SegaNet

SegaNet (United States)

SegaNet was a short-lived Internet service geared for dial-up-based online gaming on the Dreamcastgame console in the United States. The service was created by Sega in collaboration with GTE through its GTE Internetworking division, which was spun-off from GTE and renamed Genuity in the midst of development as GTE merged with Bell Atlantic to form Verizon Communications on June 30, 2000. As such, it was Genuity that ended up providing the dial-up service and network infrastructure. Sega also announced a partnership with AT&T on August 4, 1999, making the AT&T WorldNet service the preferred Internet service provider (ISP) to connect the Dreamcast online in the United States. Sega additionally announced an agreement to have Excite@Home as the exclusive portal partner for SegaNet on December 14, 1999, bringing Excite's services and content to the online platform. Microsoft participated somewhat in the development of the service, but they terminated their relationship with Sega just a few months before its launch over differences in its direction.