Communications Bundling - The New Greedy Trend

[DudeAsInCool]

Dangling Broadband From the Phone Stick

Randi Lynn Beach for The New York Times

By MATT RICHTEL

Published: March 19, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 - To gauge the potential consumer impact of the consolidation sweeping the telephone industry, look no further than the silver-toned plastic phone gathering dust on the desk in Justin Martikovic's studio apartment.

Mr. Martikovic, 30, a junior architect who relies on a cellphone for his normal calling, says he never uses the desk phone - but he pays $360 a year to keep it hooked up.

"I have to pay for a service I'm never using," he said.

He has no choice. His telephone company, SBC Communications, will not sell him high-speed Internet access unless he buys the phone service, too. That puts him in the same bind as many people around the country who want high-speed, or broadband, Internet access but no longer need a conventional telephone. Right now, their phone companies tend to have a "take it or leave it" attitude.

Consumers "are not forced to go with SBC," said Michael Coe, a company spokesman. "If they just want a broadband connection, I'd recommend they look around for people who can provide just a broadband connection."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/19/technology/19phone.html?

[KiwiCoromandel]

no surprises there dude...competition be fucked...monopolies rule in the free market...... <_>

[DudeAsInCool]

More monkey business:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/31/business...ia/31cable.html?

[Redneck4sure]

SBC has me bundled but I wanted a home phone so it was not a big deal. I can see where it is a big deal to some people though.

[DudeAsInCool]

SBC has me bundled but I wanted a home phone so it was not a big deal. I can see where it is a big deal to some people though.

I joined ATT for phone and internet, but they sold out to Comcast, which has the best internet service in terms of speed, etc, but they insist I get their cable to get the same price. I think the FCC should examine the practice...

[Redneck4sure]

I can't get cable. I have 3meg down 384k up dsl. Cable is better but it's the best I can do. And it's only $30 a month. :wha':

[slum_goddess]

i can't get cable cause the fucking house is so old (otherwise, that's a good thing...that the house is old, that is). but we have very fast broadband.