biggbrother
Premium
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI
| It's Official... $34.95 a Month for Naked DSL
My local paper published an article from the Bloomberg News Service, which confirms the articles that were cited in a BBR front page News spotlight yesterday.
$34.95 a month for stand-alone DSL. Personally, I already have Verizon Wireless, and so does my wife. We have a family plan. House phone may go because it is rarely used. Here is the text from the Bloomberg wire story:
Verizon allowing lost phone customers to stay online
Consumers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and residents of 10 other states, may keep their high-speed Internet service for $34.95 a month.
01:00 AM EDT on Friday, May 28, 2004
BY J. KYLE FOSTER
Bloomberg News
Verizon Communications Inc., the biggest U.S. local-telephone company, is trying to retain customers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, plus 10 other states, by allowing some of them to keep high-speed Internet service when they cut their phone lines and go wireless.
For the first time, Verizon customers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maryland and Vermont who are moving their local-phone numbers to wireless devices can keep their high-speed Internet service, known as DSL or digital subscriber line, spokeswoman Briana Gowing said.
The offer is a departure for Verizon, which has sold its Internet access in a bundle to encourage customers to buy more services. New York-based Verizon, which has about 2.7 million DSL subscribers, has said it needs 4.3 million to make the business profitable. Competition is increasing as Comcast Corp. and other cable providers roll out digital phone service.
"We do believe standalone DSL is the right move for Verizon and the rest of the Bells," UBS Securities analyst John Hodulik wrote to clients, speaking of the companies remaining after the breakup of the Bell system. He rates Verizon shares "neutral 1."
Customers don't have to switch their numbers to Verizon wireless products, Gowing said. The standalone product is $34.95 a month.
"This for us is really about keeping that broadband relationship with the customer," spokeswoman Bobbi Henson said.
Shares of Verizon rose 68 cents to $35.08 yesterday in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.
Verizon, which sells local-phone service in 29 states and Washington D.C., hopes to make a broader offer of so-called naked DSL, Gowing said.
Right now, only local-phone customers in the 12 states can take advantage of Verizon's standalone service.
Verizon won't say how many customers are switching their local numbers to mobile phones or how many are buying the standalone Internet service.
The company's local lines fell 4.3 percent to 55 million in the first quarter.
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Sergeant First Class, Battalion HQ - [BBR]Biggbrother America's Army
Xbox Live Gamertag is Gupiter |
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upprdeck
join:2003-08-04
Locke, NY
| who eats the cost of the install for this kind of DSL.. its one thing for people who just stop using land lines. but what happens when new houses get built with no phone lines at all and then they want DSL put in.. the current DSL price of paying just for a modem doesnt cover all that extra work.. |
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TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to biggbrother
According to this article, I can switch my pots number in NYC to a mobile device? I thought only mobile numbers were "portable".
Does this mean I can switch my 212 number over to sprint mobile, and keep the copper for DSL only??
WOW if so!!
Bob
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Motor Vessel - Tamara B. - 43' Long-Range Trawler Cape Elizebeth ME.»www.tamara-b.org
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biggbrother
Premium
join:2001-11-07
Providence, RI
| reply to upprdeck
Hmm... Interesting point. I assume there will be some sort of install charge that Verizon Telephone would charge Verizon DSL or any other DSL provider. That cost would be passed along to the consumer I assume.
Several other things I have wondered:
1. Will this affect the recent speed increases? I now get 1500/384. I assume my speeds would not change for that pricepoint.
2. Would I then be sent a bill from Verizon Online, rather than Verizon?
3. What are the chances of my DSL getting screwed up by cutting my landline service?
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Sergeant First Class, Battalion HQ - [BBR]Biggbrother America's Army
Xbox Live Gamertag is Gupiter |
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stonecolddsl
Linux Junkie
join:2004-01-07
Sarasota, FL
·Rapid Systems, Inc.
