OCTOBER 24, 2007 -- Verizon (search for Verizon) has introduced a symmetrical 20-Mbit/sec offering of its FiOS Internet service for consumers.
Verizon claims the offering is the first of its kind commercially available to U.S. consumers on a mass scale. It became available yesterday in parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Verizon plans to offer similar symmetrical services "soon" in the 13 other states where the company offers FiOS Internet service, and to introduce a similar small-business offer.
The equally fast upload and download speeds of the new symmetrical FiOS service enhances interactive services like video conferencing, online multi-player gaming, telemedicine, electronic home monitoring, online work collaboration, data backups, and more, the carrier says.
"Verizon's new symmetric service is a smart response to the changing usage patterns of high-speed Internet subscribers," said Vince Vittore, senior analyst with Yankee Group. "We believe that as user-generated content continues to expand and telecommuting increases in popularity, upstream speed will become just as important as downstream for all users."
The new FiOS service is available in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut at prices starting at $64.99 a month. The symmetrical service includes an Internet security suite plus 1 GB of network-based backup at no additional charge. Customers who subscribe to the new Internet service can upgrade their backup to as much as 50 GB.
Visit Verizon