U-Verse Voice Launched in Sacramento > $40 a month?

$40 a month?

is it possible to smoke copper?

They're smoking something...I think I'd have to be smoking something as well.

Problems with this service:

1. Internet and/or VoIP REQUIRES purchase of MS IPTV service Cable will allow this
2. No 'signup' deals ? TW Cable triple play deals start at $90 / month (sure, add in ~ $12/month for a couple more TVs), but it at least comes with 6Mbps service, not 1.5!
3. Why isn't AT&T also promoting Call Vantage VoIP... if they want subscribers, its almost half the price.
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Canada = Hollywood North

reply to Camelot One
As has been posted before, $40/month is the going price point for digital phone services that come from the Cable companies (Comcast and Time Warner Cable are the big ones). And, they have been extremely successful. They are viewed by consumers as simple, reliable, and they like the fact that they receive a single bill and can call a single vendor for support. Consumers see that they save money versus their POTS service (which is typically well over $50/month with features and long distance). Consumers are very satisfied, generally, with their Digital Phone service, ranking it very high in quality and reliability. Can Vonage or even CallVantage say the same?

AT&T U-verse is adding Voice as the third component of their triple play (TV, Voice, Internet) so that they can complete directly with cable offerings.

You are not the target market for U-verse Voice. You are willing to go with a third party, install a new box in your network, deal with separate billing, setup, configuration, and support, all to save $15 or $20 a month.

AT&T CallVantage competes in this VoIP market also, and are right on the price point of $25.

reply to en102

said by en102:

Problems with this service:

1. Internet and/or VoIP REQUIRES purchase of MS IPTV service Cable will allow this

reply to Camelot One
Well this is in California where $40 CUSD (californian united states dollars) = $20 USD
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»www.ryanoneill.us

reply to MyDogHsFleas
I don't know... Vonage is typically attempting to compare itself with telco products. I suspect that AT&T just doesn't want to lower its bottom line (i.e. why sell a $25/month product, when for very little, we can promote a $40/month product).
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Canada = Hollywood North

reply to MyDogHsFleas
CallVantage is the same vendor (AT&T) and should be on the same bill, and should also use the same network (AT&T).
By tying it into its own VLAN on an RG and adding a battery pack, should I pay $15/month more ?
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Canada = Hollywood North

reply to en102
I know someone that has the FTTP service of AT&T in MI. Everyone always claims that TV must be purchased with the HSI but thats not the case. The only thing my friend ordered was HSI and Phone. No TV at all. And had the option of just getting HSI as well but VZW doesnt have great service inside his house.

If I could ORDER (not order then cancel after its installed B.S.), I might try it out, and move my phone to VoIP.
Since I HAVE to order it all to do anything, I might as well wait until my DirecTv contract is up, and then see what's available, and who will give me the best deal.
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Canada = Hollywood North

reply to MyDogHsFleas
Part of the consumer POV is also the forced bundling.
As a potential consumer, I feel that I have to bundle just to get service. I can understand bundled discounts, but what if I want Internet or Internet + VoIP only ?
Not that I prefer cable (I'm a DSL subscriber, with forced POTS on DSL-Extreme), but the restrictions placed on ordering makes it difficult to want to order service.
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Canada = Hollywood North

Target market = AT&T's vision of who they want to sell their product to (i.e. those wanting AT&T TV service). I don't mind bundling, in fact, I would bundle Internet, VoIP and Wireless... but not TV.
The problem is that AT&T's target market is basing its foundation on TV service, which has an expensive entry point.

Consumer POV = what does the average consumer want. Average consumer wants services for the least amount of money and hassle.

There are exceptions to everything. Sure there are customers that want to pay for it all (i.e. 4 HD sets), and AT&T won't deliver, and have 20Mbps service. On the other side, there are those that want and ISP, and low priced VoIP. AT&T has shed itself as being an ISP unless you're wanting to fit into their target high(er) profit window.

For many consumers, AT&T bundling may work, as it might be cheaper than what they currently pay, and for others, it might have more features than they currently have (DSL/POTS).
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Canada = Hollywood North

reply to MyDogHsFleas

reply to en102
they never ordered then canceled. they were given the option not to order it or to order it and still get the HSI FTTP.