skj
Welcome to the far side of reality
Premium,Mod
join:2002-04-04
Atlanta, GA
Host:
Charter HSI/CATV
Earthlink DSL
Embarq
ISP b2b etc
Cisco
1 edit | Embarq offering naked DSL as a retention offer
My inside source informs me that Embarq has started reactively offering naked DSL as a retention offer only. There will be no advertising and it will only be available if no other save offer appeals to customers.
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The foundations of character are built not by lecture, but by bricks of good example, laid day by day. |
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UncleScooter
I once was SatManWorkin
Premium
join:2002-04-15
Tallahassee, FL | Any details? |
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skj
Welcome to the far side of reality
Premium,Mod
join:2002-04-04
Atlanta, GA | That is all the information I have at this time. |
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orph4824
I Ate What??
join:2001-04-26
Greeneville, TN | reply to skj
I've so wanted naked DSL for the longest time, may have to call and cancel service  |
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Fox McCloud
Crazy like a fox.
join:2006-07-23
 ·Embarq
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
|  reply to skj
Wow! What an awesome step! This "no DSL for years" could turn out to be a huge blessing when it's deployed here....10/1 the possibility of newer equipment being used (and thus, fastpath), and now the possibility of naked DSL.
Hopefully Embarq will see this as the future and offer naked DSL for little to no extra cost.
any other details? For example, the pricing for naked DSL?
man oh man, I hope DSL gets deployed here next year! |
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skj
Welcome to the far side of reality
Premium,Mod
join:2002-04-04
Atlanta, GA | Hopefully someone will call and post back here with the details. |
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dav0r
translate
Premium
join:2003-06-15
Albertville, MN
 ·Charter Pipeline
·Embarq
2 edits | My DSL was born naked. Is this not common or you're unable to switch if you had POTS service @ onset?
Also to the other poster they discussed the 10 meg being available here (didn't state the upload but guessing 1) and even indicated that the 5/5 may roll out in my area next year (like Nevada). He also noted that they can select some users to test it free of charge for a duration that is usually a few months for beta testing. I told him to flag my account for that!  |
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espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
 ·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Embarq
| Last year they refused to let me order DSL without getting dialtone. I currently have $9 metered voice service that ends up being $20 after the extended area service fees and taxes are added in. Considering I have Viatalk VoIP service and a cell phone, that's $20 of dead weight I'd love to lose from my bill. |
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Fox McCloud
Crazy like a fox.
join:2006-07-23
·Embarq
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| reply to dav0r
said by dav0r  :My DSL was born naked. Is this not common or you're unable to switch if you had POTS service @ onset? Also to the other poster they discussed the 10 meg being available here (didn't state the upload but guessing 1) and even indicated that the 5/5 may roll out in my area next year (like Nevada). He also noted that they can select some users to test it free of charge for a duration that is usually a few months for beta testing. I told him to flag my account for that! If/when a DSLAM is deployed at my RT, I hope that some of the newer technologies are deployed (especially 10/1...which isn't really 10/1...it's more like 10 meg down and 896k up, but it's easier to just call it 10/1)....since it's a fiber-fed, RT, I'd say I definitely stand a chance....though being out in the country? *Shrug* I dunno. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | reply to skj
"Going Naked" might be OK - if our cell phone service (Sprint PCS) was reliable enough. Until then - the wired phoneline will not be leaving my house. |
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dav0r
translate
Premium
join:2003-06-15
Albertville, MN
·Charter Pipeline
·Embarq
| reply to espaeth
Ah mine is not truly naked then... it's like just topless, I suppose. I have to pay the $9 but that's it. I think there is tone on the line and I remember them saying I'd be killed with charges if I terminated a call with it. I stand corrected. Makes sense that they get at least $5/month for it because they laid down the wires.
My cell service is free from work so yes I hear you. I always have to tell people not to give me the VOIP sales pitch.
