Comments on: Line losses & Bells’ Race against time http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:22:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Global Telcos Plotting a Skype Rival? - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-877084 Global Telcos Plotting a Skype Rival? - GigaOM Tue, 06 May 2008 16:54:17 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-877084 [...] I have noted previously on several occasions, the carriers are in a race against time — these line losses basically make their plans to sell other services such as broadband and [...] [...] I have noted previously on several occasions, the carriers are in a race against time — these line losses basically make their plans to sell other services such as broadband and [...]

]]> By: Verizon DSL Sales Are Stagnating - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-875388 Verizon DSL Sales Are Stagnating - GigaOM Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:32:21 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-875388 <p>[...] like many other carriers is in a race against time: It is critical for the phone companies to keep people talking on their lines if they want to sell [...]</p> [...] like many other carriers is in a race against time: It is critical for the phone companies to keep people talking on their lines if they want to sell [...]

]]> By: Dreaming of Wireless Broadband - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-862620 Dreaming of Wireless Broadband - GigaOM Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:00:16 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-862620 <p>[...] happening as the major players launch unlimited voice plans. Suddenly it becomes moot to have a wireline telephone, and the geographic boundaries that framed a consumer’s telco provider choices are [...]</p> [...] happening as the major players launch unlimited voice plans. Suddenly it becomes moot to have a wireline telephone, and the geographic boundaries that framed a consumer’s telco provider choices are [...]

]]> By: AT&T Boosts Speeds, But it’s a Small U-Verse - GigaOM http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-857865 AT&T Boosts Speeds, But it’s a Small U-Verse - GigaOM Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:00:16 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-857865 <p>[...] The move puts AT&T’s broadband offerings on par with cable, which is currently eating the telcos’ lunch with triple-play services. Sadly, the U-Verse universe is so far available to only 5.5 million [...]</p> [...] The move puts AT&T’s broadband offerings on par with cable, which is currently eating the telcos’ lunch with triple-play services. Sadly, the U-Verse universe is so far available to only 5.5 million [...]

]]> By: Why Wireless Carriers Like Convergence « Connected Home 2 Go http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90578 Why Wireless Carriers Like Convergence « Connected Home 2 Go Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:06:47 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90578 <p>[...] carriers to offer simple home phone service. This is terrible news for wireline telcos, who, as Om Malik points out, are already seeing disastrous declines in voice revenues. But for wireless carriers, it means new [...]</p> [...] carriers to offer simple home phone service. This is terrible news for wireline telcos, who, as Om Malik points out, are already seeing disastrous declines in voice revenues. But for wireless carriers, it means new [...]

]]> By: The Law of Mobility » Blog Archive » Business Models: March 2007 http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90576 The Law of Mobility » Blog Archive » Business Models: March 2007 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 09:44:46 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90576 <p>[...] Line losses & Bells’ Race against time [...]</p> [...] Line losses & Bells’ Race against time [...]

]]> By: five_whys http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90574 five_whys Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:38:56 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90574 <p>Agree with most comments made here... worth sharing another experience.. some of you can try this!</p> <p>I am with pacbell for many years.. I was paying $15/month for DSL sometimes back and saw it going to $50/month. WIth premium package and long distance etc., I was paying $100 / month till mid last year. At some point I was trying with Vonage and I called up pacbell and asked to cancel voice line (while keeping DSL). Person on line offered me a deal - upgrade my DSL speed & keep premium phone package as it is and brought down my total bill to $50 (though without long distance) where I was paying $50 just for DSL earlier!!! they were simply waiting for me to call to offer better service at lower price!!</p> <p>give it a try!</p> <p>five_whys</p> Agree with most comments made here… worth sharing another experience.. some of you can try this!

I am with pacbell for many years.. I was paying $15/month for DSL sometimes back and saw it going to $50/month. WIth premium package and long distance etc., I was paying $100 / month till mid last year. At some point I was trying with Vonage and I called up pacbell and asked to cancel voice line (while keeping DSL). Person on line offered me a deal - upgrade my DSL speed & keep premium phone package as it is and brought down my total bill to $50 (though without long distance) where I was paying $50 just for DSL earlier!!! they were simply waiting for me to call to offer better service at lower price!!

give it a try!

five_whys

]]> By: Clint http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90572 Clint Tue, 06 Mar 2007 11:55:48 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90572 <p>I wrote a response on my blog, IPUrbia.com. I definitely agree that AT&T faces a rough future in the residential market, and I don't see it getting much better with the rollout of their IPTV platform. Having triple play may stem the tide, but, when all is said and done, in two or three years, AT&T will be competing in a DOCSIS 3/fiber market where their competition is offering 10 times the bandwidth and has room to go. Still, AT&T is strong in the business market as a strength, which, while it doesn't have the sheer number of subs of the residential market, does have much better margins.</p> I wrote a response on my blog, IPUrbia.com. I definitely agree that AT&T faces a rough future in the residential market, and I don’t see it getting much better with the rollout of their IPTV platform. Having triple play may stem the tide, but, when all is said and done, in two or three years, AT&T will be competing in a DOCSIS 3/fiber market where their competition is offering 10 times the bandwidth and has room to go. Still, AT&T is strong in the business market as a strength, which, while it doesn’t have the sheer number of subs of the residential market, does have much better margins.

