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AT&T Lightspeed, U-Verse Pricing Revealed!

While the plan is some 18 million homes passed by 2008, AT&T is slated to launch the "Project Lightspeed" VDSL2 and U-Verse IPTV market officially in San Antonio next month, with a dozen or so additional markets slated to launch before year's end. Some users in our forums claim to have been told the pricing structure for U-Verse.

Yahoo co-branded DSL tiers will come in 1.5Mbps (Express), 3Mbps(Pro), and 6Mbps(Elite) flavors, each with 1Mbps upstream. U-Verse IPTV will come in multiple flavors as well:

•The "U-verse 200" package will include 170 channels and local channels, as well as a 1.5Mbps/1Mbps DSL connection, for $85.•The "U-Verse 200 elite" package will include the same 170 channels with local channels, but offer 6Mbps/1Mbps DSL for $94.•The "U-Verse 300" package will include more than 200 channels including all premiums (minus HBO & Cinemax) for $114.
While AT&T would neither confirm or deny these packages for us on the phone, this freshly launched website would seem to do that for them. It's not clear if you'll be able to mix and match "express", "Pro", and "Elite" DSL speeds with the various U-Verse plans. The packages each include up to 3 tuners with integrated DVRs "at no additional charge", notes the website.

One poster claims that internal testing has shown that 6Mbps DSL tier has been reaching speeds up to 10Mbps. He also claims installations on average are taking AT&T around five hours. That same poster claims that AT&T has standard definition channels streaming at 2megs, with high definition channels streaming at 4megs. That's a little optimistic, as we've heard AT&T is looking to squeeze two HD streams into around 14meg.

As we recently discussed, AT&T won't be offering VoIP bundles with this initial launch, though AT&T vendors are working hard on the new platform to ensure everything works smoothly with the new home gateway and softswitches. No detail was given on when VoIP will enter the mix.
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MikeStammer
No prison can hold me
Premium Member
join:2002-12-26
Fortville, IN

1 edit

MikeStammer

Premium Member

I would try it

i would dump comcast and try the U-Verse 300 package. i have 6 Mb DSL from them now and its great. 10 Mb would pwn! TV is TV, i want the Innanet speed! =)

Now all they have to do is offer it in IL...

MTBikerChris
Premium Member
join:2001-08-28
Erie, CO

2 edits

1 recommendation

MTBikerChris

Premium Member

Re: I would try it

Click for full size
What a Joke
said by MikeStammer:

i would dump comcast and try the U-Verse 300 package. i have 6 Mb DSL from them now and its great. 10 Mb would pwn! TV is TV, i want the Innanet speed! =)

Now all they have to do is offer it in IL...
Yea But Comcast will be at 10/1 or More by year end. They all ready have this where FIOS is.

oliphant
I Have 8 Boobies
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA

4 edits

oliphant

Premium Member

Re: I would try it

Not everyone is into speed (or monthly download caps)...some are into price hence the massive sales increase of DSL over their cheap-o-the-week $15 DSL offerings. In our Comcast franchise video+HSI is very expense, WAY higher than $85 AT&T would be charging. Base digital "classic" is $57 and base internet here is $46 (with bundling discounts) and that is for only 384 upload and nastygram limited service (I've gotten 2 from Comcast over the years). That amounts to a 20% higher cost. Top tier 8Mb starts at $56 and that is with bundling "discounts" running the fees even higher. Some would consider Comcast's very high "prices" to be a joke especially if they aren't heavy downloaders.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

1 edit

1 recommendation

dadkins

MVM

Re: I would try it

Not everyone is into El Cheapo DSL packages either.
Some people wish to have a little horsepower at their fingertips.

I remember your claims of abuse letters... with a grain of salt. Also remember you stating that your Comcast was down more than up, so bandwidth wasn't possible, was it?

*HERE*, with Standard cable TV(no digital,HD, or DVR), my 8mbps is $52.95 and worth it!
Total cable bill is $105.33 with ~$3 fees included.
Sure as hell not going to pay $62 per month for DSL @ 1100k downstream!

Maybe it's a market thing, but please don't make blanket statements about Comcast. *MY* Comcast services are great!

