For what its worth; Australian Financial Review 8-10-97 http://www.afr.com.au/content/971008/inform/inform5.html ********************************** Power play to plug in the Internet In what could usher in a new era of competition between telephone companies and electric utilities, engineers have developed a breakthrough technology that lets homeowners make phone calls and access the Internet at high speeds via the electric outlets in their walls. If the technology from United Utilities plc and Northern Telecom Ltd proves commercially viable, it could transform power lines around the world into high-speed conduits on the information superhighway. Because electric utilities are wired into virtually every home and business, the new technology could provide easy entry into the phone and Internet access businesses, thus posing a serious threat to current providers of those services. United Utilities, a power company, and Northern Telecom, a Canadian maker of telecommunications gear, confirmed that their system was "ready for mass market", but declined to reveal details. The two companies have tested phone service over power lines in about a dozen UK households over the past 12 months -- with positive results, according to Alistair Henderson, chief of technology at Energis plc, the telecommunications unit of National Grid Group plc. AP-Dow Jones =A9 This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited. ********************************** Ooops i didnt know my mailer was loaded orifacer