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to biggbrother
I would belive that Verizon would have to charge if a new home was built with out any phone wires... and then Verizon would have to charge to install the lines. But I seen new homes built. Not to have the infrastructure built into the house is just plain stupid even if you are not going to use a pots line. Then it just a matter of Verizon running wire down from the pole. But all i know is that Cable charges an install fee for those who dont have cable ran to the house already. They have the occasional free install offer. But I would see verizon charging non pots line customers a install fee if they need line work to be done. |
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edelite
join:2004-05-24
US
| reply to biggbrother
To answer Bob's question....
Yes, you can port your POTS number to your cell phone or whatever. It's that stupid LNP charge on your phone bill (you don't see it if you have a Verzion Freedom package).
Now for my question...
Is it now possible to LNP to a VoIP (such as vonage) and keep verizon DSL? How should I proceed if I do this? Thanks! |
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jesseb_66
join:2002-12-06
Tucson, AZ
| reply to biggbrother
Sweet I have been wanting to get VoIP through Vonage for awhile but not willing to have to pay for POTS too... But should I wait for Verizon to have their own VoIP service later this summer? Especially if they will offer a package deal with their 3/768 tier. hmmmm decisions decisions... |
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HD_Ride
Premium
join:2000-10-18
Trenton, NJ
 ·VoicePulse
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to biggbrother
A few questions because I may try to lose the landline also if Verizon allows this.... suppose people starting dumping their POTS and went with Vonage or some other VoIP provider will 1500/384 be adequate if one has a small home network setup? I am grateful for the recent upgrades but I notice if I have a large download in progress it still hoses the connection. That said what would happen if I was in the process of downloading and I needed to call or except a call? Also are there issues with this configuration »www.vonage.com/installation_mult···nate.php vs. the other configuration »www.vonage.com/installation_mult···lreports
TIA,
Joe |
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userofdsl
join:2000-07-31
Brighton, MA
| reply to biggbrother
My Verizon DSL, which I've had since 1999, is not nearly reliable enough for me to entrust my phone service to it. Also, I want the more robust emergency service that POTS has.
I am thinking of keeping minimal POTS for incoming calls, including voicemail, and getting VOIP with a second phone number for outgoing, including long distance. This should still save substantial money over my current Verizon service.
I may wait for Verizon VOIP rather than pay Vonage's $30 installation fee. I'm hoping I can get some sort of deal from Verizon that makes it more attractive than Vonage, maybe $5 off DSL, which I have now but would lose if I ditch Verizon's fancy packages.
I plan not to downgrade my POTS service until after VOIP is working well for a while.
In my old apartment building, it's not possible without a major expenditure to get a second POTS line. VOIP works around this. |
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airefuel
join:2004-05-10
Forked River, NJ | reply to biggbrother
Just a reminder. When the power goes out so does voip. Kinda hard to make a 911 call without electricity. |
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NY Tel
Premium
join:2004-04-09
Smithtown, NY
·VOIPo
| reply to userofdsl
Verizon is on the edge of releasing their VOIP product. I would imagine that the product development people will be making this one an attractive offer and one which will increase customer loyalty and retention.
I have CallVantage and really like the quality, but as soon as the Verizon product comes out I will try it and the winner will be the one that stays in my home. |
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edelite
join:2004-05-24
US
| reply to airefuel
said by airefuel  :
Just a reminder. When the power goes out so does voip. Kinda hard to make a 911 call without electricity.
There is a way to get around this. Buy a Universal Power Supply (UPS) backup system (works both for DSL and cable connections). Just connect your TA, cable/DSL modem, and opt. cordless phone to it! You should then have a connection for poss. the duration of the power outage (depending on the capacity of the UPS).
You can easily buy one for $50:
»www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/S···U=569091 |
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93254336
Weapons Of Masturbation
Premium
join:2001-10-20
| reply to TamaraB
said by TamaraB :
According to this article, I can switch my pots number in NYC to a mobile device? I thought only mobile numbers were "portable". Does this mean I can switch my 212 number over to sprint mobile, and keep the copper for DSL only??