I'm sorry you had/have bad experience(s) with them. Some(most) of us have not.
attsbcisgay
join:2003-03-18
Beverly Hills, CA

attsbcisgay

Member

Re: I would try it

comcast right now is 6/384
and 8/768?
but even the lower tier of uverse is 1mbps upload so that can be useful for uploading purpose like to a website that you are a webmaster.

right to brag or anything but it would make sense for me to upgrade as well to this new tier
who knows I might get 750kb/sec, 125kb/sec
now that's awesome
like I said we'll see.
Jonbo298
join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA

Jonbo298 to MTBikerChris

Member

to MTBikerChris
I wouldn't mind lowering my current speed from 9/1 to 6/1 if I could get most/all the channels I have right now with Cox and internet for about $130-$140. But since ATT doesn't service Omaha, nope
Primis1
join:2005-06-13
Coldwater, MI

Primis1 to MTBikerChris

Member

to MTBikerChris
No... Comcast will *list* 10/1. Comcast will *not* deliver those speeds or anything approaching though -- they never do.

And yes, there is a very, very big difference.

imrf
Premium Member
join:2002-06-06
Utica, MI

imrf

Premium Member

Re: I would try it

said by Primis1:

No... Comcast will *list* 10/1. Comcast will *not* deliver those speeds or anything approaching though -- they never do.
Just because *you* may have had issues with Comcast, that doesn't mean every place has that same problem. I know many people around here that have no problem getting their full 8Mbps/768Kbps speeds all the time.

steevio
Saving Lives One Shift At A Time
join:2003-06-22
Valencia, CA

steevio to Primis1

Member

to Primis1
My Comcast package advertises 8M/768k, and guess what, I consistantly get 8.2M/730k
jimbo21503
join:2004-05-10
Euclid, OH

jimbo21503 to MTBikerChris

Member

to MTBikerChris
Not even competition. Just as stated before. Price for Full digital cable and lowest internet tier (1.5mb down) is between $55-$65/month! You think I want to upgrade to a similar tier for $85/month?!?! {LAUGHS}

I will be switching to cable's 10/1 tier as soon as my ATT contract expires. They had the balls to offer a 6/7xx for the same price as the 10/1 tier (for a while)... {scoffs...}

I don't even have digital cable, just basic. Rarely ever watch TV. I just want internet plain and simple. With a video boom on the horizon there will soon be enough TV on the internet (BOTH free AND paid) for any TV-phile.

Guess I will never see any competition here as long as ATT has outrageous prices and a "no one needs fast internet" attitude. Goodbye ATT.

bassthumpa
Premium Member
join:2000-12-26
Austin, TX

bassthumpa

Premium Member

Re: I would try it

said by jimbo21503:

Not even competition. Just as stated before. Price for Full digital cable and lowest internet tier (1.5mb down) is between $55-$65/month! You think I want to upgrade to a similar tier for $85/month?!?! {LAUGHS}
Cable companies offering prices like that are few and far in between as far as I know. I pay nearly $80/mo for Time Warner for just TV, and that's just with one DVR.
jimbo21503
join:2004-05-10
Euclid, OH

jimbo21503

Member

Re: I would try it

said by bassthumpa:

Cable companies offering prices like that are few and far in between as far as I know.
Ya, TW offers cable here too, for much more dough. For the most part they offer the same channels (except TW looks like they offer more premium channels).

You should see if there are any other companies offering lower-cost cable in your area.

MarkyD
Premium Member
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK

MarkyD

Premium Member

I'm moving to San Antonio

next year...at least there'll be SOMETHING better then plain old DSL and TWC there.

