Also announced today are new relationships with MSN, as well as Flashcom and Sprint, to extend the availability of broadband to even more consumers. The new displays build on Best Buy's ongoing commitment to bring people and technology together through connectivity, content and products, and are a response to growing consumer demand to compare different broadband alternatives in a single retail location. As we expand our offerings to include connectivity and content services like high-speed Internet access, we want to make these services easy to understand, compare and purchase, so that consumers can make informed decisions about which service is best for them. Displays Allow for Comparison Shopping At Best Buy's interactive displays, customers can learn more about broadband in general, interact with demonstrations that simulate the on-line experience of different broadband services, and determine if they qualify for these types of services based on where they live.
Customers can also initiate an order for the service from the displays.
More than half of Best Buy locations will offer three or more broadband service alternatives. Today marks the first time Best Buy has announced the availability of MSN HighSpeed, Flashcom DSL and Sprint wireless at its retail locations. Best Buy expects to expand availability of current offerings and add other broadband services in the next year. Broadband resolves all of these frustrations by providing Internet connectivity at speeds that are up to 50 times faster than standard 28.8 modems without tying up a phone line. And because broadband gives users always-on access to the Internet, there are no busy signals or random disconnections.