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DAVID CONNELL
StarBand Communications, a joint venture of Gilat Satellite Networks, Microsoft and EchoStar Communications, has released the first two-way broadband Internet service via satellite.
StarBand is the first company to offer such a service, beating out efforts from DirecTV and America Online, which hopes to release a similar service at the end of this year or early next.
Starband-ready Compaq PCs will be sold at Microsoft Internet Centers in Radio Shack stores. The service will eventually be bundled with EchoStar's DISH Network satellite TV service and is now being sold by selected DISH Network dealers. The company is hoping to reach consumers who cannot get digital subscriber lines or cable modems with the satellite-delivered service.
Hughes Network Systems also unveiled the latest version of its DirecPC satellite-delivered Internet system, which relies on a phone connection for its return path. The new system has an improved electronic programming guide for simpler navigation and increased support for Windows 2000 and Windows ME, as well as home networking.
The new version also establishes a "reference platform" for future system enhancements such as a satellite return channel.
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