DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1997 APR 8 (NB) -- By Bob Woods. US West's [NYSE:USW] Interprise Networking Services division said testing of its public Interact Internet access terminals is fully underway in the Seattle area. The terminals give users access to their e-mail, the World Wide Web, various online services, and other Internet services while they're nowhere near their primary computers. Each terminal contains a multimedia computer, and are hooked to the Internet via special integrated subscriber digital network (ISDN) lines that provides speeds five to 10 times faster than standard analog modems, officials said. Eventually, the terminals will be connected through digital subscriber lines (xDSL), which use existing copper phone wiring to achieve higher speeds than the modems most people use to hook up to the Net. The terminals themselves aren't the only concept being tested. People will use smart cards outfitted with digital certificates to pay for their online time. The cards will also contain a consumer's personal information. Corporate users will be able to access their businesses' networks from the public Interact terminals, because digital authentication data contained in the smart cards will contain information that will let the users through corporate firewalls, officials said. A $3.95 charge is levied for the first 15 minutes of use, and each additional 15 minute block costs $1.95. US West's Public Services arm will install and manage the terminals, while Interprise Networking Services will provide the Internet platform for the units. Interact terminals are currently in Seattle at The Broadway Market, Sea-Tac Airport, Seattle Center, Seattle Central Community College, and the Washington State Ferry Terminal. The Denver market is also set to get the terminals. If all goes well, the concept could be rolled out nationwide, officials said. US West officials were not available for further comment. US West's Web site is at http://www.uswest.com . Interact Internet Service is one of a few such operations providing Internet access around the US. Berkeley, California-based QuickATM has installed its QuickATM Internet stations at the San Francisco Airport (Newsbytes, Feb. 27, 1997). The terminals are in United Airlines' North Terminal, adjacent to Gate 82. Users can retrieve and send e-mail, get online, surf the Web, access local travel information and purchase electronic tickets for flights, officials said. The company uses NEC Versa notebooks as the computer brains behind QuickATM stations. Users can access e-mail from almost any Internet e- mail address with few exceptions. Currently, AOL, Compuserve and Microsoft Network users can send e-mail through QuickATM, but they cannot access e-mail or the specific services. QuickATM plans rapid distribution of the company's Internet stations. Travelers moving through Los Angeles International Airport, Dulles and National Airports in Greater Washington DC, and Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Airports serving New York/New Jersey area will have an opportunity to use the new Internet kiosks in the next six months. (19970408/Press Contacts: Jeremy Story, Interprise Networking Services, 303-896-0934; Steve Dennis, US West Public Services, 206- 345-1690; Cheryl Walsh, Brodeur Porter Novelli, 617-587- 2845/Reported By Newsbytes News Network: http://www.newsbytes.com)