New bar for broadband Internet

roundup Broadband content and hardware providers have been singing the high-speed Internet tune with new product offerings that promise to raise surf speeds even higher.

As a sign of heightened optimism for the broadband market, bigwigs like Intel are also moving away from being just suppliers of hardware. For instance, the chip giant is funding a Japanese company that distributes online music and movies.

Meanwhile, worldwide broadband subscriber figures continue to grow. This growth is led by the world's most populous nation China, which is expected to have 34 million broadband users by year-end.

Check out these story highlights for more on the growth of this market.

Cisco bullish on service provider market
Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers sees big potential in the service provider market as phone makers move away from providing basic broadband and telephony to offering rich interactive services such as TV using the Internet Protocol.
June 8, 2005

Intel invests in Japanese content distributor
Intel said it is earmarking some of its Digital Home money to help fund a Japanese company that specializes in distributing movies and music online.
June 2, 2005

Nokia debuts Linux-based Web device
Nokia announced a pocket-size Web browser for wireless broadband networks, the Finnish firm's first Linux-based device and its first product without a built-in mobile phone.
May 31, 2005

Google tool to speed Web surfing
Google has introduced a technology designed to make Web sites load faster.
May 30, 2005

China to trump U.S. in broadband subscribers
China is on track to surpass the United States in broadband subscribers by 2007, according to new market research data.
May 5, 2005