MaineBusiness.com

Great Works Internet Adds 1,000 New Broadband Customers Monthly

BIDDEFORD, Maine, October 13, 2003 — Great Works Internet (GWI), Maine’s oldest and largest local Internet service provider, reports a record number of new customers for its DSL high-speed Internet service for August and September, 2003. As part of its new, aggressive campaign to increase its broadband customer base, GWI offered its existing dial-up customers a limited-time promotion of a free trial of its broadband service in late August and early September. Wildly exceeding expectations, the customer response more than tripled the monthly number of new GWI Broadband customers. Even in the wake of the September 30th end of the promotion, new customer inquiries and sign-ups at the usual $29.95 monthly fee are still way up.


Everyman’s DSL Said to Be Comparable to Cable Modem in Speed

“GWI Broadband is everyman’s high-speed service, costing $15 to $20 less per month than the broadband service from cable companies,” said Rick Preti, GWI’s new vice president of marketing. “Industry data shows that cable modem users have an annual income that averages about $45,000. Our service appeals to households across the full spectrum of income, from the thrifty well off, to families on a budget. This promotion was aimed at our loyal customers who deserve the upgrade to high-speed service. For most who continue with the service after the trial, the cost increase over their current dial-up service will be less than $10 a month.”

Preti said GWI hopes that the promotion will help debunk the myth that DSL service, which is high-speed Internet access delivered over telephone lines, is not as fast as cable modem service, which is costlier high-speed access through TV cables. “The truth is that either service can be designed to operate faster than the other, depending on the technology and service levels set by the provider,” Preti said. “At GWI we use dedicated lines to each subscriber, rather than the shared lines employed by Time Warner and Adelphia. In Maine, the fact is that the two types of service presently offer comparable speeds, and at peak hours we are generally faster.”


A Maine Company, GWI Relies on Word of Mouth for Sales

At the end of their 60-day free trial, the new broadband customers have the option of returning to their dial-up service, which GWI left intact during the trial, or upgrading to GWI Broadband at the standard $29.95 a month fee. The promotion is an unusual step for GWI, which has traditionally relied on an attractive price and reliable product to attract customers.

“Starting in 1994 as the first Internet service provider in Maine, GWI has always pursued a Maine way of doing business,” explained Fletcher Kittredge, CEO of the company. “We’ve offered a quality product at a reasonable price, and pretty much stayed away from special promotions. But in typical Maine fashion, our best advertising is word of mouth from our satisfied customers. So we decided to put a few more natural sales people out there in the field by letting our customers see for themselves how fast, affordable, and reliable our broadband service really is. The experiment is paying off far better than we had hoped.”



About GWI

Great Works Internet (GWI) is Maine's oldest and most reliable local Internet Service Provider. Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Biddeford, Maine, GWI’s broadband network can now deliver non-stop, high-quality, high-speed Internet access to over 150,000 homes and businesses throughout all but two of Maine’s 16 counties and parts of New Hampshire at affordable, competitive prices. “Surf fast, See more, Pay less”sm has become the slogan for its customer-friendly Internet services, 24-hour Maine-based customer support, and the most up-to-date technology to ensure access is fast, secure and reliable. For more information, call toll free 866-494-2020, or email Customer Support Services Center for connectivity details or log-on to www.gwi.net to learn how to get the most enjoyment from the Internet.