Direct to Circuit City

DIRECTV Broadband Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.) announces it will sell itsDIRECTV DSLª service through Circuit City stores in the U.S. Theagreement marks the company's entry into the retail marketplace.

The provider of broadband services for homes was acquired this pastApril by Hughes Electronics Corp., which also owns DIRECTV Inc. (ElSegundo, Calif.). Hughes offers consumer entertainment and informationservices, including digital multi-channel television and wired andsatellite broadband Internet access.

This September, Circuit City will rollout in-store DIRECTV DSLª aspectsof the high-speed Internet service, designed to improve customers'dial-up experience, enhance web surfing, shopping and communications. Bythe end of October, Circuit City will offer the service in 435 storesnationwide. Customers can enter their phone numbers at in-store kiosksto find out instantly if DIRECTV DSLª is available in their area. Oncethis is determined, the ordering process can be completed in the store.

Once a customer has ordered the service, DIRECTV Broadband works withthe phone companies in that particular area to provide the DSLtechnology to that customer's home. The company then ships theresidential gateway service to the customer, who in turn installs it andcan access the Internet shortly after. This residential gateway isdesigned to enable value-added services for consumers such asnetworking, secure telecommuting, home monitoring and automation,entertainment and voice bundling.