 GorbGuy
join:2003-09-23 Middleville, MI clubs:
| Dial Up Price Increase So I got home today and found a letter from AT&T Yahoo Dial informing me that my service will be going from $9.99/month to $15.95/month come December 1st. Yes... a 60% increase in price! That's a dollar more than Basic DSL (which isn't available to me.) Can anyone in the know enlighten me as to why the drastic increase? I called the 866 number and was told that they are adding features and "value" to the service and as such, need to raise prices. It's dial-up for pete's sake. It doesn't get much better than 42.2k, regardless of these new "value added" features (read, more stuff to clog up an already slow homepage.) -- Your mouse has moved. Windows NT must be restarted for the change to take effect. Reboot now? | |
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  Same letter
@att.net
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase I got same letter in mail today. I'm upset because now its cheaper to go with dsl. I can get dsl where i live. Actually 10.00 a month for first year with free modem. The problem is this. I'm not computer smart and hooking up to dsl kind of scares me. They do offer a tech who will come out for 200 dollars but thats way to much. Does anybody know how hard it would be for someone like me to hookup to dsl. | |
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 |  cooperaaaron
join:2004-04-10 Joliet, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase It is easy to do, they provide instructions in the self install package. Everything you need ( parts and modem ) comes in the box. If you have any problems, there are phone numbers to call and websites to request help. Or, just come here and someone will help you out. | |
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 |  |  mrk22
join:2003-06-13 Eastlake, OH
| said by cooperaaaron :It is easy to do, they provide instructions in the self install package. The self install package is not for a non-computer person. The disc that you are instructed to use installs a lot of unnecessary software that can really slow down the computer. To properly use the self install kit, you should find the FAQ on this site that explains how to register for a username without using the disc. | |
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 |  |  |  cooperaaaron
join:2004-04-10 Joliet, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase Meh, let's get the user set up and using DSL first, then they can go back and remove what they don't need, I used the disk and it gives you options to install or not to install certain pieces of software..  | |
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 |  janrey4
join:2004-04-05 Greer, SC
| said by Same letter :
I got same letter in mail today. I'm upset because now its cheaper to go with dsl. I can get dsl where i live. Actually 10.00 a month for first year with free modem. The problem is this. I'm not computer smart and hooking up to dsl kind of scares me. They do offer a tech who will come out for 200 dollars but thats way to much. Does anybody know how hard it would be for someone like me to hookup to dsl. It's easy, directions included that are very easy to follow. You don't need any $200 tech nor do you need to know anything more than how to run an installation CD and follow directions(both suggested for the non-technical oriented). It's no harder than installing a game and plugging in a modem. | |
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 |  PDXPLT
join:2003-12-04 Banks, OR
| said by Same letter :
I'm not computer smart and hooking up to dsl kind of scares me. Interesting. Everybody wonders why, in this day and age, there are folks that have cheap DSL available to them, but stick with dial-up. I guess alot of it is apprehension over something new, and the assumption that anything new and faster must be more complicated.
In fact, I think most people would agree that DSL is lots easier to deal with than dial-up, assuming all you're doing is connecting a single computer to a DSL modem, and not setting up a router and a home network. 'sounds like something the telcos should start emphasizing in their advertising - how easy and hassle-free DSL is, in addition to being faster, when compared to dial-up. | |
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 Frohike Premium join:2000-07-23 Waxahachie, TX
| Why are they increasing it? To push customers to DSL. Its costing more to keep dialup numbers up and running for the small amount of customers still using dialup.
