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AT&T Starts Selling DirecTV February 1
AT&T staff being trained across 22-state footprint
by Karl Bode Tuesday 20-Jan-2009 tags: dsl · satellite · competition · business · DIRECTV · AT&T Midwest
Back in July of last year, AT&T announced that the company’s agreement with Dish Network to sell bundled TV, phone and broadband packages would be terminated at the end of the year. Not long after that, AT&T announced a partnership to market and sell co-branded DirecTV services exclusively starting in January 2009. These services will obviously be the most heavily marketed in areas where AT&T does not offer its own U-Verse VDSL2-based IPTV service.

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AT&T insiders tell us that all of the AT&T stores and national dealers that sell wired services across AT&T's 22 state footprint will begin selling DirecTV on schedule.

According to the source, all AT&T reps should be trained to sell DirecTV service by February 1. The source provides documentation suggesting that the bundle promos they're working on for new customers will be stackable, could save customers up to $845 per year, and will end March 3, 2009.

AT&T's move away from Dish Network was an interesting one, in part because it was the unofficial scrapping of AT&T's Homezone effort, which was a DSL/Dish DBS hybrid set-top aimed at customers out of range of AT&T U-Verse. While AT&T is still supporting Homezone users, they're no longer selling the service to new customers. It's not yet clear if AT&T will offer a similar Homezone-style service in concert with DirecTV -- who is doing some very interesting things with broadband video delivery.

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Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, and CELL PHONE will I be able to get a bundle promo?

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
Reviews:
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·Comcast
·Callcentric

Re: I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

said by Joe12345678:

I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, and CELL PHONE will I be able to get a bundle promo?
Same here. I am going to call on Feb 1st and find out.
hottboiinnc
ME

join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

Re: I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

probably if you change your DirecTV billing to AT$T you'd get the deal.
whocares0
Premium
join:2003-07-26
..
said by Joe12345678:

I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, and CELL PHONE will I be able to get a bundle promo?
=============================
Joe, i just got off phone with Supervisor "Sandra" )7800-531-5000) from Directv, ( I am a 5+ yr own my own equipment) Directv subscriber.
I was told the ONLY THING that will change will be IF YOU CHOOSE TO you will get your AT&T bill & Directv bill togeather as one total bill,

IF NOT,(AS I DO) I get a separate bill from (and want to keep it that way) from AT&T,Directv,AT&T/cingular (cell phone),
called back a 2nd time & spoke with a tec "TOM",& was told same this IF you choose to have your phone bill & directv bill togeather you can, thats is what is being offered

=====================================================
These services will obviously be the most heavily marketed in areas where AT&T does not offer its own U-Verse VDSL2-based IPTV service.
--
some know how listen to both side & discuss an issue,others have a closed mind & only know how to criticize

jlachowin

join:2008-05-29
Milwaukee, WI

Re: I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

What a wonderful "offer", but no thanks. Give me money off DirecTV bill!
Armjmi

join:2009-01-27
Cleveland, OH

Re: I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

I agree I would rather have money off my bill. I was told when I called Direct TV and AT&T that old subscribers like me (six years) would not be offered the bundle discount.

I think they should be concerned about keeping old customers who can easily go to cable and bundle their services.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service
If you say you're switching to cable, maybe.

These deals are to lure "new" customers in, but a lot of people report successes by saying they are about to turn it off, or calling in and saying they need to lower their bills due to economic conditions, etc

It's possible to get the bundles...
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
whocares0
Premium
join:2003-07-26
..

2 edits

Re: I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

said by KrK:

If you say you're switching to cable, maybe.

These deals are to lure "new" customers in, but a lot of people report successes by saying they are about to turn it off, or calling in and saying they need to lower their bills due to economic conditions, etc

It's possible to get the bundles...
=======================================
KrK. while I enjoy DIRECTV, the biggest thing to P.O me & I'am sure thousands of other customers )or future customers is) is that fact that:

you can no longer own your equipment (Directly)from Directv,i (and others) own our big satellite dish ,wiring,receiver ect, really think this was a bad idea on Directv's part,
some know how listen to both side & discuss an issue,others have a closed mind & only know how to criticize


KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

Re: I have Direct TV and ATT DSL, PHONE, CELL PHONE will I be

I can still buy Dish Equipment by WOW they make it so damned expensive now.

