November 24, 1999 Web posted at: 10:43 a.m. EST (1543 GMT) by David Legard

From...

(IDG) -- US West this week announced a series of products and services aimed at raising Internet penetration of U.S. consumers from 40% to the level of penetration achieved by the television set -- 95%.

US West is introducing Web-tone -- the Internet equivalent of dial tone -- according to the company's President and CEO, Sol Trujillo. US West is offering a TV-based Internet service that has a unified messaging service for e-mail, voice mail and faxes, and a TV that can double as a phone.

"People will be able to access information and communication services on their terms," Trujillo says. "[This is] a new set of services that will finally make all these high-tech devices - PC, TV, telephone and fax machine - work together."

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At the heart of the new bundle is WebVision -- software which integrates high-speed digital subscriber line (DSL) or dial-up Internet access and traditional phone services with existing TV programming.

US West also says it will:

• Widen the Web by offering Internet appliances that enable 'Net access anyway consumers want, via computer, telephone or TV.

• Offer 'Net applications that integrate consumers' e-mail and voice mail, prevent computer viruses, allow them to develop and share photos online, and access entertainment.

• Expand the e-commerce world by giving consumers the tools they need to comparison shop online, access consumer rating information, find local businesses online and do real-time stock trading.

The integration of services and simplifying access will be the driver for attracting a different range of consumers to the Web, according to Joe Zell, president of US West's high-speed data division.

"We think that we are going to open up the Internet to a whole new set of users," Zell says. "With this WebVision experience we are going to simplify peoples' life with Web messaging and protect people from Web viruses."

US West has over two million miles of fiber, with 40,000 miles laid down this year alone, according to Trujillo. Already, four million customers and their lines are qualified for DSL service, a number that US West will increase through continued investment, Trujillo says.

"Next year we are going to spend hundreds of millions of additional dollars," he says.

US West is in the process of merging with Qwest Communications. The merger should be approved by the second quarter of 2000, US West says.