Do you think ATT makes money off of 10-15 people using dialup service in small towns to keep a local access number active? And they aren't pushing the price up to keep a profit margin - they simply would love to do away with dialup service. | |
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 |   GorbGuy
join:2003-09-23 Middleville, MI clubs:
1 edit | Re: Dial Up Price Increase said by Frohike :Why are they increasing it? To push customers to DSL. Its costing more to keep dialup numbers up and running for the small amount of customers still using dialup. That's all fine and dandy, offer me DSL and I'd be content. As I told the lady on the phone last night, the issue isn't the money. If DSL were available, I would probably have the highest tier. The real problem, for me, is a.) how large of an increase in price it is (I asked if she was going to see a 60% increase on her salary next year, she said probably not,) and b.) DSL is cheaper. I'm paying ~$60 a month already for this service (my phone line is only used for Internet.) For a buck less, I could have service that is 15 times faster.
said by Frohike :Do you think ATT makes money off of 10-15 people using dialup service in small towns to keep a local access number active? And they aren't pushing the price up to keep a profit margin - they simply would love to do away with dialup service. In the end, it isn't my problem if AT&T makes money off my dial-up service or not. I'm not a shareholder nor am I an employee with stock options. What I am is a loyal Ameritech/SBC/AT&T customer who has been with them for nearly 10 years. That's a lot of my money going into AT&T, that has been used to give people, such as yourself I presume, the option of having DSL and now Light Speed U-Wish. Why shouldn't I be afforded at least some of those same opportunities? Instead, AT&T is telling us Dial-Up laggards that we're no longer valued, but for an additional $5/month, we can stay with them... I mean after all, in "6 months I should access to DSL." In any case, thanks to this bone headed move to try and swindle me out of an additional $60 a year, come December 1st, they'll be losing $720 per year. From a business perspective, I don't see where that makes much sense. But, who knows. Look at how well AOL is doing. -- Your mouse has moved. Windows NT must be restarted for the change to take effect. Reboot now? | |
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 |  |  Splork
join:2001-02-20 Austin, TX
·AT&T U-Verse
1 edit | Re: Dial Up Price Increase There is no business-consumer loyalty in today's world. Let me clarify by saying that it may still exist with small mom & pop locations, but AT&T could care less that you've been a customer of theirs for 10 years. Today's world is driven by the bottom line and how many extra pennies the company can get for shareholders. It's a damn shame, but it's the truth. Good luck with your new company. | |
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 |  |  satellite68
join:2007-04-11 Louisville, KY | www.reliableinter.net | |
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 |  |  |  ncbill Premium join:2007-01-23 Winston Salem, NC | Re: Dial Up Price Increase Time to switch to a cheaper ISP!
also check findanisp.com
I use vtisp.com ($40/year for 150 hours/month) and even they have a local number available at our mountain cabin in the middle of nowhere. | |
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 |   maartena Stacked. Premium join:2002-05-10 Orange, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by Frohike :Do you think ATT makes money off of 10-15 people using dialup service in small towns to keep a local access number active? And they aren't pushing the price up to keep a profit margin - they simply would love to do away with dialup service. If only they would actually replace it with DSL service. I know some people out here in California that live in a small town of 3000 or so, and have no cable internet, no DSL, just dialup.
And unfortunately there are hundreds of such towns all across the United States with no other alternative then dialup internet.
A 60% increase? What possible "new services" could a dialup customer get that he already has not now? I could see an increase from $9.95 to 11.95 if it was really for added features and services.
In this case, they clearly want to push everyone to the cheapest DSL tier available which would be $1 cheaper indeed, but they forget to actually supply DSL to hundreds of thousands of clients in rural America.
