cahiatt
Premium
join:2001-03-21
Smyrna, GA | What is a "landline"?
I think that is the question most people under 30 are asking these days. As this generation ages, I can't see any reason why these people can stay in business the way they are doing it now. |
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
1 edit | I'll buy one
for $99 though. The ATT one that is. No VZ or Qwest here.
Looks cool buy pricey. |
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KC9FOI
join:2007-06-25
Cypress, TX
 ·ViaTalk
·Future Nine Corpor..
| OOOO....
So...If I were a Qwest customer, I keep my DSL and switch from my VoIP provider where I pay $15-30 less per month I can check my call logs online? Wow. Now that's an incentive to chose the POTS/DSL bundle. Hands down, I wouldn't do it for any other reason, but if I get to check my call logs online, by golly, that'll do it for me.... sign me up! |
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
| Some Qwest qHome pics
Here are some pics from the demo video [.wmv] ...
Main Screen
Listening to Messages
Receiving a Call
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mlong
Premium
join:2000-05-27
Parker, CO
·Qwest.net
| Just canceled
I just called Qwest last week to cancel my home phone service. The only reason I had it really was for alarm monitoring. We got a free year when we moved in and there was really nothing compelling about the alarm to keep it. Once it was canceled I did the same to the phone line. However I kept my DSL service with them as it's infinitely more important to me and more useful.
My wife and I both have Verizon cell phones as does most of my family. I also have a Blackberry through work so I personally have two phones on me most the time. Qwest and their home phone service didn't offer a compelling reason to stay. It was $15 or so for the line and another $12-$15 in taxes. With that I could call anyone in the metro Denver area who had a 720 or 303 area code.
I'm a new transplant to Denver and still maintain the same cell phone number with a Phoenix area code. Most of my friends here are transplants as well retaining Michigan, Florida, and other cell phone numbers. So I really had little use for a home phone without adding long distance and having to pay for that monthly and by the minute. With my cell phone I can call anyone in the U.S. with no added fees and I can do it from anywhere I please. My cell phone allows old friends and family to dial a local number to get me also. I can be back in Phoenix or at home in Denver and it's one number to get me anywhere.
I think when you look at it, most customers see a cell phone as a better value proposition over the traditional land line. I think VOIP offers a substantial improvement to the traditional telephone model but for more people a cell phone is the ultimate in convenience. The writing is on the wall for the land line business. These companies need to diversify into other areas of telecommunications which is why I personally feel you see a lot of companies getting into the TV delivery as well as traditional phone company services like phone and DSL. |
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Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | Another reason for fiber to the home.
One of the reasons Verizon likes FiOS is that the drop in landlines is much slower in FiOS areas. |
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romulusnr
join:2007-08-01
Federal Way, WA
| roll dice
So you have to bundle to get it. What a great idea, considering how crappy Qwest's DSL penetration is, even in metro urban areas.
Would you switch your current internet line over to ILEC DSL just to get online voicemail -- or would be more likely to dump your antiquated behemoth ILEC for a VOIP offering from either your cable or cellular company?
TMO@Home is $10 a month for a service package that is over $60 from QW. Uh huh. |
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Corydon
Cultivant son jardin
Premium
join:2008-02-18
Denver, CO
clubs: | reply to KC9FOI
Re: OOOO....
Uh, not to mention that most VoIP providers and even cable companies like Comcast have had this for years...
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"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too." |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | reply to ninjatutle
Re: I'll buy one
For $99 (including taxes and fees), I get the following:
- digital cable (1 STB)
- VoIP unlimited
- HSI 6Mbps/512kbps
- analog TV (standard cable 2-89)
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Canada = Hollywood North |
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ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA | No, I just want the little touchscreen box.
We still have landmines at my family's biz. Need the call quality and reliability. |
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TechnoScott
Premium
join:2003-03-25
00000 | No biggie...
This isn't news IMO since Comcast has had this feature with their CDV product since DAY ONE. This is Qwest desperate to keep up with Comcast. Comcast is stealing Qwest customers left and right in the dial-tone business. |
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BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| reply to cahiatt
Re: What is a "landline"?
said by cahiatt  :I think that is the question most people under 30 are asking these days. As this generation ages, I can't see any reason why these people can stay in business the way they are doing it now. Well it's not just under 30. My friend's mother is in her 60's and has been cell only for a few years now. I've been trying to convince my own mother who is 61 to do the same and save herself some money. She already has a cell, whenever I or my sister call her it's on her cell. Heck most of the time she's keeps the ringer on the landline off anyways. I'm not sure what she is paying $40 a month for. She claims that going to all cell would use up all her minutes. I know that's not true, but I told her just up to the next minute package which is $20 more, but that is still saving $20. So far no go. Then she complains about money. Took me forever to convince her to stop paying the $7 a month "wire maintainance fee". Sometimes "old" people are so set in their ways. |
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Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to TechnoScott
Re: No biggie...
said by TechnoScott :This isn't news IMO since Comcast has had this feature with their CDV product since DAY ONE. This is Qwest desperate to keep up with Comcast. Comcast is stealing Qwest customers left and right in the dial-tone business. Cox Also....
