kapil
The Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL | He salvaged Mpower
Maybe Rolla Huff can do the same for the sinking ship that is Earthlink. |
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PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03
 ·CableOne
| Damned if they do, damned if they don't
So, pretty much everything they have gotten themselves into is losing them money.... maybe along with a new CEO, they should hire a team of business/financial/technical advisers to keep them focused on ventures that will lead to profit.
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A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any other invention, with the possible exceptions of handguns and Tequilla. -- Mitch Ratcliffe |
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bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
| Expand the muni wifi networks & the user base will increase
That last effort hasn't been going quite as expected; the company seems to be pausing to rethink muni-Fi slightly after likely (they've kept data to themselves) seeing low subscriber counts in initial deployments. Being one of those cities that has a Earthlink muni wifi network, it is the lack of coverage that is killing them. If they had coverage in my neighborhood and some of the other neighborhoods in the city, they might see the number of users they have increase. Unfortunately, almost half of their network is in an area where people don't live and probably aren't going to subscribe - the folks are mostly commuters in the CBD.
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Prove it...
Save the Internet Time (NTP) service, use the pool. |
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bmn
? ? ?
Premium,ExMod 2003-06
join:2001-03-15
hiatus
| reply to PolarBear
Re: Damned if they do, damned if they don't
Or at least break even...
I know that part of the problem they are having with the muni wifi venture is that they don't advertise it at all. You typically find out about it by accidentally connecting to one of their access points.
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Prove it...
Save the Internet Time (NTP) service, use the pool. |
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lokiju
join:2007-03-19
Atlanta, GA
| I'm going to regret this...
I just happen to be on hold trying to give them my business!
I've been on hold now for 20 mins without a single person even picking up and this is for business class service, this isn't a good start to using Earthlink.
I think I'll end up regretting this one. |
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ftthz
If love can kill hate can also save
join:2005-10-17 | Earthlink
good luck |
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RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to lokiju
Re: I'm going to regret this...
I dumped their "business class service" (net access and web hosting) because they were impossible to get hold of anymore and didn't seem to be able to handle even simple requests like DNS changes without screwing it up. It's not a matter of if, but when you'll regret doing business with them.
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Toolmaster of La Grange. |
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TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| reply to lokiju
said by lokiju  :I just happen to be on hold trying to give them my business! I've been on hold now for 20 mins without a single person even picking up and this is for business class service, this isn't a good start to using Earthlink. I think I'll end up regretting this one. Then don't do it. Hang up and look again at your options.
--
--
Internet News
My BLOG
My Web Page |
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Michieru2
zzz zzz zzz
Premium
join:2005-01-28
Miami, FL
| .
Earthlink has been a test bed for ideas that anyone with some idea knew they will fail as short term solutions or simply the wrong technology for the job.
ADSL2+ is a mere temporary solution but unless some other form of transmission is possible we have reached the limit of how much we can get from unshielded copper wiring.
Cable is the next step as it can achieve higher speeds due to being properly shielded and is the next step or in my own way DSL 2.0.
With DOCSIS 3.0 and other forms it is possible to achieve 100Mbps and possibly more as the technology improves. We can now consider the cableco's as more or less telco's as they can also provide phone services over cable.
Not only is cable thicker but since it's shielded there is much advantage towards it. A thicker and fatter wire unlike a standard telephone which sometimes could be as thin as hair will not only be more reliable but won't break as easily.
I say Earthlink start reconsidering what they sell and do more partnerships with cable companies to sell Earthlink cable services, where they can also provide their own types of VOIP and VOD services.
Think about it, why is Earthlink losing dialup customers by the truckload? I really don't think it's because they "suck" and it's more of an issue that AT&T is selling DSL at about the same price, and the possibility that some customers have decided that dialup can no longer provide what they want, they will move to faster services and technology.
People should not be on dialup anymore and I find it annoying that some people are still on it. DSL should be now priced at 14.95 - 21.95 and cable should be 49.95-79.95
while fiber could reach around 110.95-499.95 depending on the amount of bandwidth.
Price is one of the main factors on why people are not moving to broadband.
Reliability is another factor since with dialup as long as there is dial tone you can turn on that laptop or use that computer with a UPS and still do some small task work and get the job done. If power goes out you also lose your DSL, cable, due to it's power.
I have respect for Earthlink, but they have been throwing money out the window recently and I can start by saying Muni-Wi-Fi is just a wifi-freeloaders dream.
If you really want to see WiFi be used for municipal use you will need to do some major improvement such as:
1. Power consumption must be kept at the minimum possible.
2. Technology must be able to handle multiple subscribers and handle large demand at any given day.
3. Must be able to handle the rough outdoor environment such as rain, snow, ice, strong winds, and must have some form of backup power.