SO... they're saying they'll cover the fee from the telco for you... I get it. |
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espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Embarq
| From my last bill:
Measured local phone service $9.00
Extended Calling Area $3.75
Federal universal service fund $.68
Federal Tax $.48
State Sales Tax $1.28
County Tax $.03
Relay/911/Tele Assist fee $0.73
Interstate access surcharge $6.22
Voice total: $22.17
EMBARQ high-speed Internet $34.95
EMBARQ Internet Access $10.00
HSI Total: $44.95
Complete bill: $67.12
So in order to get my $44.95 HSI service I have to pay $22.17/mo for a "$9" phone line I don't use. |
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espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Embarq
| reply to scooper
said by scooper :"Going Naked" might be OK - if our cell phone service (Sprint PCS) was reliable enough. Until then - the wired phoneline will not be leaving my house. »airave.sprint.com/
Having your own micro cell site in your house than uses your broadband connection could change that. |
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dav0r
translate
Premium
join:2003-06-15
Albertville, MN | reply to espaeth
Yeah I'll have to check my bill. I think the $9 should be a flat fee (just the 9) then disable the line for any calls. They can totally do that but I bet they just don't want to do so. |
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espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Embarq
2 edits | reply to skj
I've been looking at StoneBridge wireless ( »www.sbwireless.net ) as an alternative lately since they have a package deal they've offered to employees of my company where I can get 3/1mbps service for $55/mo. Pretty much on-par with what I'm paying for Embarq HSI but without the extra voice costs.
Since I had my alternative lined up I called in today to cancel service, and the whole experience went quite well. The first question my rep asked was if I was displeased with the service, and I explained that I was actually very pleased with the HSI service but the dialtone that I was required to buy to have access to it made it more expensive than my wireless alternative. She told me that there was an option where she could just offer me the HSI service, but she cautioned me that I would lose my reliable POTS access with e911. I accepted the risk and asked to move forward with removing dialtone. What's interesting is my rep stated there was no line access charge, and that I would be simply billed for the HSI service plus applicable taxes.
My next bill is 12/6 -- we'll see what things look like then.
-Eric
P.S. One fun anecdote to go with the reliable PSTN service: I have Viatalk VoIP service, and for home Internet access I have both Embarq DSL and Comcast HSI. Back in September there was an issue with Embarq's network in my area that knocked out DSL, my dialtone on my POTS line, *AND* the SprintPCS cell tower by me went dead so I had no cell coverage. I would have lost all phone service for 4 hours had it not been for Viatalk over Comcast Internet. POTS reliability usually is great, but even the phone company isn't immune from things breaking. News about the outage is here: »www.startribune.com/462/story/1397905.html
Edit: Just fixing spelling errors and correcting sentence structure. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | reply to espaeth
Let's rephrase that -
We currently use Virgin Mobile (which uses Sprint PCS' network). I didn't think they would let us use that.
Just checked the website / link - not yet available here. |
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orph4824
I Ate What??
join:2001-04-26
Greeneville, TN
1 edit | reply to espaeth
Lucky you espaeth. just got off chat with them and they say "Direct DSL" isn't available in all areas... so how much more is Embarq gonna milk out from POTS.
EDIT: In fact that so annoyed me I just set call forwarding to a freebie voicemail service and went and disconnected all my POTS phones, I'll just wait and drop POTS when I can. |
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espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN
·voip.ms
·Vitelity VOIP
·Callcentric
·VoiceStick
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
·Embarq
| Did you call or just use the online chat? I called the support number (1 888.723.8010), entered my telephone number, and selected "cancel service or features" (option 3?) which got me transfered to the retention department. The rep did state that it was only going to be offered as a save to prevent losing you as a customer altogether. It might be that the online chat folks don't have the ability to offer it? |
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Emfart
@embarqhsd.net
| reply to espaeth
said by espaeth :From my last bill: EMBARQ high-speed Internet $34.95 EMBARQ Internet Access $10.00 HSI Total: $44.95 Why teh separate charges for HSI and access? |
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espaeth
Digital Plumber
Premium,MVM
join:2001-04-21
Minneapolis, MN | I don't have a qualifying phone bundle to get the $10 discount, so it actually shows up as a separate $10 charge on my bill to get up to the non-discounted rate. |
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