Columbia, Mo.—Socket, a Missouri-based telephone and Internet service provider, recently announced its acquisition of Interlinc.net, a local Internet service provider serving the southwest Missouri area.

“We have enjoyed the past 11 years serving our clients, but the time had come to turn the Internet and e-mail access over to a company better equipped to serve our local market,” said Rich Rabah, president of Interlinc.net. “We felt it was important to find a Missouri-based company that would continue focusing on local support and community involvement and we are confident that Socket will more than fulfill our customers’ needs.”

This acquisition will allow Socket to continue to achieve its mission of bringing the highest level of technology available to all of Missouri by expanding its accelerated dial-up Internet connections, Web hosting, business voice, and data communication solutions in the southwest Missouri community.

Socket recently completed the Interlinc.net customer transition, bringing in extra customer support staff during key operations hours to personally field any lingering concerns as quickly as possible. Customers were able to keep their e-mail addresses and now have the option to upgrade their current dial-up service to one of several choices including Socket’s High Speed DSL or accelerated dial-up service. Socket will not only be able to provide these customers faster Internet connectivity, but they can also expect enhanced online security, more communication choices, and top-of-the-line technical support seven days a week.

“We were all very pleased with how the transition went,” said Eric Burkett, acquisitions and wholesale manager at Socket. “Our new customers are excited to be able to pick up the phone and have any question answered immediately by a live, professional customer support representative. Helping our customers communicate is why we’re here, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer our newest customers an expanded portfolio of communications solutions and the live, local technical support that makes Socket a standout in the technology industry.”

Interlinc.net is an Internet service provider located in Branson, Missouri. The company began providing dial-up Internet service to its customers in 1997 and grew to serve more than 10,000 in southwest Missouri area by 2004. Interlinc.net will continue to provide wireless Internet connections to more than a dozen hotels in the Branson area, as well as Web hosting, design and public Internet terminals for Branson visitors.

Founded in 1994, Socket is a Missouri-based telephone and Internet service provider with the largest service coverage in the state. Socket is a privately held company that provides business customers a choice for local and long-distance phone service. It combines the highest quality customer service with in-depth technical knowledge to provide customized phone service packages. Socket also offers high-speed DSL and accelerated dial-up Internet service to both business and residential clients. Socket provides service to more than 20,000 customers in more than 400 cities across Missouri. For additional information, please visit: http://www.socket.net.

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