4. Must cover the biggest possible area in a given angle limiting the amount of stations per tower.
5. Must have the bandwidth to meet demand, and possible cellphone use.
A partnership with Skype in over to make VOIP phones over the Earthlink Muni-WiFi network is a possibility if they continue to push this effort but with better equipment.
29.95 for unlimited calling using your Skype phone connected to the Earthlink-WiFi network. Earthlink can also provide services to the iPhone from Apple computer killing EDGE and GSM altogether and simply using WiFi to place calls and at fast speeds which make the phone seem like a better buy than the pile of dog shit they have now (no offense).
So yes, he has plenty of work to do and needs to bring Earthlink back from the 90's and into the 21 century to make the company profitable, provide services and offerings and eventually gain enough capital to invest in something that in the short-term might not seem profitable but in the end it was worth the effort such as Verizon Fios or even WiMAX or some other form of technology.
Good luck Rolla Huff.
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Duct tape, saving lives since 1942. |
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nattele
join:2003-11-25
Moreno Valley, CA | Rolla Huffa is an awesome guy
Rolla is an awesome human and even better leader. I'm excited to see what Earthlink does under his leadership.
Michael Bremmer |
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nattele
join:2003-11-25
Moreno Valley, CA | Re: Rolla Huff is an awesome guy
I'm an idiot, sorry, Rolla's last name is Huff, not Huffa.
Either way, I worked with him for years at Mpower and he'll do a good job for Earthlink.
Michael Bremmer |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·AT&T Yahoo
·AT&T DSL Service
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| reply to PolarBear
Re: Damned if they do, damned if they don't
In today's competitive (or lack thereof) environment independent providers like Earthlink have a hard row to hoe. It's not hard to see the writing on the wall.... Incumbent Telco and Cable companies are going to own us (and our future) and IF WE ARE LUCKY options like Muni or a WI-FI competitor may exist, but in most cases it's going to Cable and Telco, and that is it. :/
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) |
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nomadica
@cox.net
| reply to nattele
Re: Rolla Huff is an awesome guy
Wow, Gary destroyed all the inhouse support. Laid off almost all the US staff and convinced them to help train our non-US replacements. Saying how it was 'cost savers' to help make ELNK a better company then under the morons rule he burned more money on projects that only helped them lose more money!?!?!?
Yes good CEO... wow kinda like BUSH incharge of the US. Both have no clue what they are doing but in their own minds they thought they were gods.. dumb ones. |
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ddg4005
Premium
join:2001-08-22
Bronx, NY
·Verizon Online DSL
| Earthlink's new CEO
I switched to Verizon DSL just over 4 years ago when Earthlink announced it was laying off a quarter of its workforce. I've been satisfied with VZ since and hopefully I'll see Fios deployment (Internet and TV service) next year.
Earthlink, unfortunately, is the last of a dying breed. With cable companies and telcos delivering voice, data, and video services it won't be long before the company either goes under or is sold. Sadly that's the broadband reality we're living in.
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DDG | Antec Metal Box w/ ASUS & Intel Inside |
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CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
| reply to Michieru2
Re: .
quote:
People should not be on dialup anymore and I find it annoying that some people are still on it.
When sections of areas don't have any other choice - my dad lives in a community on 10 acres - he does not have TW cable (they want everyone to pay multi-thousand dollars to run the cable and keep the service for x years), he is not going to take out a bunch of trees just for satellite (part of the reason they live there is the trees), to far for DSL, only IDSL/IDSN are alternatives but the cost is wayyyyyy to high for what you get.
the ONLY reason they want to go to something other than dialup (or need to) is the heavy flash on web sites and they would like to be able to download kids pictures.
Do not let it bother you - there is no reason for it to bother you. There are a ton of legit reasons people are still on dialup and a large part of it is lack of anything else for a reasonable amount of money.
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Brian
"Some people are like Slinkies...
Not really good for anything......
But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." |
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Serflink
@comcast.net
| CEO need to do some INTERNAL house cleaner
Management within ELNK is generally crappy. Even if you have a good manager, his manager is a $h*thead.
I worked in the Atlanta office for a few years. Man, it was politically heavy up in there with the "good ole boys" network blatantly in your face.
ELNK as a brand is shot. I am so glad I no longer work for that $hithole of a company. They even outsourced our internal help desk department while previously telling the help desk "you guys won't get outsourced". |
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lilrandi
@roswellpark.org |  Refunds
Has anyone had any problems getting a refund out of these people..I have been due a refund for about 9 weeks now?.dj |
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