| reply to brianiscool
Re: metered billing My prediction for that metered billing pricing plan:
It would likely be more like $30 a month for the wire to be there, $10 to $15 a month for each box (you now have to connect the TV to the internet), and at least $10 a month for that modem. They will charge $1 per GB during off peak hours up to 50GB. Peak hours will be charged at $3/GB, over 50GB will be $5/GB on or off peak. They may offer discounted nights and weekends, but only up to 10GB a month.
Now, if I could pay $10 a month for the pipe to be there, not pay outrageous rental fees, and only have to pay for what I use at about 10 cents per GB up to 250GB and 15 cents per GB OVER, that would be great. If they went to that model, they would be losing money on MANY people, so don't get yer hopes up. |
fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Personally, I think it won't really go straight usage base billing.
I am guessing you will have several options on how you buy the internet ...
1) Same as you do now.. monthly with a cap for a set price for speeds you choose.
2) Same as you do now.. however, lower monthly caps, reduced prices, and add overage charges to that... bundled services.
3) Unbundled HSI accounts (no TV or phone) will most likely be where you have pure billing by the byte.. You pay a basic line charge of $10 or $15 (like DSL used to do) and then you pay for usage that you use.. all of it. You could/may also see that line charge rate be based on speed ability (same as DSL used to be as a standard)..
4) Unbundled HSI accounts (no TV or phone) flat rate with caps but at a MUCH higher rate than just $10 more a month over bundled services. Meaning, a base flat rate capped service would be more like $89.99 a month instead of the current average $42.99 per month.
It's hard to say.. but as it was stated before, there is still a certain amount of revenue they need to maintain the system and operate the business. As one product (HSI) erodes their core VIDEO product for a new/upcoming technology/delivery method, it's only bound to raise the cost of that product .... here we are again to value pricing (and don't think of value as savings,.. think of value as in what that service MEANS to you) and also pricing on what the market can handle .. (and by "handle" I mean, when you stop paying for linear video to get it over the HSI connection, then YOUR budget should be able to handle MORE to pay for the very product that replaced it)
Keep in mind, some people won't be buying video at all.. this is why I think they are going to have several billing options for customers. Some will simply take NO video in their home at all,... some will have satellite.. with that, I CAN see raising the rates of non-video customers who have satellite will put a pinch on Satellite subscribers especially when they can't get DSL or another carrier for HSI.
Its really hard to say, and too early to tell (a bit premature anyway) where things are going to go right now. While there is a feeling like everything's about to change, it really isn't.. while some techies (especially here) are wanting video over the internet, MANY people are not wanting that yet.. they may get a movie or several from the internet over BluRay players or other devices, but they're still getting their service linear. Until you see a huge dent in Satellite even, I'd not worry about billing by the byte.. we haven't even seen what 4G internet providers are going to do yet.. and I think there is a BIG answer there.. |