MTBikerChris
Premium Member
join:2001-08-28
Erie, CO

MTBikerChris

Premium Member

Re: I'm moving to San Antonio

said by MarkyD:

next year...at least there'll be SOMETHING better then plain old DSL and TWC there.
Yea enjoy 100+Deg in the summer. last fall when we were going to get Rita Here in Houston i was in SA and it was 106 in Sept No Thanks

lostsoul187
join:2003-05-05
Schertz, TX

lostsoul187

Member

Re: I'm moving to San Antonio

said by MTBikerChris:
said by MarkyD:

next year...at least there'll be SOMETHING better then plain old DSL and TWC there.
Yea enjoy 100+Deg in the summer. last fall when we were going to get Rita Here in Houston i was in SA and it was 106 in Sept No Thanks
106 in sept, what crack pipe where you getting the tempeture from?
lol san antonio hasn't seen 106 temps in many years

MTBikerChris
Premium Member
join:2001-08-28
Erie, CO

MTBikerChris

Premium Member

Re: I'm moving to San Antonio

I was there when we had to leave for Rita and in The HEB parking lot My Truck said 106 and that was on the north side of SA. so i think for the books it went down as 102 or 103 not sure. so look at the records for the end of Sept and tell me ok!!!
LostMile
Premium Member
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI

LostMile

Premium Member

Maybe for the low-value customers...

...on the wrong side of the telco redline, they'll offer a pair of rabbit ears, a refurbished USR Sportster and a second phone line with unlimited dialup for $40/mo.
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus

Premium Member

fascinating

that they can get 10Mbps throughput from a telephone line..

cox has the 9Mbps speed here which I saw go past 11Mbps on several occasions, up to 12 or 13. only problem was consistancy...

If at&t keeps the speeds stable they might win over some customers. The only limitation must be distances, which I am guessing cable still has less of an issue with.
GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA

GhostDoggy

Member

No HDTV, No Care

HDTV is listed as Coming Soon. I think they mean, coming when they can afford the bandwidth, which might bee c.2010.

Seems kind of expensive to me. I don't want to watch, let alone pay for SDTV. Let some smuck illegal alien pay for it.
Bling7
join:2002-05-10
Chicago, IL

Bling7

Member

Re: No HDTV, No Care

I noticed that too. No HDTV? Blah.
Primis1
join:2005-06-13
Coldwater, MI

Primis1

Member

Re: No HDTV, No Care

There are enough cabelco's that don't offer HD to areas yet that it shouldn't be surprising.

If you already have HD available, you're fortunate and the exception, not the norm.

oliphant
I Have 8 Boobies
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA

3 edits

oliphant to GhostDoggy

Premium Member

to GhostDoggy
On their site they mention that HD is "coming soon".
GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA

GhostDoggy

Member

Re: No HDTV, No Care

said by oliphant:

On their site they mention that HD is "coming soon".
Why are you telling me something I posted in my opening post?
said by Primis1:

There are enough cabelco's that don't offer HD to areas yet that it shouldn't be surprising.

If you already have HD available, you're fortunate and the exception, not the norm.
I don't feel lucky. I wanted technology, so I moved to a modern town and not stayed planted in the backwoods expecting technology to come to me. I can get HD off the air, and I can get it through satellite providers and cable television providers.

The only provider that cannot deliver it is the phone company. LOL But they do have good voice service.

POB
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium Member
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA

1 recommendation

POB to oliphant

Premium Member

to oliphant
said by oliphant:

On their site they mention that HD is "coming soon".
So is a massive comet hurtling towards earth to crush it "coming soon" some day. But you don't seem to hear much about that either.
raIDERspeed
join:2002-07-26
Soledad, CA

raIDERspeed

Member

Re: No HDTV, No Care

hahah nice one
radougherty
join:1999-07-23
Austin, TX

radougherty to GhostDoggy

Member

to GhostDoggy
No HD and no HBO/Cinemax, I'll stick with my D* dish thank you.
cwh
join:2006-05-14
San Antonio, TX

cwh

Member

Re: No HDTV, No Care

HBO/Cinemax is available, it is just not part of the u300 package.

jamez818
please hold during the silence
join:2000-09-18
Sunland, CA

jamez818 to GhostDoggy

Member

to GhostDoggy
Or some retard hill billy, oops that's redundant.
I wonder if this is for FTTN or FTTP customers? FTTP customers would do just fine with FTTP.

Mr Anon
@172.16.x.x

Mr Anon

Anon

Some might not be into speed.

But I am, and I don't really care about those who aren't into speed, quality, bandwidth.

I do applaud AT&T for the near sync, speeds of 1.5 and 1, thats nice, however that 1megabit upload never budges seemingly to the other packages.

