View Single Post
  #3   Report Post  
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
[email protected] spamTHISbrp@yahoo.com is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 561
Default OT - Got Earthlink for a ISP? You might want to read this.

On Aug 28, 11:05 pm, Too_Many_Tools wrote:
Well it is one of mine.

I have been having a number of problems of late with them...can't find
the email servers, pages not loading, dead time on the line and a live
chat session that rivals the best comedy you see on the television..it
was worthless.

Now I see this in the new....

I think I will be shopping around for a new ISP...any suggestions?

TMT

EarthLink to cut 900 jobs, close offices By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated
Press Writer
Tue Aug 28

Internet service provider EarthLink Inc. said Tuesday that it would
cut 900 jobs - or about half its work force - and close four offices
in an effort to reduce operating costs. EarthLink shares climbed 7
percent on the news.

The moves come as the company continues struggling to generate
revenues as dial-up access customers turn to high-speed alternatives
from cable and phone companies.

More actions could be announced by the year's end but no more cuts are
expected, said Rolla P. Huff, the Atlanta-based company's president
and chief executive. As part of the plan, EarthLink also said it will
repurchase $200 million of its stock.

"While we see this as an important first step in unlocking the
underlying value that we believe is in our company, we are only eight
weeks into the process of repositioning EarthLink for the future," he
said. "These changes get our cost structure in line, but there is much
more to do."

Like many other Internet service providers with roots in dial-up
access, EarthLink has sought to diversify its revenue base.

EarthLink does resell some high-speed services, but phone companies in
particular have been able to offer cut-rate prices, particularly as
part of bundles with traditional long-distance and local calling
plans.

The company had counted on the right to sell customers access to
citywide wireless networks in exchange for helping cities build the
networks. But amid questions about customer demand and the
technology's performance, EarthLink announced in April that it was
reviewing new deployments while evaluating the performance of the
current rollouts in four cities.

Chicago officials said Tuesday that they will shelve a plan to blanket
the city's 228 square miles with wireless broadband Internet because
it is too costly and too few residents would use it. The city said its
negotiations with private-sector partners, including EarthLink, have
stalled because any citywide Wi-Fi system would require massive public
financing.

EarthLink's municipal Wi-Fi plans also face competition from an
emerging technology known as WiMax, which can blanket wider areas.

It also faced questions over disappointing results from its Helio
project, a wireless joint venture with SK Telecom of South Korea. The
company has already committed to invest $220 million in Helio and has
said it could spend another $50 million on the project, which was
blamed for quarterly losses.

In July, the company cut its fiscal year 2007 revenue estimate after
reporting hefty losses related to the Helio project.

The company said Tuesday it will close offices in Orlando, Fla.,
Knoxville, Tenn., Harrisburg, Pa., and San Francisco and
"substantially reduce its presence" in Atlanta and Pasadena, Calif.

EarthLink said it expects to save $25 million to $35 million through
the rest of the year because of the restructuring. The company
currently employs about 1,900 people.

Shares rose 48 cents to close at $7.34 in Tuesday trading.

The company also lowered its 2007 revenue outlook for the third time
this year. EarthLink said it now expects sales of $1.19 billion to
$1.21 billion - down from its previous forecast of $1.23 billion to
$1.24 billion. The company said it expects a full-year loss of $79
million to $109 million, excluding restructuring charges.

EarthLink also offered a warning for 2008, saying it expects
subscriber additions to slow.

The struggles were evident in the company's earnings. EarthLink posted
a $16.3 million loss last quarter.

Huff, who was appointed in June, is known by analysts for his
willingness to cut loose unprofitable projects. He told reporters
after he was named the company's leader that he would conduct a two-
month review of the company's businesses aimed at "getting a very
focused strategy."

EarthLink is hardly alone in its struggles.

Last August, Time Warner Inc.'s AOL decided to stop actively marketing
Internet access and start giving away AOL.com e-mail accounts,
software and other features once limited to paying customers. AOL is
trying to attract more advertising dollars on its free sites by doing
so.

Meanwhile, United Online Inc., the company behind NetZero and Juno,
has diversified by buying properties like United Airlines' MyPoints
loyalty program and Classmates.com. Parent company Classmates Media
Corp. recently filed for an initial public offering, though United
Online would remain the controlling stockholder.

___

On the Net:

http://www.earthlink.net



So far, I have had no problems or complaints with earthlink dial-up.
Its been about 8 years, now.

Hopefully that doesn't change.

Dave