Prodigy Communications Corp has selected NaviNet Inc, the network outsourcing company owned by CMGI Inc to be an additional provider of dial-up access to its internet access service. White Plains, New York-based Prodigy has been using Splitrock Services Inc since it decided to outsource its access when it relaunched back in 1997.
The agreement with NaviNet becomes effective next quarter and is open-ended, according to NaviNet, though it will not put a monetary value on the deal, but under the terms of NaviNet’s GeoDial ISP program, ISPs such as Prodigy pay a flat fee per user, per month, but no up front or port reservation charges.
Prodigy already claims to have a national network covering more than 750 cities and is apparently using NaviNet’s service to boost access in high-growth areas of the country, but may also be using this to fill in gaps in its access. However, Prodigy could not provide us with anybody to explain this deal further.
NaviNet doesn’t deal in PoPs, but rather what it calls megaPoPs, which, through partnerships with CLECs across the US enable it to cover the country with fewer PoPs. For example, the megaPoP in Boston extends coverage, with local area code dial-up numbers, down to Rhode Island. Of the 26 it plans to build, NaviNet has about nine in place right now.