However... to not get to or break 10 megabits is a big let down. I really don't watch that much TV and while its great these steap prices are still better than the local cabel company (comcast) if they can offer a decent picture (I even dislike the digital picture don'e make me upload an example, and hell I hate the digitizing of analog channels that now have errors >.) that would be excellent but first and foremost I want speed!

This could give comcast a good shake up in their roots, I'm not too sure about other systems. however there is no way in HELL that this would compete with FIOS, no way!

We were innovative and on the forefront of the interent because it started here, but after that we've been slipping. Even look at Europe they use to have some of the crappiest excust of a lie for broadband ever. Now they have deployments that out pace us. Is it as cherryfull as that sentence no but its a lot better than where they came from.

My point is simple: in the world of progress we are still playing catch up, and this offering is a good example of that.
attsbcisgay
join:2003-03-18
Beverly Hills, CA

attsbcisgay

Member

Re: Some might not be into speed.

I think it would make more sense like..

3.0/1.5
6.0/3.0
9.0/4.5

NM... I'm getting a big headache.
Well its semilike FIOS but same decent upload right?

Oh wait, the upload is limited to 1mbps? no wonder they cannot offer higher?

sorry I'm just confused.

mr anon
@172.16.x.x

mr anon

Anon

Re: Some might not be into speed.

Thats the ticket!

Thats what I'm talking about, I believe at one time there was a 6/1 package but not now.

However my point is, I like speed, a lot of people do.

This offer doesn't really offer speeds faster than what they offer in a small range now, I wasn't wating for this to get TV I was waiting for this to get speed, at least give me something to be excited about.
feelthepain
Premium Member
join:2006-04-08
San Antonio, TX

feelthepain

Premium Member

Project Lightspeed Trial user

We have been on the trial for more than a month now. Let me dispel some of the current hype.
The service took 3 days to install because they came into my home and completely disregarded my input regarding my integrated LAN. The GeekSquad guy and I spent hours undoing/redoing what at&t did initially. Later, the U-verse people admitted they took the wrong approach.
IPTV over twisted pair is not about to reach HDTV levels, so forget about it with U-verse. They may have in mind to integrate satellite feed to the IPTV, but think in terms of years, not months.
The current quality of U-verse is sad indeed. We can count on heavily pixelated to complete green screen errors at least once per hour. I have recorded 6 episodes of the Sopranos and several movies and every one of them is full of errors.
My "elite" VDSL runs from 2365/356 to 5565/879. I check it once per day with the same server from the same client side computer. The best part of the current package is watching video clips download at realtime.
When they come around wanting to charge $1,200+ p/yr, I'll call Dish Network and go back to a quality service along with DSL. My DSL service was never out, but the VDSL has been out several times (including overnight when recordings were scheduled).
From sunny San Antonio, have a day. Make of it what you will!

••••
djeremy
join:2004-07-12
San Francisco, CA

djeremy

Member

where's the value?

With RCN I have all the channels (HBO, Showtime, Skinamax, etc.), HD with a DVR, and a 10mb download 800kb upload for $116. For another $10 to $15 I could get a 20mb/2mb speed. I just don't see how this is any great value... maybe 4 years ago I would have considered it but certainly not now.
TheGhost
Premium Member
join:2003-01-03
Lake Forest, IL

1 edit

TheGhost

Premium Member

Re: where's the value?

said by djeremy:

With RCN I have all the channels (HBO, Showtime, Skinamax, etc.), HD with a DVR, and a 10mb download 800kb upload for $116. For another $10 to $15 I could get a 20mb/2mb speed. I just don't see how this is any great value... maybe 4 years ago I would have considered it but certainly not now.
Maybe not a deal in your area, but I have Comcast and am currently at $120/month for Digital Silver (not all the channels) w/HBO, one HD STB, and 6MB/384K HSI. If they were able to provide what they are advertising, with increased HSI upload, it wouldn't be a bad deal. Big issue for me now would be the HD content and STB friendliness. Comcast does not have much HD and my wife greatly dislikes the STB interface (guide), so I am thinking of switching to Dish. We had DTV before, but are considering Dish because of HD channels.

Edit to add: Another point which hasn't been mentioned, it states above that prices include DVR which is an extra $10 or more here in Comcastic-land.

