Method of upgrading a computer system from a narrowband communication link to a broadband communication link

A computer system comprising:

• an application, executed on a customer purchased computer system, including a capability qualification unit for determining, over a standard phone line between a customer and a telephone company utilizing a customer's existing analog modem, the capability of the same standard phone line to support digital subscriber line (DSL) capability, wherein the capability qualification includes a test for impediments on the phone line and checks for quality of the phone line due to proximity between the customer and the telephone company, wherein the test for impediments sends one or more test patterns from the telephone company to the customer's existing analog modem;
• a service package offer unit for offering one or more DSL service packages to enable DSL capability on the customer purchased computer system;
• and another application including a DSL enable unit for enabling DSL capability of a combination modem coupled to the customer purchased computer system, wherein the DSL enable unit comprises:
• DSL service operation software downloaded to the customer purchased computer system over the standard phone line;
• and DSL service configuration software downloaded to the customer purchased computer system over the standard phone line.

An apparatus for upgrading a computer system from a narrowband communication link to a broadband communication link, the apparatus comprising:

• a combination modem coupled to a customer purchased computer system including a digital subscriber line (DSL) capability and a standard phone line capability;
• a computer readable medium;
• an application, executed on the customer purchased computer system, providing instructions stored on the computer readable medium to perform a capability qualification operating over a standard phone line between a customer and a telephone company utilizing a customer's existing analog modem to determine availability of DSL service over the same standard phone line, wherein the capability qualification includes a test for impediments on the phone line and checks for quality of the phone line due to proximity between the customer and the telephone company, wherein the test for impediments sends one or more test patterns from the telephone company to the customer's existing analog modem;
• instructions stored on the computer readable medium to offer one or more DSL service packages upon confirmation that DSL service is available;
• and
• another of the applications, executed on the customer purchased computer system, providing instructions stored on the computer readable medium to enable DSL capability of the combination modem coupled to the customer purchased computer system;
• wherein the instructions to offer one or more DSL service packages upon confirmation that DSL service is available comprises:
• instructions stored on the computer readable medium to provide information on the cost and features of the one or more DSL service packages on the customer purchased computer system;
• instructions stored on the computer readable medium to obtain payment information through the customer purchased computer system;
• and
• instructions stored on the computer readable medium to download configuration and operation software for DSL and internet service provider (ISP) services to the customer purchased computer system over the standard phone line.

A computer system comprising at least one memory coupled to one or more processors, the at least one memory storing:

• a combination modem including a digital subscriber line (DSL) capability and a standard phone line capability on a customer purchased computer system;
• instructions from an application, executed on the customer purchased computer system, providing for performing a capability qualification operating over a standard phone line between a customer and a telephone company utilizing a customer's existing analog modem to determine the availability of DSL service over the same standard phone line, wherein the capability qualification includes a test for impediments on the phone line and checks for quality of the phone line due to proximity between the customer and the telephone company, wherein the test for impediments sends one or more test patterns from the telephone company to the customer's existing analog modem;
• instructions for offering one or more DSL service packages through the customer purchased computer system upon confirmation that DSL service is available;
• and instructions from another of the applications, executed on the customer purchased computer system, providing for enabling DSL capability on the customer purchased computer system;
• wherein the instructions for offering to a user one or more DSL service packages upon confirmation that DSL service is available comprises:
• instructions for providing information on the cost and features of the one or more DSL service packages on the customer purchased computer system;
• instructions for obtaining payment information on the customer purchased computer system;
• and instructions for downloading configuration and operation software for DSL and internet service provider (ISP) services to the customer purchased computer system over the standard phone line.