Comcast (News - Alert) has launched a 100 Mbps high-speed Internet service for businesses in the Twin Cities region. The service also features a 15 Mbps upstream speed. The 100 Mbps service includes Microsoft (News - Alert) Communication Services, a productivity suite including Windows SharePoint and Microsoft Outlook email powered by Microsoft Exchange Server. 

 

In addition, the service includes McAfee’s (News - Alert) Security Suite software that protects up to 25 PCs from viruses and spyware. 

 

The service costs $370 a month and likely will be attractive for many businesses used to buying relatively-pricey T1 lines. Business customers also can sign up for the "Deluxe" 50 Mbps/10 Mbps tier for $190 a month.

 

The business "Starter" tier offers up to 12 Mbps/2 Mbps performance. The "Premium" tier offers speeds up to 22 Mbps/5 Mbps for $100 a month.

 

Comcast says a consumer version will be made available in the future, though there is no announced time table for that. Right now the top consumer tier is the "Extreme 50," offering up to 50 Mbps of downstream speed and up to 10 Mbps of upstream speed at $100.00 a month, when bought with either Comcast voice or video services, in the Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia markets only.

 

The "Ultra" package offers up to 22 Mbps of downstream speed and up to 5 Mbps of upstream speed at $63 a month, when purchased with Comcast voice or video services.