BK3
join:2001-04-10
Geneva, IL

1 edit

BK3

Member

It wouldn't be cost effective for me

I currently have AT&T DSL, 3000/512 at $18.00/Mo. I also have comcast cable TV at approx $53.00 / Mo. Together that's $71.00 / Mo. The speed is fine for me, and I don't have or need anything hi-def. With the least expensive package at $85.00, it would cost me more and provide no extra benefit for me. Also, I am thinking about dropping Comcast in favor of a dish, and would save more money.

NOTE: Notice that I live in Geneva, IL., where there is:
1) A 180 day hold on deploying project lightspeed
2) We (the city) are being sued by AT&T over #1, which, only a year or 2 ago was an "unproven technology"

Another thought:

This whole "Project Lightspeed" seems to be a half-assed job at best. With fiber only to the node, and copper for the last mile, it would appear as if they wouldn't be able to provide anything spectacular, like HI-Def TV along with very high speed internet at the same time over the copper. The bandwidth just isn't there. Unless they are hiding some new, super technology to address this, I don't expect "Project Lightspeed" to be anything special. What I would have expected is Fiber To The Home. This would have been nice. Hmmmm .. just like the city wanted to do with their muni system just a couple years ago.

Average Joes Brother

Anon

$85 for the advantage of having just one AT&T messy bill?

Sorry... not enough motivation to move guys.

$85 for TV, DSL, AND THE PHONE LINE you make me buy for DSL...then MAYBE we'll talk.

Anything less is just flat non-competitive.

The adoption rate is not going to look good to your shareholders come year end. I'd say you need a price adjustment or include the phone line.
GhostDoggy
join:2005-05-11
Duluth, GA

GhostDoggy

Member

I'd Rather Have Fios!



Sorry, I couldn't resist. Faster internet speeds with the video programming.
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

Rick5

Premium Member

If these prices are correct....

(and care should be taken in assuming that because AT&T hasn't confirmed, nor denied it)

They're just no big whoop for this area.

Reading from Adelphia's rate card which I just obtained over the last few days from them you can get...

everything they've got INCLUDING all the premiums (4 of them) including HBO, Cinemax...Starz..Showtime.

I haven't counted all their channels but it looks like it's probably close to 270 to maybe even 300.

And the price including HSI as well is...

119.65.

This also includes the digital basic..digital plus..and high definition channels as well.

It looks like to get the high definition..you'd also need the hi def receiver that is 7.95 per month.

I guess my feelings are that it's not that AT&T's wouldn't be competitive at the high end..but there's certainly no killer deal there in those prices. And to get customers to switch who are happy with their service..that's something you'd need..especially with a new technology such as this.

The real competitor out there today seems to be DISH satellite.
They have some really good prices and combined with DSL..you can save some good money.

I think if AT&T wants to be successful, they'd need to be priced down in the range that dish now charges.

Lastly, on a slightly different topic, It appears that AT&T has just merrily decided to roll along with their plans, apparently deciding that franchise agreements aren't needed nor important. And, judging from recent news reports..it appears that the powers that be in Ct. agree with them..all except for the Atty General who reportedly is going to try and change this.
AT&T's attitude is in stark contrast to the news reports about Verizon, who judging by news reports i've read, appear to beleive that the law does apply to them and they are negotiating franchise agreements.

As a consumer, I can't help but to wonder, who exactly does AT&T think they are anyway?
Franchise agreements apparently don't matter to them.
Whether or not their competitors in the telco and cable industry are bound by these agreements, or choose to do what is right..don't seem to matter to them.
A city like Geneva IL...who has every right to want to examine this issue a bit more winds up getting sued by them for doing just that...

and lastly, when you read the legal information that I have, namely the types of things that apply directly to whether they SHOULD be bound by franchise agreements or not..any reasonable person can only come away with the feeling that YES..they are and should be bound by them...

they just proceed onwards anyway..without seemingly a care in the world.

I would suggest that YOU..the consumer..should make them start to care..with your hard earned dollars.
And boycott this company who apparently believes that laws shouldn't apply to them.