I used to own all my gear.
Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Does ATT plan to make Direct TV VOD data cap free?

Does ATT plan to make Direct TV VOD data cap free?

Will it get any network QOS boosts?
hottboiinnc
ME

join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

Re: Does ATT plan to make Direct TV VOD data cap free?

can't. That wouldn't be fair as its both data on the internet.

anony55

@lamrc.com

audio sync issue w/ Uverse

sorry for getting off topic, but is the sync issue on Uverse a problem for anyone else? even after resetting the box, I see out of sync audio quite often
jlachowin

join:2008-05-29
Milwaukee, WI

knothx

Thanks for the "offer" but no thanks. If I bundle my DirecTV to my AT&T bill, all they offer is, well that it is on the same bill? No thanks.
MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
kudos:4
Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: knothx

You'd be surprised how many people view combined bills as a plus. They are apparently overwhelmed by having to handle two bills and make two payments instead of one.

Personally, I'd RATHER get separate bills, because then I can deal with them independently when I need to fix something.

Time Warner Cable is running a commercial here touting their "simple" bills as a big advantage over AT&T U-verse. It shows some dumb guy having to deal with broken stuff in his house and he whining that things are "too complicated".
gtoken

join:2003-12-28
Fort Smith, AR

Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

First, its "at&t", not "AT&T".

I would just say you can bet your sweat bippy anything at&t(formerly SBC) offers will be a rip-off and forget customer service, there is none.

I finally got totally rid of at&t(SBC) a couple months ago and kept my Dish Network.

Disclaimer: I am perfectly happy with my at&t (fomerly Cingular) wireless service.
Austinloop

join:2001-08-19
Austin, TX
kudos:1
Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse

Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

gtoken said: First, its "at&t", not "AT&T".

Actually, the at&t is a logo thing because focus groups thought that indicated a more friendly approach than the all caps AT&T. Again just a logo thing and a trade mark. However you write it, it means the same.
TronGMZ

join:2004-07-14
Houston, TX

Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

Agreed, it is AT&T, "at&t" is just marketing. Confirmed via the NYSE filings and PR Newswire. See ticker NYSE: T, clearly listed as "AT&T Inc."
wistlo

join:2003-01-04
New Orleans, LA
A long time ago (how long, anyone know?) it was "American Telephone and Telegraph"
clecssuck

join:2002-01-23
Birmingham, AL
Actually BellSouth had a deal with DirecTv for years. I've gotten $10 off my TV for a while now. Maybe this is just one case of at&t(or SBC) actually admitting BellSouth knew a thing or two.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Reviews:
·AT&T DSL Service

Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

I suspect it's more because now that AT&T is pushing into U-Verse they see Dish and more of a competitor threat on pricing then DirecTV.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:4
Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
said by gtoken:

Disclaimer: I am perfectly happy with my at&t (fomerly Cingular) wireless service.
Since you are being such a stickler, AT&T (pre SBC) had a wireless phone service, but sold it. Two companies split the purchase 60-40: Bellsouth and SBC. The name was changed to, "Cingular Wireless". It is my personal contention (no facts to back it up) that SBC CEO Ed Whitacre engineered the purchase of AT&T by SBC, then the purchase of Bellsouth by AT&T, in order to get full control of the wireless phone service, and re-brand it back to the original: AT&T Wireless.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum
Couch Potato
What?
Premium
join:2004-08-29
Evansville, IN
Reviews:
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·WOW Internet and..

Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

said by NormanS:

said by gtoken:

Disclaimer: I am perfectly happy with my at&t (fomerly Cingular) wireless service.
Since you are being such a stickler, AT&T (pre SBC) had a wireless phone service, but sold it. Two companies split the purchase 60-40: Bellsouth and SBC. The name was changed to, "Cingular Wireless". It is my personal contention (no facts to back it up) that SBC CEO Ed Whitacre engineered the purchase of AT&T by SBC, then the purchase of Bellsouth by AT&T, in order to get full control of the wireless phone service, and re-brand it back to the original: AT&T Wireless.
The aforementioned quote is not accurate. AT&T Wireless was the cellular company of AT&T. Cingular was a joint venture between SBC and Bellsouth. SBC Purchased AT&T and, by default, AT&T Wireless. SBC decided to kill off AT&T Wireless. SBC purchased Bellsouth and now owns all of Cingular. SBC decided since AT&T's name is well known and they now owned it, they might as well use it. Now SBC is called at&t while Cingular is called at&t Mobility.
NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:4
Reviews:
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Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

said by Couch Potato:

The aforementioned quote is not accurate. AT&T Wireless was the cellular company of AT&T. Cingular was a joint venture between SBC and Bellsouth.
In 1994 AT&T bought McCaw Cellular, and renamed it as, "AT&T Wireless Services, Inc."

In 2004, AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. was merged with Cingular Wireless, the SBC-Bellsouth joint venture. So I was off by a click (as in 1/4 inch of angular change at 100 meters from the bench rest).

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT%26T_Wir···Services

AT&T didn't "kill off" AT&T Wireless, they just bought Bellsouth, and brought all of Cingular under one brand.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum
dragonbait

join:2000-10-28
Loxahatchee, FL
said by Couch Potato:

Cingular was a joint venture between SBC and Bellsouth. SBC Purchased AT&T and, by default, AT&T Wireless. SBC decided to kill off AT&T Wireless.
Actually, after AT&T Wireless was spun off as an independent company from AT&T in 2001, AT&T Wireless was licensing the AT&T brand from AT&T Corp. When Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless in 2004, Cingular was only able to continue using the AT&T brand for limited time after the merger closed. Therefore, all AT&T Wireless branded assets had to be re-branded as Cingular Wireless.

Only after SBC acquired AT&T (thus gaining the rights the rights to the AT&T brand) and BellSouth (thus gaining complete control of Cingular Wireless), did Cingular Wireless get re-branded to AT&T Mobility.
jpboss

join:2003-09-13
Conyers, GA
NormanS is right, sorry Couch Potato, you are wrong on your facts.
ross

join:2000-08-16
said by gtoken:

First, its "at&t", not "AT&T".

I would just say you can bet your sweat bippy anything at&t(formerly SBC) offers will be a rip-off and forget customer service, there is none.

I finally got totally rid of at&t(SBC) a couple months ago and kept my Dish Network.

Disclaimer: I am perfectly happy with my at&t (fomerly Cingular) wireless service.
Uh, yeah, and it's "sweet", not "sweat". One tastes good, and the other smells bad...
gtoken

join:2003-12-28
Fort Smith, AR

Re: Dislike at&t (SBC)...........Like Dish Network

I would also bet most bippy's do smell bad too. Either way, I'm glad to be done with at&t(SBC).

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Could I get...

AT&T - Cellphone
AT&T - Uverse Internet only (say 3Mbps)
AT&T - DirecTv
AT&T - Uverse Voice (assuming they ever deploy it in Los Angeles)

Currently AT&T doesn't sell Uverse voice here, or allow for Uverse Internet w/o Uverse TV.
MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
kudos:4

U-verse not VDSL2, just VDSL right now

is my understanding -- although the word is that the installed hardware is VDSL2-capable with only software/firmware upgrades.
etaadmin

join:2002-01-17
Dallas, TX

Re: U-verse not VDSL2, just VDSL right now

said by MyDogHsFleas:

is my understanding -- although the word is that the installed hardware is VDSL2-capable with only software/firmware upgrades.
Yes, right now it is VDSL2+ but... the majority of uverse subscribers can't use band DS2 8.5MHz to 30MHz because of attenuation at higher frequencies.

See some VDSL results here »adslm.dohrenburg.org/tools/db-results.php

Actually the upgrade necessary is not firmware or software it is the transport medium. What AT&T needs is FIBER!
ross

join:2000-08-16

Re: U-verse not VDSL2, just VDSL right now

said by etaadmin:

...Actually the upgrade necessary is not firmware or software it is the transport medium. What AT&T needs is FIBER!
Truer words never spoken!
MyDogHsFleas
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Austin, TX
kudos:4
Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable

Re: U-verse not VDSL2, just VDSL right now

I wasn't going to respond to the last post because it was just so lame and I am tired of spending time educating people who don't want to be educated or who just won't listen to anything that doesn't follow the narrative as spun here.

