermoluk said in a statement.

Program participants develop customized applications for @Home using the company's technologies. In return for their participation, they receive "significant promotion" in the service.