Yahoo! Forges Agreements To Promote High-Speed Internet

Internet heavyweight Yahoo! announced agreements today with broadband Internet access providers Covad (Nasdaq: COVD) and NorthPoint (Nasdaq: NPNT) that will attempt to encourage Internet users to adopt DSL (digital subscriber line) broadband access.

Additionally, Yahoo! and NorthPoint will develop, market and distribute a co-branded My Yahoo! service for broadband-enabled consumers and businesses.

High-speed DSL broadband Internet access is 25 times faster than common dial-up modems. The service speeds Internet use, enhances e-commerce and takes audio and video a big step closer to broadcast quality.

DSL service also eliminates dial-up, since it is an “always-on” access line.

Fast and Easy

Under its agreement with Yahoo!, Covad will market a My Yahoo! start page service through Covad’s distribution channels, targeting small businesses and consumers. The My Yahoo! page will feature Yahoo!’s free member services and a Covad sign-up zone that is designed to help Covad customers learn about the broadband connection.

Customers will be able to buy Covad’s high-speed broadband services on the spot. The service will also allow users to personalize their Web connection with multimedia broadband content, including news, weather, sports, entertainment and financial information.

“This agreement with Yahoo! shows that both companies understand the need for making broadband easy to buy and use,” said Robert Roblin, Covad’s executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Ellen Smininoff, Yahoo!’s senior vice president of corporate development, said that the agreement will “simplify and expand users’ experiences with broadband and bring Yahoo!’s services directly to Covad’s channel and to an even greater number of users.”

Enhancing E-Commerce And Stream Multimedia

In addition to the work of signing-up DSL users, Yahoo!’s alliance with NorthPoint includes a streaming content distribution agreement that is designed to improve high-speed media programming over the Internet. The fast streaming will make content more consumer-friendly.

NorthPoint will market the NorthPoint My Yahoo! start page along with its DSL services to retailers, online businesses and other companies seeking to strengthen their e-commerce initiatives.

“This agreement is part of our strategy to enhance the way video, audio and other content is delivered and viewed over the Internet,” said Whitey Bluestein, NorthPoint’s chief development officer.

About The Companies

Based in Santa Clara, California, Yahoo! is a major Internet provider of media, commerce and communication services. Covad, also based in Santa Clara, provides of broadband Internet access services.

San Francisco, California-based NorthPoint Communications provides DSL access to the Internet.