WebProNews

Verizon announced on Monday that customers would have access to DSL without a local calling plan. The new plan will be offered to its northeastern customers first and more will be added later.

This new plan will be great for customers who want the high-speed access and to use a cell phone for their calling or allow folks to check out the online calling service offered by Verizon.

Tom Tauke, a senior Verizon executive, said stand-alone DSL would eventually be expanded to all of Verizon's territory and be available to anyone, regardless of whether they are a current customer. He said technical issues limited the company to a partial rollout

Consumer advocates are worried the Ma Bell breakaways will have a hefty advantage and big phone companies are offering the DSL-only plan in response to the cable companies' siphoning of high-speed access customers from the phone companies as cable begins to offer phone services.

Prices for the services haven't been discussed although current plans for DSL run around $30 a month.

For folks who want to try this new version of DSL, all you do is drop your base phone service and you're ready to roll.

John Stith is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.