14 DAY TRIAL // Major US carrier Verizon has just announced the launch of a new 150/35 megabits per second (Mbps) Internet service. The carrier claims that this is the country's fastest mass-market Internet service, working over the company's all-fiber-optic FiOS network.
Verizon has already begun to roll out the Internet service to the majority of its home customers and will make the service available to Verizon FiOS small-business customers by the end of the year.
Verizon's new Internet service surpasses competitors' offers by pumping three times the downstream speed previously available to FiOS customers.
"By offering the fastest mass-market Internet service in the nation, we're supporting the immediate and future speed needs of bandwidth-hungry consumers," said Eric Bruno, Verizon vice president of product management.
"The new 150/35 Mbps FiOS Internet offer establishes a new benchmark for high-speed Internet in America, and paves the way for a flurry of emerging bandwidth-intensive applications to reach mainstream status."
The 150/35 Mbps residential offer will be available to the majority of FiOS-eligible customers and sold as a stand-alone service starting at $194.99 a month when purchased with a one-year service agreement and Verizon wireline voice service.
Verizon customers have cheaper offers at their disposal, as the carrier will also offer on a stand-alone basis its next-fastest FiOS Internet speed of 50/20 Mbps, as well as 25/25 and 15/5 speed tiers.
Amy Lind, broadband research manager for the global technology market intelligence firm IDC, said: "This is about more than Verizon zooming to the top of the broadband speed chart. It's a reflection of Verizon's vision. Verizon understands that this kind of bandwidth will fuel new product and service development down the road and is poised to allow its customers to reap the benefits of those innovations in the future."
Verizon customers that conncted their FIOS Internet service will have access to the Verizon In-Home Agent, a free application that helps them configure Wi-Fi links, set up and manage voice mail, auto-fix video problems and correct Internet issues.