But now you've got me.

Look -- VDSL or VDSL2 has nothing to do with fiber. You might as well append here "I like chocolate!" It'd be just as relevant.

Not only that, but AT&T does use fiber, to the node, and either reuses copper that already exists to the home, or installs new fiber to the home in new developments. As the need arises for REPLACING last-mile copper with fiber, they can do this for only an incremental cost -- the cost to do FTTN and the buildout of VDSL and Video over IP still applies.

Finally, for those who predict AT&T failing with their FTTN incremental-to-FTTP strategy because Verizon OBVIOUSLY made the right choice... well... events are not supporting you. AT&T has met all their business goals and are installing U-verse about as fast as they can.

cline3621
Mr. Yuk is MEAN Mr. Yuk is GREEN
Premium
join:2006-06-14
Clarksville, TN
Reviews:
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Dish Network

As a Dish Network tech, I'm glad were not co-branding with at&t anymore. They have a nasty habit of messing up our work orders. Such as: Giving people what they don't want or need. Case in point: My customers being set up for our best HDTV boxes, such as the 722, or 612, and they don't own a HDTV, which means extra fees paid for services not rendered. Not to mention me spending usually more than an hour on the phone to fix some other persons' mistake, that should have never been made in the first place. So I say good riddance. My stress level is already coming down, now I know I won't have to deal with their incompetence anymore. I'll tell you one thing though. They had better get there shit in gear or there going to find themselves struggling to keep relevant, in an emerging world of faster, and more efficient telecommunications. Hence the 10Mbps symmetrical fiber connection at my home. I dumped them last May and have never looked back.
notech3

join:2009-01-10

Re: Dish Network

we just got att dsl and wanted to combine dish which we've had for 3 yrs. they must have known dish was on it's way out, b/c the sales rep said, they've had a problem with Dish and if I did dish thru them, Dish would make me wait 6 mos to resign up.

can't be bothered with BS sales ppl. I would be interested in Direct TV though. Dish's bill just keeps climbing and there's not a whole lot of programming. $20 for their HD package is a bit much, when we already have america's everything, 2 dvrs, etc.

combo's aren't bad if they DISCOUNT them, similarly to auto/home ins. Otherwise, there's little incentive.

Ytsejamer1

join:2008-01-18
Somersworth, NH

Re: Dish Network

Be careful what you wish for...DTVs system for customer services isn't much better. I love the DirecTV product, it's the backend support and services which is truly lacking at times.
jlachowin

join:2008-05-29
Milwaukee, WI

Re: Dish Network

I've never had an issue with DirecTV customer support, for over 2 years, or AT&T customer support for 6 months.

I think it really depends on who picks up on the other end when it comes to DirecTV, I have heard a lot of bad stories heh
iampedro

join:2005-02-12
Houston, TX

Re: Dish Network

I am going to wait till AT&T get's there act together for my location they told us November, December, January and now they don't know when... I am not getting DirectTV on my house that is all I know unless it is beneficial to me. The whole reason was for faster internet + Whole HOME DVR.
clecssuck

join:2002-01-23
Birmingham, AL
Yeah, it just depends on who you get just like alot of companies. With DirecTV I've had a terrible experience, hung up and called right back and got exactly the help I needed.
wierdo

join:2001-02-16
Tulsa, OK
Reviews:
·Cox HSI
·T-Mobile US

Funny

Interesting that they're going back to DirecTV.

SBC originally partnered with DirecTV for their video delivery, then after a few years they dropped DirecTV and switched to Dish for new installs.

Ironically, when DirecTV and TiVo finally launch their new DirecTiVo box next year (presuming it actually happens), people who can't get U-Verse will be better off than those who can, at least for video. U-Verse video is quite a poor offering. Essentially the only thing it has going for it is the fairly comprehensive channel lineup.

It's more expensive than my cable service, has poorer video quality, and the total home DVR solution is half-baked at best.
--
It's wierdo, not weirdo. Yes, I know that's not the 'proper' spelling of the similar english language word.
jaxjaguar

join:2001-05-29
Northridge, CA

Does it require 2 year contract?

Does anyone know if this will require a 2 year contract with DirecTv? The current Dish deal lets you have no contract if you pay the $99 installation fee.

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