Verizon Plans to Offer Free Gaming As a Lure to Fiber Web Service By DIONNE SEARCEY Wall Street Journal
August 10, 2006; Page D5 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB115516596519931570.html?mod=technology_main_whats_news Verizon Communications Inc. plans to launch a free gaming service later this month that allows players to invite their friends to private Internet gaming sessions. The service, called PlayLinc, is a browser that lets as many as 32 gamers talk to one another through an Internet phone connection as well as chat online through AOL Instant Messenger. Online gamers can download their own games and launch free private servers to set up invitation-only sessions, a feature that can sometimes cost $60 or more with other gaming companies. Verizon's service was made possible by the recent stake the carrier bought in gaming company Super Computer International Inc., which helped to develop PlayLinc. Verizon's foray into gaming is part of an effort to reduce the company's reliance on its core phone business. Many gaming sites, such as Viacom Inc.'s Xfire, offer individual features that can be found on PlayLinc. But Verizon says its new service is more comprehensive, bringing together popular gaming features. It also allows players to link their console-based gaming systems, such as Sony's PlayStation, to the free servers. "People use multiplayer gaming sort of like old-school bowling leagues," said Jason Henderson, Verizon's games-product manager. Verizon said it hopes to use PlayLinc to lure gamers to its new fiber-optic network, which offers some of the fastest Internet speeds in the U.S. A fast Internet connection appeals to online gamers because it allows their characters to respond more quickly to threats inside the game from players on other computers sometimes in cities thousands of miles away. Verizon also has launched a television service in some markets that runs on fiber. Hundreds of gamers recently tested PlayLinc during an online tournament sponsored by Verizon. Micah Ernst, who won the tournament, said he likes PlayLinc because the private-server feature allows him to control the social atmosphere inside his game. He can kick out players who talk too much or send too many meaningless text messages. "It's my server. I can decide whom I want to play with," says the 23-year-old Web designer in Rochester, N.Y. ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 antunes at uh dot edu Reply with a "Thank you" if you liked this post. _____________________________ MEDIANEWS mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
