Is MSN buying the whole internet?

[earthman]

My DSL provider, Qwest.net, has "merged" with MSN, and all their residential DSL accounts must be converted to MSN accounts. I don't want MSN. I asked that they convert me to a business account, and guess what? Their "agreement" with MSN doesn't permit that! Its MSN way or the highway, so I guess I won't have DSL after this month. They won't migrate me to another ISP either! Does this not sound right or what?

 

[pulse8]

What's wrong with MSN? And why can't you just call up another ISP and say, "I'd like your service"?

 

[Comp625]

It might not be as bad as it sounds.

The way I do it, if my service merges with another, I "try out" their service for 1 or 2 months. If it's too crappy, I'll chew out on the Tech Support and demand to cancel my account and if I'm on a roll, I'll demand to not pay for this month's bill.

 

[Migroo]

They cant buy the whole 'internet', as its not all for sale, surely.

 

[earthman]

MSN sucks because its a proprietary dialer like AOL or Compuserve and you can't use it for Linux or any other OS. It also sucks because Microsoft owns it. And I can't get DSL anywhere else, since it has to come through Qwest's lines, since they are the local phone company. Sounds like some kind of a plot to hand all the DSL business over to MSN.

 

[DAWeinG]

Pretty soon you'll be crapping on a Microsoft branded toilet with auto-sense flush and automatic ass wiper

 

[JC]

How many times has MSN been 'relaunched'?

If ya can't beat 'em, buy 'em....

 

[pulse8]

<< And I can't get DSL anywhere else, since it has to come through Qwest's lines, since they are the local phone company. >>



Are you sure you've researched this? PacBell is my local phone company, but I can get Earthlink service if I please.

 

[earthman]

Will that toilet have a monthly "Ass-cess" fee?

BWAAHAHAHAHAAHHHAAAAHAHAHHAH............

<sob sob sniffle>

 

[notfred]

Yep, pacbell is the only company in California that actually owns phone lines, but you can buy DSL service from at least a dozen different places.

 

[narzy]

try it out for a month or two, its not that bad...

 

[earthman]

DSL is always provided by the local phone company, regardless of the ISP you use. It may be billed through the ISP, but the phone company controls who can have it and who can't.

 

[pulse8]

<< DSL is always provided by the local phone company, regardless of the ISP you use. >>



Well, the connection is through the phone company because you're using their lines, but you can have different ISPs. MSN is merely your ISP, not your phone company, so just get a new ISP.

 

[Russ]

<< And I can't get DSL anywhere else, since it has to come through Qwest's lines, since they are the local phone company. Sounds like some kind of a plot to hand all the DSL business over to MSN. >>



I think you got fed a line of crap. The same federal law that forces the telcos to make their infrastructure available to other ISPs would also preclude any kind of exclusivity agreement. Unless there are flat-out no other DSL providers in your area, Qwest doesn't have any choice.

I can also tell you that one of my customers just set up his DSL with Qwest and, because I told him to demand a Cisco 678 modem (MSN isn't providing that in my area), he didn't even have to go with MSN, but is instead with Qwest - and, yes, he's a home user.



<< MSN sucks because its a proprietary dialer like AOL or Compuserve >>



When did DSL start using a dialer?

Russ, NCNE

 

[GoldMember]

You guys have to understand that MSN is in a very bitter battle with AOL.

AOL hates MSN.. so bad that AOL tried to buy out RedHat so they could make Linux into a more "windows" type of OS.. As in people could easily learn it.. Thank God that isn't going to happen now.. because AOL would fricken destroy Linux with it's sh*tty sh*t.

Anyway.. both are in the way of trying to buy up and or merge with as many companies as possible to beat eachother out.. that's that.

 

[pulse8]

<< Anyway.. both are in the way of trying to buy up and or merge with as many companies as possible to beat eachother out.. that's that. >>


What does that have to do with having them as an ISP? If they give good service, who cares?

I think earthman is just very misinformed about the whole situation and should do more research.

I sugguest starting here...

 

[earthman]

Qwest DSL here uses Intel modems that use the dialup networking applet. Instead of a phone number you use VPN/VPI numbers. They will not provide the Cisco modems here anymore, though you can buy your own. I actually had a 675, but then they changed the provisioning and made it useless. You still have to install MSN software though, and its Windows only, because they are not supporting Macintoshes either. Macintosh users are out in the cold too, apparently. I know it all sounds crazy, but they flat out refused to do anything for me, except cancel my account, unhook the DSL, wait 30 days, hook it back up, and then have me sign up as a new customer.