And if suchs a rural town wants to put in their own fiber and take it in their own hands, they get SUED by the cable company and the telephone giant in the area..... -- "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" - Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father. | |
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 |   koma3504 Advocate Premium join:2004-06-22 North Richland Hills, TX
| said by Frohike :Why are they increasing it? To push customers to DSL. Its costing more to keep dialup numbers up and running for the small amount of customers still using dialup. Do you think ATT makes money off of 10-15 people using dialup service in small towns to keep a local access number active? And they aren't pushing the price up to keep a profit margin - they simply would love to do away with dialup service. Thats what i was told but think they mean it for just more than small towns. -- Koma If YOu Don't Think It's Possable!! It's Acually A Reality!! The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Alan Kay!! Ya Don't Know The signal Till Ya Ride It!! Voice Break's There's Trouble!! | |
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 cornelius785
join:2006-10-26 Worcester, MA
| for many of us here, doing a self install kit for dsl is a no brainer, there is nothing to it because many of us are truly computer literate. we understand what an ethernet card, dsl modem, filter, etc. is. i'm sure most of you have come across people and know people that are like "i insert what where?" (after saying it several times) "it doesn't fit there" or "hold on, i'm going to have to write this down" "uh, i've got a question.." "hold on, let me write this down..". a self install kit is not an option for those people. | |
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  Box435
@Level3.net
| I received the same letter too. When I called to CANCEL my dial-up I was told the increase is because they will be increasing the speed. right now I dial up at 28.8. I am in a rural area and cannot get DSL. I have a few options for dial-up locally that I will use for $10 or less. I have had a free yahoo email address for 8 years now so I don't have to worry about my email address changing all the time. I was looking in to using my cell phone as a modem but Cellular one wants $60 a month..a little to rich for my blood | |
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 |  Guy Waters
join:2001-12-04 San Francisco, CA
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase
The only way they can increase your speed above 28.8 is to put your service on copper pairs to the central office. 28.8 speed is a good indication you are on multiplexed carrier (pair gain/slc96) and 28.8 is as fast as it gets.
SBC/Yahoo has been quitely been retreating from the dial-up business for years and paying Level 3 transport fees rather than continuing to maintian the own dial up modems. Most of the dial up access numbers listed on their site belong to Level 3. »sbcyahoo.prodigy.net/openPhone/index.html
Maybe Level 3 is raising the price they charge AT&T/Yahoo for transport? | |
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  box435
@Level3.net
| oh ok....still very frustrating, I had dsl back in 2000 when I lived in NY, in 2001 I moved to NW lower Michigan and they did not even know what dsl was..I am 5 miles from town and don't know if I will ever be able to get dsl, but with everything there are trade offs...great quality of life up here, I don't even think I have a set of keys to my house and very rarely take the keys out of the ignition...maybe someday dsl will come. at least my mother in-law who lives in town has it so I can go there and use it... | |
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 Noir7
join:2007-12-04 Atlanta, GA
| i got the same letter. but if you still have your answers discounts of 2, 5, 10 you still keep that, unless you change your complete choice plan, yeah they said they don't do them anymore. i pay 9.95 and its only going up to 12.95. i can understand the reason for the price increase though. think about it, new laptops there all wireless, and many don't even have a phone jack port. even popular websites want you to have a minimum connection speed of 256k so there graphics and movies can load and play. simply dial up is a dying tech. even software isn't compatible anymore. and i know it sucks if it isn't offered in your area, happy im moving. but get satilite, wild blue, or something. check into an air card with your cell phone services. or cable. you would be happier. i even heard aol and ppc, net0 all are raising theres. how the rep on the phone explained it to me. "when holly wood started producing color films, all the equipment changed to, everything was made to work with color, so over a few years, it cost more and more to make black and white films than it did to make color, you know, because all the reals, cameras, everything was made to work with color not black and white" it made sence to me | |
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 |   box435
@Level3.net | Re: Dial Up Price Increase I can understand why they are increasing the price of dial up, I just think in those areas where they don't offer any other options besides dial up should be left at the lower price. | |
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 mtmra70 Premium join:2001-03-22 Portage, MI | Can you get dry DSL for $15/mo? If not, dial-up would still be cheaper than DSL since dial-up would be considered "dry". | |
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 |  mrk22
join:2003-06-13 Eastlake, OH
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase said by mtmra70 :...since dial-up would be considered "dry". How do you use dial-up Internet service without POTS? | |
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 |  |  mtmra70 Premium join:2001-03-22 Portage, MI
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase Hence the quotes. Yes, you use dial-up with POTS...but you use the dial-up service anywhere on any POTS line. Way back when, when you received an MSN, Earthlink, etc dial-up account, you only received login information (ID, pass, dial-in number, etc), you did not have to purchase phone service with it. | |
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 |  |  |   wayjac Premium,MVM join:2001-12-22 Indy
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Dial Up Price Increase said by mtmra70 :you did not have to purchase phone service with it. Prior to 2001 ameritech had dsl that did not require voice/phone service -- God bless our troops | |
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