Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) said Wednesday that it plans to expand the availability of its super-fast Internet service, further pressuring the cable providers in the speed game. Verizon high-speed Internet is currently available in 26 states, while FiOS has thus far reached 17 states. Check the company’s Web site for availability.
Verizon has described the details of the agreement it and other ISPs signed last week to block access to Usenet groups that have been caught trafficking child pornography. But instead of just blocking a few of the usenet groups that had been implicitly named they decided to block all of the groups.
Verizon is going to buy Alltel equity and debt in a transaction worth $28.1 billion. Verizon will purchase Alltel from TPG Capital and GS Capital Partners, for about $5.9 billion in cash and will assume Alltel’s debt, which is estimated to be $22.2 billion, making the total transaction value $28.1 billion.
Verizon Wireless confirmed its support for mobile Linux. It becomes the first U.S. operator to join the LiMo Foundation, a group developing mobile Linux technology. Key members include Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic, Samsung, and LG.
