CallNet debuts ISDN deal

NEWS CallNet is betting on continued demand for ISDN lines by offering free installation, a free terminal adapter, and 37 free hours a month. The company said potential customers often fail to understand how they can get ISDN access. By offering free installation and slightly reduced charges CallNet hopes to encourage more people to sign up. The company provides services for 26 of the free ISPs in the UK as well as having its own subscribers. Neil Martin, operations manager at CallNet, said: "Originally we thought of this for our own customers, but it will be attractive for ISPs to offer it as well. As this market matures, so the free ISPs have to offer decent service levels - not just free access." He predicted it will be taken up by serious home users and smaller SMEs. On whether customers would be interested in signing up to an ISDN service when DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is just round the corner, Martin said customers could be upgraded to DSL when it is possible. He also claimed there is a lot of ignorance about ISDN connectivity among customers. The new service aims to avoid this problem. Chris Lewis, research director at Yankee Group Europe, said: "The big difference between ISDN and DSL is that ISDN is here now. When DSL comes along it will be attractive but until we get the local loop unbundled - at least eighteen months from now - it won't happen." He added that the real issue is price - if DSL arrives at around $50 a month, carriers would prefer to keep users on metered lines like ISDN. For more information see http://www.callnetuk.com/digital .