I can appreciate the fact that we, as consumers, want choice and competition. And ultimately this would hopefully lead to better prices. BUT...if the prices in this article are TRUE..these are NOT better prices.

And so, why use them at all? Where's the benefit to supporting a company like this who really doesn't seem to care whether they play by the rules anyway..while the cable co's and verizon understand that they should..as good corporate citizens.

Franchise agreements protect communities and bring needed revenue to them. They protect the citizens in them...to insure equal access to services that people should have equal access to.

Some have asked why should VOIP have been exempt and not IPTV? The reason is really simple. IPTV is, today anyway..a one way service. And that's what defines what cable tv is...(not whether it's delivered via coax).
And that's what falls under the cable act laws now in existance, and AT&T really doesn't have a leg to stand on and that's why Geneva IL. is telling them they need one.

Instead, AT&T sues and apparently bullies and uses their corporate muscle and might to try and get their way.
This is a big problem and it's one of the leading causes of abuse of monopoly power.

I would feel different about this under one circumstance..and one only.
And that is that Cable co's are ALSO released from their franchise agreements.

And then, let them all have a field day trying to win us as customers.

Thats where the real benefits for consumers will come from AND what would be fair to the cable co's as well.

Until then, I'd suggest that anyone considering project lightspeed tell their AT&T Representative thanks..but no thanks.

~RRR
Zoder
join:2002-04-16
Miami, FL

Zoder

Member

HDTV at 4mbps?

What type of compression are they using? Mpeg 4? I know Comcast sends their HDTV at 19 mbps. It's hard to imagine the picture quality would be as good when it's that compressed. I'd be interested to see hear from users in San Antonio how it looks when it becomes available.

••••••

alchav
join:2002-05-17
Saint George, UT

alchav

Member

It's Sad that AT&T doesn't want to use Fiber!

I said this years ago, FTTH is the only way to go. Verizon is the only company that will succeed, if they put a good Business Plan together. I believe AT&T is about 10 years behind, they are trying to squeeze all this information over Copper. If they don't change Project Lightspeed to use Fiber To The Home, they will fail!
manhole0
join:2000-09-12
Modesto, CA

manhole0

Member

3 Receivers + DVR Included

If you'll notice, it says that 3 receivers including DVR on all of them are included in the price. This is definately something that can hurt the dish providors and cable.
AHomeBoy2000
join:2005-10-10
Hoffman Estates, IL

AHomeBoy2000

Member

Phone Service?

The "U-verse 200" package will include 170 channels and local channels, as well as a 1.5Mbps/1Mbps DSL connection, for $85.
It doesnt mention anything about phone service. is this over and above standard phone service, or do you pay extra for phone?
AHomeBoy2000

AHomeBoy2000

Member

I'd do it!

Currently, I pay $50 a month for analog Comcast Cable (no DVD, no digital) plus $71 for phone and DSL through AT&T. If I could get 170+ channel digital cable, 2 DVRs, DSL, and phone service for $100-$120 through AT&T..... sign me up!!

annon3
@mindspring.com

annon3

Anon

no cable

what if we just want the high speed internet?
doesnt that free up the bandwidth used by cable tv?
if it does then i hope to seeing 10 mbps.
Fishie
join:2003-01-14
Riverside, CA

Fishie

Member

No better than Cable

This deal really doesn't sound that much better than a lot of cable deals I see from various people. I don't have Caller ID or Call waiting. Because of that, I cannot get the new Elite tier for 27.99. For me, It's 42.99 or 43.99. Since I don't watch TV (nothing good on these days), I wonder if they will further penalize me when I don't order their TV.

People routinely state that AT&T won't be able to do HD over their VDSL lines. They can run anything over their lines. The quality is another story. I have watched Adelphia Digital cable and HD. They compress the heck out of their signal. All I see is compression artifacts. It's now painfully obvious that AT&T will do the same. Most people predicted that AT&T would be no different than the cable companies when it comes to pricing and bundled services. So far, they were all correct.

ftthz
If love can kill hate can also save
join:2005-10-17

ftthz

Member

...

hrmm... waits for the 10mbit at least but once it goes fiber 10,50,100mbit wouldn't be hard to do and be able to deliver quality HD streams with ease
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