Move over, TV remote control

Another gadget soon will find itself next to the TV in living rooms throughout the Toledo, Ohio, area. WorldGate Communications Inc. and Buckeye Cable-System of Toledo have signed a multiyear agreement to offer about 207,000 homes full Internet access and multiple e-mail addresses from the couch. This means there is one more remote control: a keyboard.

In terms of interest level, the simplicity of the TV set and the economics of packaging the Internet and e-mail with cable are driving consumer curiosity, said Peter Mondics, vice president of affiliate sales for WorldGate. Residential demand is strong, with 32% to 25% of cable households wanting this service, which is called the WorldGate service, he said.

"This makes Internet access widely available and at a low cost because it eliminates the need for a PC or [an additional] phone line," Mondics added. "It makes it easy to get [to] the Internet or have an alternative connection."

Although Internet access is becoming more widespread, many people still do not have a home computer or Internet access from the home. About 50% of the homes in Buckeye's area have a computer, said Brad Medford, executive director at Buckeye. By coupling cable TV with the Internet and e-mail, the offering allows those without a computer or less computer literate computer users to access all three services. In terms of hardware, the WorldGate service requires a cable converter and a wireless keyboard.

"Product differentiation [distinguishes us] from the competition, making us the preferred provider of data and voice services," said Medford.