TrueStream enters market to offer you a choice on high-speed service

A Los Angeles based Internet company has started this week to provide only high-speed Internet services anywhere that AT&T provides service.

DSL Extreme offers its TrueStream service by piggybacking onto the AT&T network. While it offers similar Internet service as AT&T and others, it targets the so-called "cord cutters" who only use mobile devices, said George Mitsopoulos, chief operating offer of DSL Extreme and its parent company IKANO Communications. The company is different from the many others out there as they do not bundle phone services, regular Internet and other services.

"We have had a long-standing partnership with AT&T, but we offer unbundled service and go after a lot of the people who are referred to as the cord cutters, the people who have dropped the landline service and are only mobile," Mitsopoulos said.

Illinois is one of 21 states where DSL Extreme recently has launched TrueStream. The company already has about 100,000 residential and business clients and aims to grow to about 60 million customer locations by 2015, he said.

While DSL Extreme competes with AT&T and others, its customer service and no bandwidth caps will distinguish it, he said.

"Yes, we compete with AT&T on some levels, but it also gives consumers a choice," he said.

TrueStream offers Internet and data service with enhanced broadband speeds and wireless capability through an advanced digital fiber-optic network. No phone line is required. The only equipment needed is a wireless gateway router, which is rented for a monthly fee. Prices range from $17.95 per month and up, depending on the speed selected. TrueStream download speeds go up to about 75 megabytes per second, he said.

TrueStream service comes with 10 email accounts and 70 gigabytes of storage, as well as anti-spam filtering, online account access and 24/7 technical support.

A one-year contract is required, and if the consumer cancels service before the end of the term, he is required to pay the rest of the contract as the penalty.

The standard installation rate is $199, but this is currently being waived for customers who sign up for service. There is no end date so far to that promotion. And there are no activation fees, he said.

"Sometimes it's hard to tell one broadband company from another," he said. "Especially if you're looking at speed and packages. So it comes down to customer service," he said.

Surfing: Itasca-based Gogo, a global aero-communications service provider, has partnered with T-Mobile to deliver free in-flight texting and voice mail to their customers on all Gogo equipped U.S. airline aircraft. Beginning Sept. 17, T-Mobile customers can use this new in-flight service on more than 2,000 commercial aircraft operating in the United States. It allows customers to send and receive text and picture messages as well as visual voice mail using their own smartphone and phone number over Gogo's in-flight Wi-Fi system−completely free.

• Bernina of America, the Aurora-based manufacturer of sewing, embroidery and quilting machines, is accepting registration for its Software Extravaganza Retreat that runs Sept. 16-19 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3682 Unit B Prairie Lake Court, next to the Bernina of America headquarters in Aurora. Instruction on Bernina Embroidery Software 7 will be Sept. 16-18 and the fee is $299, which includes materials and lunch each day. On Sept. 19, eventgoers can stay and learn more about the DesignWorks Software Suite for an additional $99. For more information, visit http://www.bernina.com/en-US/Whats-New-2/Creative-Center/SoftExtraSeptember.

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