Press

Other World Computing today announced the launch of FasterMac.net, a Macintosh-only Internet service that provides nationwide 56K dialup access throughout the United States specifically for Macintosh computer users.

Created with the expertise gained by the Other World Computing team from more than five years of providing Internet access in the Chicagoland area through OWC’s OWC.NET division, the FasterMac.net service is built by technical professionals who know and understand Macintosh computers and Macintosh users.

“Because we know and use Macs, we can offer easier Internet setup, more reliable service and better technical support to Mac users,” said Larry O’Connor, founder and president of OWC. “Our FasterMac.net sales and technical teams can configure Mac computers for the most optimum connection speeds and solve user problems faster than other Internet service providers (ISPs) because our team is Mac-centric while most other ISPs are PC-centric.” FasterMac.net provides online, step-by-step technical directions for configuring Mac-specific operating systems and e-mail clients with the FasterMac.net service. FasterMac.net is available to Mac users nationwide and is offered with three payment options:

• Annual - $119 ($9.92 per month)
• Quarterly - $35.97 ($11.99 per month)
• Month-to-Month - $12.95.

Each plan provides users with up to 150 hours of connection time per month, five free e-mail addresses (username@FasterMac.net), and 5MBs of free Web space. The FasterMac.Net service utilizes a nationwide network of high-speed 56K v.90/v.92 dialup locations connected with top-tier bandwidth providers for consistently fast and reliable connections. Additionally, FasterMac.Net users do not have to use any third-party software, and are insured that information provided to OWC will only be used for account maintenance. “OWC has never sold, leased, or otherwise provided confidential customer information and that privacy is assured with FasterMac.Net as well,” O’Connor said.

“We were driven to offer this service by customer demand from the lack of service and support being offered to Mac users,” O’Connor said. “A Mac is configured differently than a PC and most service providers are not equipped to handle them. We have heard horror stories from customers of other services, such as one customer who was charged for a year’s Internet service from Qwest, but only had it actually work for maybe three or four days out of the year—and this included several visits by technicians to the customer’s home. They just couldn’t get it to work. That won’t happen with Mac users that sign-up for FasterMac.net services.”

More information on support and configuration can be found at www.fastermac.net.