Comcast, EarthLink Team Up

Comcast Corp.’s cable unit and EarthLink Inc. said they struck a pact that will let the Internet service provider offer high-speed Internet services in a technical trial over a Comcast cable system. Financial terms were not disclosed. The test will begin in the second quarter, offering the services to customers in and near Philadelphia, where Comcast is based. The pact is another step by EarthLink to offer high-speed Internet services that provide faster connections to the Web and will enable the digital delivery of music and interactive television. As the U.S. dial-up market matures, more companies are focusing on high-speed services. Atlanta-based EarthLink struck a pact with AOL Time Warner Inc. to offer high-speed services over Time Warner Cable’s lines in November. The pact helped the approval of the merger between the media company and the Internet giant. Shares of EarthLink closed off 63 cents at $11.44, while Comcast’s Class A shares rose $1.13 to close at $41.06, both on Nasdaq.