Microsoft Corp has announced plans to unveil a series of alliances with regional and long-distance telephone companies to ease the use of high-speed digital Integrated Services Digital Network lines. ISDN lines are the 64Kbps digital replacement for phone lines that telephone companies are installing to speed data transmission and, as the Internet’s popularity explodes, ISDN lines, software and high-speed terminal adapter boards will be necess?ary to bring the network to its full potential. Microsoft’s program will be called Get ISDN for Microsoft Windows, a source close to the company told Reuters. The program will include the ISDN Accelerator Pack and free Windows95 software that can be used with the high speed connections. The software will enable users to request information and ISDN line installation electronically. Regional Bell operating companies participating in the program are Ameritech Corp, Bell Atlantic Corp, Bell Canada Corp, BellSouth Corp, Nynex Corp, Pacific Telesis Group’s Pacific Bell Corp, US West Communications Group Inc, plus GTE Corp and Southern New England Telecommunications Corp.
