Comcast Enhances Broadband Service With New Speeds and More Applications for 2005

Comcast Enhances Broadband Service With New Speeds and More Applications for 2005 Comcast Kicks Off the New Year with Formal Announcement of New Speeds - and Unveils Plans for New Online Services for All High-Speed Internet Customers WHITE MARSH, Md., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast, the nation's number one broadband provider, is upgrading its two residential speed tiers, as it prepares to introduce a full suite of innovative online services and products throughout 2005. The new speeds and innovative features will be available for all Comcast High-Speed Internet customers on Tuesday, January 18, 2005. The speed enhancements will take effect in the Baltimore-Annapolis Area in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Charles County, the City of Annapolis, Harford County and Howard County. On the Delmarva Peninsula, residents in the greater metropolitan areas of Cambridge, Ocean City and Salisbury, as well as Kent County and Sussex County in Delaware will see increased speed in their Comcast High-Speed Internet service. In the Washington Metro/Virginia Region, the free speed enhancements will occur in Montgomery County and Prince George's County in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Alexandria, Arlington, Reston and Prince William County in Northern Virginia. The speed enhancements include increases in both upstream and downstream speeds to enable faster uploads and downloads of large files (photos, videos, music), more online and multiplayer gaming, easier home networking, and new innovative online services. These speed increases will be offered to customers at no additional charge. Comcast's current 3Mbps downstream / 256kbps upstream tier will be upgraded to 4Mbps / 384kbps, and its 4Mbps downstream / 384kbps upstream tier will jump to a faster 6Mbps/768kbps. The speed increases will be automatic, which means customers are NOT required to download any special files or upgrade their connections. Comcast's Winning Strategy: It's Not Just Speed, But What You Can Do With It Comcast set the industry benchmark for speed in late 2003, when it announced it was doubling its downstream speed from 1.5Mbps to 3Mbps, for all customers, at no additional charge. Comcast then quickly followed up this news with the introduction of its award-winning, built-for-broadband portal - Comcast.net - followed by a series of new services, applications and content partnerships ... all focused on enabling Comcast's large base of broadband customers to take advantage of their new speeds. These services targeted Comcast's six key customer areas of interest (gaming, kids, communication, sports, movies and music) to showcase the benefits and value of a broadband lifestyle and included: -- Comcast Video Mail - which enables Comcast High-Speed Internet customers to easily create video messages up to 45 seconds in length, using their personal computer and a webcam. -- Comcast PhotoShow Deluxe - which allows users to create multimedia slideshows as a special way to share their digital photos. -- EA SPORTS Fantasy Football presented by Comcast High-Speed Internet - which goes beyond the traditional Fantasy Football experience by packaging the service with Comcast Video Mail and its online Sports Channel. -- Games on Demand - which leverages the speed and convenience of Comcast High-Speed Internet, to offer gamers over 100 titles in categories ranging from action to education, with new titles added every month. This strategy proved its success in 2004, culminating in a record Q3 when Comcast added over 549,000 high-speed Internet customers - the highest number ever for any broadband ISP. Mirroring this successful 2004 strategy, today's announcement paves the way for new product introductions throughout 2005. Comcast's 2005 roadmap includes the infusion of video into many new and existing applications, including Video Instant Messaging. Comcast also plans to continue expanding its online Music Channel - to become the most comprehensive online music offering to date. More than 62 percent of Comcast High-Speed Internet customers actively engage in online music, and music content is among the most popular on the Comcast.net consumer portal, accounting for 100 percent of the Top 10 Video Searches on the site. Comcast also is planning enhancements to its online Sports, Kids, Gaming, and Fantasy Sports offerings. About Comcast Cable Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. With a presence in 22 of the top 25 United States markets, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what's important in their lives. The company's 59,000 employees serve more than 21 million customers. Source: Comcast CONTACT: Sandy Steeves for Comcast, +1-410-568-8806 or asteeves@nevinspr.com ------- Profile: International Entertainment