[lug] Qwest DSL and Microsoft

[Samartha Deva]

Here is my take on this - maybe I've posted it before in parts.

Unless one is a M$oft OS user, service is not affected,
MAC assimilation is being worked on "hard", they say.

look there:
http://my.qwest.net/nav4/msn/faq.html

further down, there is a section where it talks about
business accounts (which you must have since you got the static IP block).

I called up the Qwest Sales department/support and was told that the
Qwest Business section is not affected.

Apparently, the assimilation of businesses will be at a later time, if ever;-)


>My situation with Qwest is I only use the IP connection over an assigned
>static IP address. (I get 8, but need and use only 1). I use their mail
>server for outbout and their news server. That's it.

you most likely also use their DNS server.

>I am inclined to believe that I will be impacted by the transition to
>MSN.
>Does anybody have info to the contrary?

(see above)

I have the same (or similar) service as you, apparently, 8 static IP's, ~ 
650 kB down,  250 Kb up and I use all 5 usable IP's. Sets me back about $ 
80 / month (this is an approximate figure, Qwest just changed their prices 
by $ 2 and I may have added the taxes wrong, but it's +- $ 6).

I have my own mail server - theirs hangs quite often and am working on my 
own DNS server - theirs hangs quite often too.

When the sale of Qwest's internet service to M$oft happened a couple of 
month ago, I freaked and looked into other providers.

However, checking a few, the bottom line is that I would pay more per month 
($ 120 = 50 % more) for the same service, pay for initial setup and a new 
modem (Netopia - $ 250) and - wait a couple of weeks for installation.

I have looked into the provider quoted on this list/thread?:

Forethought.net

Although they claim to have better prices than Qwest, it turns out that in 
fact, I would have to pay more, their website:

  http://www.forethought.net/dsl/pricing.html

quotes $ 130.- for what I have now, not knowing what exactly is contained 
in their package, static IP ? one or block of 8?

Although, they claim to have lower prices than Qwest, I am unable to verify 
this.

The other services mentioned on this list/thread appear to deal with a 
pseudo static IP to be under control of the ISP which is something I cannot 
have.

I hope this gives you some answers and if you look and find another
provider more to your liking, please drop me a note.

Samartha