Check this out:
»www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/lnp/index.jsp
and
»www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/LNPC···rServlet
This is for Line Number Portability for Verizon Wireless cellphone service, but the other wireless carriers are required to offer portability in the markets they serve. My understanding is that the only major limitation to portability is that the wired and wireless numbers must be in the same geographic area, i.e. you can't port a landline number in L.A. to a cellphone number in NYC.
- Dan
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"Are you not aware that I get farty and bloated with a foamy latte?" |
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bodosom
Legerdemain
Premium
join:2004-03-05
Middleport, NY
·BroadVoice
·BuffNET
·VoicePulse for Bus..
| reply to HD_Ride
said by HD_Ride :
will 1500/384 be adequate [for VoIP] if one has a small home network setup?
These things are discussed at length in the VoIP forums. The short answer is that you interpose the VoIP box between your network and the DSL modem and the VoIP box does bandwidth management.
Not everyone is happy having the VoIP box as a choke at their network egress point. |
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edelite
join:2004-05-24
US
| said by bodosom :
said by HD_Ride :
will 1500/384 be adequate [for VoIP] if one has a small home network setup?
These things are discussed at length in the VoIP forums. The short answer is that you interpose the VoIP box between your network and the DSL modem and the VoIP box does bandwidth management.
Not everyone is happy having the VoIP box as a choke at their network egress point.
I hear that this is not the best solution. The Motorola box does not handle bandwidth well at all. Even Vonage's site mention that you should have the box behind the router. In short, the 384k upload speed is more than enough bandwidth for an average home user (with a network)!  |
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TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | reply to 93254336
Well I am thrilled! I called sprint, and transferred my wired (Business) line to one of my cell phones. The existing cellphone number will go into the "pool" they said. It will take 2-5 days, AND they will deal with the Verizon FuckWits!
They (Sprint) also told me I could change the area code to anything I wanted, so long as the number was available!
If all this works out, I will be wire and Verizon-free soon! (With the exception of ONE copper pair with ONLY DSL on it!)
Oh yes! I will also be able to get rid of the "voice" service on my last existing POTS line, and keep only the DSL on the copper! Meaning I will be paying half for DSL service I would otherwise pay...
Is this cool or is this cool??
Bob
--
Motor Vessel - Tamara B. -
43' Long-Range Trawler
Cape Elizebeth ME.
»www.tamara-b.org
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93254336
Weapons Of Masturbation
Premium
join:2001-10-20
| said by TamaraB :
I will also be able to get rid of the "voice" service on my last existing POTS line, and keep only the DSL on the copper! Meaning I will be paying half for DSL service I would otherwise pay.
It has become acutely obvious to me that Verizon has no interest in upgrading DSL service in my neighborhood (e.g. installing an RT). I'm seriously considering cancelling my Verizon Online DSL service and the landline that I needed for it, porting my landline number to my cellphone, and subscribing to Patriot Media cable internet.
- Dan
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"Are you not aware that I get farty and bloated with a foamy latte?" |
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TamaraB
Question The Current Paradigm
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Brooklyn NYC
·Verizon Online DSL
| Well, I am pretty much constrained by the limited services available at the fringes of civilization.
I am quite lucky actually to be able to get POTS service with dialup, and now DSL at a Dock on the edge of NY City. I would normally be restricted to e-Mail only connectivity via SSB/HF Radio, or marginal Internet Access via satellite phone at 9600BPS.
What I have done is switch by business "wired" service to mobile, making it possible to maintain my office phone service directly aboard the boat.
Bob
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Motor Vessel - Tamara B. - 43' Long-Range Trawler Cape Elizebeth ME.»www.tamara-b.org
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venk25
join:2004-05-12
Nashua, NH | reply to biggbrother
So, has anyone seen this happen for real yet ? |
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stu
join:2000-11-03
Patchogue, NY | reply to TamaraB
Yes I have a 212 cell number that I had ported in Dec to Verizon Wireless. It took a few weeks and lots of calling to both verizons to get it done. Finally some one at VW took up my cause and got it done.
Stu |
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