Comcast customers suffer e-mail outageBroadband subcribers from Philadelphia to California complain that they can't access their e-mail accounts--on the same day the cable giant revamps a Web-based version.
Comcast's broadband Internet subscribers on Thursday experienced outages with their e-mail accounts--on the same day that the cable giant revamped a Web-based version of the service.
On Thursday afternoon, Comcast posted a notice on its e-mail page, apologizing for the loss of service.
"We are currently in the process of upgrading Webmail," the notice read. "We apologize for the inconvenience. Our customer service representatives have no additional information at this time. Please try back later."
Subscribers began posting complaints on Comcast's message boards and on other online forums, such as Broadbandreports.com. In their messages, people said they had no access to their accounts. The complaints related to Comcast systems from Philadelphia, where the company is headquartered, to California.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Comcast on Thursday also launched a redesign of its Web mail service, which lets members read their e-mail through a separate Web site, in much the same way that America Online users can read their messages from the Web.
The updated mail service will feature cosmetic changes to the interface and "improved navigation," according to a notice that Comcast sent to its subscribers.
A Comcast representative was not immediately available for comment.
Circuit City to Carry Vonage Phones in 600 StoresVonage, which provides inexpensive phone service as an add-on for customers with high-speed Internet lines, on Thursday said that it has reached its first deal with a national retailer to sell its services.
Vonage, of Edison, New Jersey, said that Circuit City Stores Inc.
will begin selling its services in 600 retail outlets as well as online.
Vonage, which has sold more than 100,000 of its innovative Internet phones since it began offering service two years ago, now expects upward of 300,000 customers by the end of this year, higher than its previous goal of 250,000 for 2004. Retail exposure should attract additional subscribers, founder and Chief Executive Jeffrey Citron said.
"The benefit of retail is that you don't have to wait," he said in an interview.
Vonage allows customers to hook up a regular telephone handset into their high-speed Internet connection. For a small monthly fee, calls over the Internet are free or incur minimal charges. The concept is expected to attract competition.
Analyst Charles Golvin of Forrester Research called Vonage's move into retail "something of a land grab as they begin to see some competitors." AT&T has begun testing its own voice over Internet service, he noted. AT&T could offer such services nationwide later in 2004 or 2005, he said.
It also marks a move to embrace a new audience beyond the early adopters -- "geeks and friends of geeks" that have formed its loyal initial audience. Retail sales clerks can provide the kind of handholding that less technical customers require.
Circuit City already sells a lot of home networking gear, Golvin noted. "As home networking goes a little bit more mainstream, Vonage is a natural (extension)," he said.
"The move into retail stores is anticipating that next step," Golvin said. In effect, Vonage can reach a self-selected audience of pre-existing high-speed Internet users.
Golvin estimates there are eight million households in the United States with broadband connections and multiple personal computers -- the two basic requirements for both wireless home networks and Vonage phones. Some 21 million U.S. households in all have high-speed connections, the Forrester analyst said.
Offering calling at prices that undercut traditional phone companies, Vonage faces challenges from some U.S. regulators who argue it should lose its Internet exemption and meet the regulatory demands of traditional phone service providers.
Circuit City customers can expect to walk in and pick up a Vonage starter kit for $99, a price that covers equipment, two months of free service and waives the normal activation fee.
After the two-month free service ends, customers can pay $15 for a 500-minute-a-month calling plan, $25 for local unlimited calling and $35 for unlimited calling throughout the United States and Canada. Calls to Europe can run as low as two cents a minute.
The $99 price is at or below what customers signing up for the service at Vonage's own site will pay, Citron said.
Holy Big Brother Batman!Grocery store goes to fingerprint payments
Piggly Wiggly debuts feature, privacy expert slams new technology
The Piggly Wiggly grocery chain has announced it will begin offering a high-tech payment feature allowing customers in several stores to pay using their fingerprints.
WorldNetDaily: Grocery store goes to fingerprint payments
tommEE's Fry's Deal of the DayI was checking out the Friday's Edition of the LA Times and the Fry's Ads are my favorites. Let me show you what I consider the deal of the day. In the bottom corner, there us an ad fir Western Digital 120 GB Hard Drive, 8MB Cache, 7200 RPM for 108.99 out the door. There is also a rebate of $50. Final Price $58.99.
LA Times Shopping Channel
