Internet-over cable company WorldGate Communications Inc yesterday began rolling out its service on schedule to customer of Charter Communications in St Louis. But, contrary to everything WorldGate has been saying in public over the past year or so, the service is not going to be cheap – Charter is asking its cable customers for a further $15.95 on top of their television charges per month for the service. It comprises unlimited internet access, six email addresses and a wireless keyboard. Charter has added some non-WorldGate services, such as a preview guide and digital music download, but even factoring that in, the service is expensive. WorldGate chief executive and cable veteran Hal Krisbergh criticized competitors WebTV Networks Inc and the NetChannel Inc for charging $20 per month for their service, which admittedly, does require an additional set-top box. He was not available for comment and we could not get much sense out of those who were available yesterday. WorldGate’s service does require a new box, but as the Bensalem, Pennsylvania company has already signed deals with General Instrument Inc and Scientific-Atlanta Inc, which between them have more than 90% of the US cable set-top box market between them, the technology gets included as new boxes are installed on a regular basis anyhow. Charter, the privately-held, self-declared 12th largest cable operator in the country declined to say how much WorldGate was charging for its service. It said it will offer the service for an introductory offer of $4.95 for a short, but unspecified period. It will initially be offered to 24,000 homes now that the six-month trial is over, and should be available to 200,00 by the year-end and all 235,000 Charter customers in the area by the next year. The box is the GI CFT-2200, which General instrument describes as its most advanced analog set-top box.
