Zenith to offer TV for surfing Net

Zenith Electronics Corp. and Diba Inc. announced last week that they have agreed to jointly develop technology that will enable home viewers to use their televisions to surf the Internet without using a personal computer. Zenith will build Diba's platform for Interactive Digital Electronic Appliances (IDEAs) software, 28.8 kb/s modems and Ethernet ports for cable modems that will turn television sets into Internet terminals. Zenith, of Glenview, Ill., said that it plans to introduce a 27-in. television set equipped with the IDEA platform as early as October for about $899. The television will make use of an infrared track-ball remote control to allow users to operate on-screen menus; a wireless keyboard is also being developed. The addition of the Internet technology will increase the price of televisions by $400 to $600-a price still below the cost of a personal computer, said Diba Chairman Farid Dibachi. "You don't need to be a computer jockey to take advantage of the tremendous power and wealth of valuable information available on the electronic superhighway if you have the right tools," said Dibachi. "Our approach with Zenith will make it easy for anyone to experience interactive information access."