I'm, sure Qwest in AZ is hurting.... |
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fatmanskinny
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Wandering
·Comcast Digital Vo..
 ·Comcast
| reply to mlong
Re: Just canceled
said by mlong :The only reason I had it really was for alarm monitoring. We got a free year when we moved in and there was really nothing compelling about the alarm to keep it. Once it was canceled I did the same to the phone line. .....I think VOIP offers a substantial improvement to the traditional telephone model but for more people a cell phone is the ultimate in convenience. The writing is on the wall for the land line business. These companies need to diversify into other areas of telecommunications which is why I personally feel you see a lot of companies getting into the TV delivery as well as traditional phone company services like phone and DSL. If you ever decide to go to VOIP, your home alarm system may work over it. I currently have Comcast Digital Voice and my home alarm works over it without issue.
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God saved me from myself! Thank you, Lord, in the Name of Jesus! |
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CrazyT
join:2008-10-08
Irving, TX
| Landlines will be relevant
if the Telco's ever can compete on price. As much as the Telcos have been bleeding landlines, I'm guessing they still have >50% Market Share in many of their areas. I'd be interested to see that if anyone has a relevant link.
If a Telco has greater than 50% market share, it is difficult for them to compete on price. As a regulated entity, the Telco would have to extend a lower price to it's embedded base....If the avg Telco price is $40 and they drop it to $20, that's an awful big hit on their embedded base...And they wouldn't be able to gain enough customers to offset the revenue hit....
My guess is that when/if Telcos ever get to below 50% market share in a significant portion of their footprint, you'll see the Telco's start competing on price again....That will help against VOIP..and possibly convince some Wireless substituters to pick up a landline again as well. |
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Slidetbone
Mazin Go
Premium
join:2002-11-10
Land O Lakes, FL
| said by CrazyT :My guess is that when/if Telcos ever get to below 50% market share in a significant portion of their footprint, you'll see the Telco's start competing on price again....That will help against VOIP..and possibly convince some Wireless substituters to pick up a landline again as well. So true, so VERY true! What makes telcos uncompetitive is the high fees and tarrifs that are imposed by state and local regulators. If not for this, telcos would be offering a heck of a deal! They are losing lines at an alarming rate and I do not understand why they are not looking into lobbying for reductions in tarrifs and other BS fees.
We shall find out soon enough...when the last copper customer goes voip or wireless. |
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IIuumemetwoto
@comcast.net
| This is no different
than the black and white TV manufacturers of the late 60's and early 70's. Color was in and everybody wanted one (a color set) so the market took a new direction. then came stereo TV and then, big screens and projection TV's and then flat screens and then HD TV's... I mean c'mon landline companies..... get with it. You can try to hang on like Sony did with the Beta tape deck or like 8-track tapes but in the end... change is inevitable.
In the end though the bottom line is.... you're gonna loose. |
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BozoTheClown
@servepath.com | Qwest Tries To Keep Landlines Relevant
Ha,Ha,Ha,He,He,He,Ho,ho,Ho,Guffaw,Guffaw,Guffaw.
That's funny in so many ways.  |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to IIuumemetwoto
Re: This is no different
Yup! I agree.. not to mention.. this is another one of Qwests weapons in their arsenal..
»www.qwest.com/residential/promot···dex.html
They think that they are going to get people to drop cable because "Powerboost" is such a bad thing to get some extra speed over the 6 or 8mb service that Comcast provides. All while Qwest provides up to 7mb service for the lucky few. I mean, WHO at Qwest is coming up with this crap?
Qwest just needs to sell the company to someone serious about running it into the future and not someone that will spend all their time and effort coming up with BS statements and ads that most people will see right through.
The last major company I know that sold Vaporware was Microsoft.. and at LEAST they eventually turned it into a tangible product.. and Qwest? |
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elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA
·SONIC.NET
·RoadRunner Cable
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to BF69
Re: What is a "landline"?
said by BF69 :said by cahiatt :I think that is the question most people under 30 are asking these days. I can't see any reason why these people can stay in business. Well it's not just under 30.. I've been trying to convince my own mother who is 61 to do the same and save herself some money. So far no go. Then she complains about money. Took me forever to convince her to stop paying the $7 a month "wire maintainance fee". Sometimes "old" people are so set in their ways. Depends on your perspective.
When your landline is a matter of life-and-death, as it is for most "old" people, $7 a month is a small price to pay to have the right to yell back at 611 to send bucket trucks and supervisors in the rain on Sunday to fix the d*** line for the 5th time in a month without having to have the usual debate about where the trouble is.
I hate to waste money on fraudulent charges like wire maintenance, but sometimes it is justified.
As for how they "stay in business", its simple. There are gazillions of customers who are captive - for whom VOIP, cable-voip, and cellular phone service are not viable alternatives. Every small business owner I know who went Voip (2-20 lines) to save money rued the day they didn't ask me first. They relate their horrific experiences to their peers, who learn quickly to keep their $55/month flat-rate ILEC POTS lines.
POTS is not the cheapest way to go for every use. But saving money with Voip can be very expensive. |
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