Comments on: Now Vonage Will Also Sell Broadband http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:49:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Michael http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877619 Michael Fri, 09 May 2008 17:19:56 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877619 I think it's a great move to combine the two, although I have never been a fan of Cobad, but maybe they have improved in recent years. I think it’s a great move to combine the two, although I have never been a fan of Cobad, but maybe they have improved in recent years.

]]> By: Tom Coseven http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877578 Tom Coseven Fri, 09 May 2008 13:35:45 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877578 Om, agree with your plateau concern. Applying your brand to a resale of resale with no control of the service quality is daft. Vonage may be better off focusing on improving the voice calling experience. Being standards-based, it should have an advantage over Skype, but it has never tried to go this direction. Vonage has a similar problem to Tivo. It requires a facilities operator, which competes against it with a bundled product. Tivo's long-term hope is to provide a branded experience on top of the MSO STB. Maybe Vonage could try a similar approach. The conversion to IMS/PCMM2 would seem to favor Vonage, if they could come to a business arrangement. If Tivo can work with Comcast, why couldn't Vonage. Om, agree with your plateau concern. Applying your brand to a resale of resale with no control of the service quality is daft. Vonage may be better off focusing on improving the voice calling experience. Being standards-based, it should have an advantage over Skype, but it has never tried to go this direction.

Vonage has a similar problem to Tivo. It requires a facilities operator, which competes against it with a bundled product. Tivo’s long-term hope is to provide a branded experience on top of the MSO STB. Maybe Vonage could try a similar approach. The conversion to IMS/PCMM2 would seem to favor Vonage, if they could come to a business arrangement. If Tivo can work with Comcast, why couldn’t Vonage.

]]> By: Noel Huelsenbeck http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877540 Noel Huelsenbeck Fri, 09 May 2008 06:26:43 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877540 On the bright side you eliminate the finger pointing when trouble shooting. Instead staying on hold for 20 minutes with Vonage and then having them tell you it's your broadband connection, then calling Covad and staying on hold for 20 minutes, and having them tell you it's your VoIP provider. Vonage will probably just put you on hold forever why they try to figure it out. To be fair I only used Vonage as a pilot project for a few months several years ago. My experience with their customer service was dreadful, that may have changed in the last couple of years. On the bright side you eliminate the finger pointing when trouble shooting. Instead staying on hold for 20 minutes with Vonage and then having them tell you it’s your broadband connection, then calling Covad and staying on hold for 20 minutes, and having them tell you it’s your VoIP provider. Vonage will probably just put you on hold forever why they try to figure it out.

To be fair I only used Vonage as a pilot project for a few months several years ago. My experience with their customer service was dreadful, that may have changed in the last couple of years.

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877526 Om Malik Fri, 09 May 2008 04:08:34 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877526 @ Tom and @Partike, While I agree with you, I think this is a good move for Vonage needs to shore up its customer base. The subscriber base is going to plateau. the new additions are slowing down. Maybe DSL helps convince others to sign-up? @ Tom and @Partike,

While I agree with you, I think this is a good move for Vonage needs to shore up its customer base. The subscriber base is going to plateau. the new additions are slowing down. Maybe DSL helps convince others to sign-up?

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877484 Om Malik Thu, 08 May 2008 21:54:18 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877484 @ Andrew.... Ouch. @ Andrew…. Ouch.

]]> By: Andrew Norton http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877451 Andrew Norton Thu, 08 May 2008 19:27:11 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877451 Covad is a horrible service provider coupled with Vonage is it a marriage made in hell. Covad is a horrible service provider coupled with Vonage is it a marriage made in hell.

]]> By: Alex Goldman http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877445 Alex Goldman Thu, 08 May 2008 19:07:23 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877445 Maybe Vonage could be the first company to be allowed to resell Covad business voice? Heh Maybe Vonage could be the first company to be allowed to resell Covad business voice?

Heh

]]> By: Parkite http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877433 Parkite Thu, 08 May 2008 17:53:07 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877433 A resale (Covad) of a resale (incumbent copper)? Seems like a low margin endeavor fraught with service quality issues. A resale (Covad) of a resale (incumbent copper)? Seems like a low margin endeavor fraught with service quality issues.

]]> By: Tom Coseven http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877428 Tom Coseven Thu, 08 May 2008 17:19:00 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877428 How's Earthlink doing reselling broadband? Why do think this FVNO will turn out any better than the recent MVNO flame outs? Wouldn't Vonage be better off to start with a simpler QoS deal with Covad, that didn't require Vonage to bill and support low-margin dsl service? How’s Earthlink doing reselling broadband? Why do think this FVNO will turn out any better than the recent MVNO flame outs? Wouldn’t Vonage be better off to start with a simpler QoS deal with Covad, that didn’t require Vonage to bill and support low-margin dsl service?

]]> By: steve ballmer http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877426 steve ballmer Thu, 08 May 2008 17:10:45 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877426 Vonage needs to do something legal for a change! Vonage needs to do something legal for a change!

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877407 Om Malik Thu, 08 May 2008 15:50:10 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877407 @ Brian, I am betting that is indeed their motivation. I think it is the right approach to take. @ Brian,

I am betting that is indeed their motivation. I think it is the right approach to take.

]]> By: Chris http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877403 Chris Thu, 08 May 2008 15:17:15 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877403 If it were not for the frivolous lawsuits by Verizon and others trying to strangle with stupid patents, Vonage would have earned even more. If they offer good broad band speeds, many will switch in a hurry. If it were not for the frivolous lawsuits by Verizon and others trying to strangle with stupid patents, Vonage would have earned even more. If they offer good broad band speeds, many will switch in a hurry.

]]> By: Brian Hart http://gigaom.com/2008/05/08/vonage-broadband/#comment-877402 Brian Hart Thu, 08 May 2008 15:15:00 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=13351#comment-877402 Would this relationship with Covad now allow Vonage to guarantee a certain quality of service for phone calls? Would this relationship with Covad now allow Vonage to guarantee a certain quality of service for phone calls?

]]>