AT&T Says It Will Join Race to Internet, Offer Access

AT&T Corp. said yesterday that it too was officially joining thepack of companies offering consumers and businesses a way to reachthe global electronic network called the Internet.

The telephone giant is a latecomer to the Internet world. Numerouson-line services, including America Online Inc., the soon-to-be-unveiled Microsoft Network and the services offered by MCICommunications Corp., already give consumers a way to tap into theInternet as well as the graphics-rich portion called the World WideWeb.

"I think what I'm seeing is `me too,' " said Scott Kurnit, chiefexecutive of the on-line joint venture that MCI and Rupert Murdoch'sNews Corp. established this year.

Even yesterday, AT&T executives talked more about developing anInternet strategy than about specific services and products. Theservices will not, in fact, be ready for customers until later thisyear. But because the telephone giant boasts about 90 million homeand business customers, analysts believe it still could become adominant player in the on-line world. "There's only three or fourcompanies in the world that have the potential of AT&T," said GeneDeRose, president of Jupiter Communications Co., a New York-based on-line research firm.

Yesterday, AT&T executives said they plan to offer a bouquet ofelectronic services with one common element: access to the Internetand the Web.

For instance, within 60 days, AT&T plans to begin testing its"WorldNet Services," which will let AT&T phone customers use theirphone lines to reach the Web. For Web access, AT&T plans to providesubscribers with software developed by the fledgling Californiacompany Netscape Communications Corp. WorldNet services will becomegradually available throughout the United States this year. AT&Texecutives would not comment on pricing.

AT&T also will work with businesses to develop content for the Weband for AT&T's specialized on-line services, such as the ImagiNationgames network and Interchange, which carries information services(including The Washington Post's Digital Ink). Soon, said AT&Texecutives, people browsing the Web will be able to look at thecontent on those networks by paying a small charge.

"The goal is to cause a massive snowball effect," said JohnPetrillo, president of AT&T Business Communications Services, byattracting consumers and businesses, which in turn will bring more ofboth. " `Internetting' " he added, "should be a verb."