Deutsche Telekom now has 3.4 million customers - New technical measures extend reach - FastPath setting now available to reduce response times for online gamers - Xbox, the first online games console, joins Deutsche Telekom's offering - T-DSL 1500 variant now offers twice the upstream bandwidth with max. 384 kbit/s - Symmetrical T-DSL Business option now available at all T-DSL sites At CeBIT 2003, Deutsche Telekom reported continued strong growth of its T-DSL high-speed Internet product. 3.4 million customers are already using one of the two T-DSL access variants (max. 768/128 kbit/s) or T-DSL 1500 (max. 1504/192 kbit/s). For the five million potential customers and, in some cases, customers waiting in the "area" (network periphery), the adoption of technical measures to improve the reach has seen T-DSL coverage extended to around 4.5 km from where the customer lives to the Deutsche Telekom exchange. At CeBIT, Deutsche Telekom unveiled its offering for the online gaming community: FastPath for T-DSL reduces the signal delay (the so-called ping time) and as such offers increased chances for action games. Also new at CeBIT was Deutsche Telekom's option for its T-DSL 1500 line: users that upload large amounts of data now have an upstream connection that is twice as fast, offering max. 384 kbit/s. The symmetrical variant of T-DSL Business - with no physical link to a T-ISDN line - can now also be implemented to meet customer requirements in the entire T-DSL rollout area. The solution provides six scalable bandwidths of maximum 256 to 2048 kbit/s respectively.
Member of the Deutsche Telekom Board of Management, Josef Brauner summarizes the strategic approach of the fixed-network division, T-Com : "Now our most pressing task is to make residential and business users aware of the added value offered by broadband access in the fixed network - and we intend to do this with tailored-made offerings - and where the technical line requirements are met, we'll have a T-DSL line up-and-running in a few days, for example."
Fast response times with FastPath "FastPath for T-DSL" was another facility unveiled by Deutsche Telekom at CeBIT that is ideally suited to online gaming. The standard setting selected for data transmission to provide effective error correction means excessive response times with action games where fast response times are essential. The optional "FastPath" setting provides the answer. As soon as an order is placed online, a check is run to establish whether FastPath for T-DSL can be activated on the line in question. Activation entails a one-off charge of EUR 24.99 - plus a monthly charge of EUR 0.99. The new "FastPath for T-DSL" facility can only be ordered through www.telekom.de.
Xbox games console even more attractive thanks to T-DSL Games console fans in Europe can now also pit themselves against other gamers live over the Internet. The Xbox developed by Microsoft is the first online games console. Just two weeks after the marketing launch, 250,000 gamers have been enticed onto the Internet in the USA. In collaboration with Microsoft, Deutsche Telekom is offering at CeBIT a gamer pack in two variants for the first time. In addition to the Xbox, the basic package includes a T-DSL line, broadband modem and starter kit. The starter kit includes a CD-ROM so the user can register, a userID, two online games, a memory card as well as a headset to communicate with other gamers. The basic package costs EUR 299 to buy. Compared with buying the items separately, customers save EUR 129.98. Users will also need to pay the monthly T-DSL usage charge. Anyone that already has an Xbox can opt for the upgrade package. For EUR 59.98, the pack includes the starter kit plus a T-DSL line and broadband modem. With this option customers also save EUR 120 compared with buying the items separately. A broadband T-DSL line is required to use the live games. Customers can not just use the Xbox as a games console. The unit is also a DVD player that can be used to play both music CDs and DVD movies. Both variants of the gamer pack can be purchased exclusively from T-Punkt shops.
Upstream "twin turbo" with max. 384 kbit/s as an option with T-DSL 1500 The optional double upstream speed with T-DSL 1500 launched at CeBIT with support for up to 384 kbit/s instead of up to 192 kbit/s saves semi-professional users or small and medium-sized business customers both time and money by allowing them to transmit large amounts of data or e-mail file attachments rapidly in the upstream direction. The ideal solution if you need to upload digital photos or film, run your own webcam or share files, for example. The one-off installation charge is EUR 24.99. Users will also be charged an additional EUR 1.99 a month for this service.
Symmetrical T-DSL Business provides high transmission performance The distinct advantage of symmetrical T-DSL Business lies in its high transmission performance. Anyone that needs to send or receive large amounts of data on a daily basis requires reliable links. Symmetrical T-DSL Business is a complete package comprising broadband Internet access up to 2048 kbit/s coupled with relevant Internet value-added services such as access ID, web card, e-mail addresses, domain name and exclusive access to the T-DSL Business Portal. Using the six symmetrical variants of T-DSL Business, every computer in a company can access the Internet at the same time thanks to multiterminal support. Users are charged not on the basis of usage time but data actually transferred. The essential advantage is that users can always remain online and be contacted at any time.
Information on the costs and availability of T-DSL/T-DSL 1500 including FastPath and the double upstream variant with support for max. 384 kbit/s can be found on the Internet at www.telekom.de/t-dsl or by calling the toll-free number 0800 33 09000. Alternatively just visit one of the around 480 T-Punkt shops. Details on the symmetrical T-DSL Business offering can be obtained by calling the toll-free hotline on 0800 33 05400 (fax: 0800 33 05409).
Additional information for journalists: www.telekom.de/presse