]]> By: John Thacker http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90566 John Thacker Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:07:21 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90566 <p><em>A quick fix to this would actually be better offerings - higher downstream and better upstream speeds to counter the cable operators who are charging more for their beefier offerings. Time Warner and Cablevision, for example have started offering “more” bandwidth.</em></p> <p>Time Warner and Cablevision are also offering faster bandwidth especially in places with Verizon's FiOS. FiOS is great, but it's not exactly a "quick fix." But maybe it is time for faster DSL offerings, assuming it's possible. The Bells were competing on price by offering cheap DSL, for the people who are just as happy on 768k DSL as on faster cable modems, and might even be still on dial-up, and got a lot of adds that way-- but that growth slowed down from last year.</p> A quick fix to this would actually be better offerings - higher downstream and better upstream speeds to counter the cable operators who are charging more for their beefier offerings. Time Warner and Cablevision, for example have started offering “more” bandwidth.

Time Warner and Cablevision are also offering faster bandwidth especially in places with Verizon’s FiOS. FiOS is great, but it’s not exactly a “quick fix.” But maybe it is time for faster DSL offerings, assuming it’s possible. The Bells were competing on price by offering cheap DSL, for the people who are just as happy on 768k DSL as on faster cable modems, and might even be still on dial-up, and got a lot of adds that way– but that growth slowed down from last year.

]]> By: Werblog http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90568 Werblog Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:04:45 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90568 <p><strong>The Bells' Challenge...</strong></p> <p>Om Malik points to some numbers of UBS Research on how the incumbent phone companies are losing market share to cable VOIP, and pushing video as their salvation.......</p> The Bells’ Challenge…

Om Malik points to some numbers of UBS Research on how the incumbent phone companies are losing market share to cable VOIP, and pushing video as their salvation…….

]]> By: Jacob Levy http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90570 Jacob Levy Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:42:57 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90570 <p>I'm in the pac-hell area and I'm currently going through tech support hell with my dsl. I'm just about ready to ditch "the new AT&T", if my life is going to be that miserable I don't need them to bring it to me, as their stupid slogan says. Om, this would be an awesome story for you to feature, as an "ongoing saga from the trenches", what it's <em>really</em> like when you need tech support from AT&T --> a fast trip down to hell.</p> <p>You have my email from the comment, if you want more details let me know, I have a full log of all that transpired in the week and 1 day (so far) since my DSL broke and it hasn't been fixed <em>yet</em>.</p> I’m in the pac-hell area and I’m currently going through tech support hell with my dsl. I’m just about ready to ditch “the new AT&T”, if my life is going to be that miserable I don’t need them to bring it to me, as their stupid slogan says. Om, this would be an awesome story for you to feature, as an “ongoing saga from the trenches”, what it’s really like when you need tech support from AT&T –> a fast trip down to hell.

You have my email from the comment, if you want more details let me know, I have a full log of all that transpired in the week and 1 day (so far) since my DSL broke and it hasn’t been fixed yet.

]]> By: Jake http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90530 Jake Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:22:05 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90530 <p>In the NY area, where Cablevision has been successful against Verizon, Verizon is running radio ads on reliability. They have a lot of statements about "no matter the weather" and so "it's there."</p> <p>Mainly attacking the service in a power outage issue that cable voip suffers from.</p> <p>At the end of the ad, when the talking stops and the music stops, they insert the disclaimer - duration of service in a power outage will vary.</p> <p>Yes, they don't get it.</p> In the NY area, where Cablevision has been successful against Verizon, Verizon is running radio ads on reliability. They have a lot of statements about “no matter the weather” and so “it’s there.”

Mainly attacking the service in a power outage issue that cable voip suffers from.

At the end of the ad, when the talking stops and the music stops, they insert the disclaimer - duration of service in a power outage will vary.

Yes, they don’t get it.

]]> By: Jim http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90564 Jim Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:51:25 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90564 <p>The Bells STILL don't get it. I remain a landline user with an unlimited long distance plan. I never liked any of the VOIP options I tried (and I've tried several). I'm old school in liking the reliability of landlines.</p> <p>However I was shocked to read a notice in my recent Bellsouth bill that the voicemail fee was going from $4 to $5 per month. That's a 25% increase !!!! This fee is in addition to my premium local and unlimited long distance packages.</p> <p>This is a business in decline and rather than enhancing value to retain customers, they continue to nickel & dime. Bellsouth should be sending out notices that voicemail is now included in its premium local and long distance packages -- rather than increasing the fee 25% !</p> <p>So I cancelled my voicemail service. I get an overall 8% reduction in my Bellsouth bill, and deny them their $1 increase AND the $4 they've been receiving for years.</p> The Bells STILL don’t get it. I remain a landline user with an unlimited long distance plan. I never liked any of the VOIP options I tried (and I’ve tried several). I’m old school in liking the reliability of landlines.

However I was shocked to read a notice in my recent Bellsouth bill that the voicemail fee was going from $4 to $5 per month. That’s a 25% increase !!!! This fee is in addition to my premium local and unlimited long distance packages.

This is a business in decline and rather than enhancing value to retain customers, they continue to nickel & dime. Bellsouth should be sending out notices that voicemail is now included in its premium local and long distance packages — rather than increasing the fee 25% !

So I cancelled my voicemail service. I get an overall 8% reduction in my Bellsouth bill, and deny them their $1 increase AND the $4 they’ve been receiving for years.

]]> By: its4us2think http://gigaom.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90565 its4us2think Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:48:39 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2007/03/05/bell-accessline-losses-4q2006/#comment-90565 <p>I would say they should stop gouging their customers on bells and whistle features on their land lines. Isn't it ridiculous that they increased their CallerID charges to $8 per month (in California).</p> <p>If they continue with such pricing, of course people would jump to VOIP from Comcast and other independent operators who are offering most of these bells and whistles for free.</p> I would say they should stop gouging their customers on bells and whistle features on their land lines. Isn’t it ridiculous that they increased their CallerID charges to $8 per month (in California).

If they continue with such pricing, of course people would jump to VOIP from Comcast and other independent operators who are offering most of these bells and whistles for free.

]]>