Microsoft High-Speed Access Plan Delayed

Microsoft Corp. said an expansion of its MSN fast Internet access service would be delayed another few months as it works to replace ailing partner Enron Corp. and improve service.

Microsoft had planned to have high-speed service available for sale to 40 million to 45million U.S. households by the end of March. Instead, that will happen around the middle of the year, said Lisa Gurry, an MSN product manager.

Enron agreed in June to provide the backbone for the expansion.

Shares of Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft rose 53 cents to $62.85 on Nasdaq.