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story category Cox Expands 'Tech Solutions'
Cable operator's version of Geek Squad hits Arizona
(old news - 12:11PM Thursday Aug 30 2007)
tags: business · hardware · cable · networking · Cox HSI
As home networking grows in popularity, a number of ISPs are offering extended tech support services. Cox is one of those companies, and is now offering its Geek Squad-esque (sans porn stealing) tech solutions service in Phoenix and Tucson. Says the company to the Arizona Republic:
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"We don't know how many times our technicians have gone out to homes and had to tell customers the problems they are experiencing are not related to the Cox Internet connection, but the computer," Heitkamp said. "We are not allowed to work on computers. As a corporation, we thought that if we could, it would help our customers."
The service was previously only offered in Orange County (CA), San Diego and Rhode Island. While they don't make house calls, Verizon has also started offering full computer tech support for an additional $10 per month.

Related:
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  3. Cox Gears Up for Multi-Room DVR
  4. Still Waiting On Faster AT&T Speeds, Line Bonding
  5. Knology Gets Closer To DOCSIS 3.0
  6. Comcast/Sandvine Traffic Managment System Evolves
  7. Cox Scraps App-Specific Throttling Trials
  8. Metrocast Offers Fiber To The Home
Forums » Cox Expands 'Tech Solutions'
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
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join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
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·Comcast


2 edits

Home networking experts? - I also hope they do security

Besides home networking help, what most home users really need even more is a security audit. That way their home systems can be made somewhat secure and the flood of bot controlled computers can be cut down somewhat. That not only helps the home user, it helps the ISP, and it helps the whole internet improve.

They really should be selling home security audits as a service. That could bring real money in. Especially for those parents who are technophobes and who have kids that poke holes thru home networks either on purpose or by accident.

EDIT: I do see that Cox does offer a separate Virus detect, clean, and setup protection service as well.
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Ammler
Premium
join:2005-04-19
Pittsburgh, PA

Re: Home networking experts? - I also hope they do security

I agree.

You would not believe the number of PCs I've serviced where the owners downloaded some kind of "free" system maintenance program that offers to keep your identity "safe" ,your web surfing "anonymous", and cleans out adware, only to find out that it is adware/spyware/malware/etc. infested itself.

Of course then there are the owners that have the various McAfee and Norton antivirus programs that were installed ages ago, haven't been updated, subscriptions expired so you can't update it; but yet, they have antivirus "installed".


trparky
Bite My Shiny Metal Ass
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join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
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Re: Home networking experts? - I also hope they do security

WinAntiVirus Pro?
Xsk8er

join:2001-01-02
Columbus, OH
·AT&T U-Verse

said by GOLFnSUN See Profile :

Besides home networking help, what most home users really need even more is a security audit.
Cox Tech Solutions can help with Spyware/ virus and other issues. It's not limited to 3rd Party Home Networking Equipment.

MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform

join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC

Cox Squad

Why didn't they call it Cox Squad? ROFL

DaSneaky1D
one wall to block them all
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou

Re: Cox Squad

I think that will lead to too many, "Sorry, we don't provide that type of service" calls.

burgermeister
All Computers Are Junk

join:2000-10-23
Utica, MI
Or Cocks Squad.

Sorry, I'll grow up now.
okie11

join:2003-11-20

great idea

I think all the cable companies should offer this, as long as they hire certified techs unlike the geek squad.

DHRacer
Fire Survivor

join:2000-10-10
Lake Arrowhead, CA
·Charter Pipeline
·Verizon west (ex G..

Re: great idea

I heard that you have to be at least A+ to get a minimum job at GS. And that to level up you have to get other certs (CCNA, etc) if you want the better jobs supporting more business stuff and less home-user.

Granted, A+ just weeds out the wannabes to a certain extent, but at least they look for people who have at least taken some sort of certifying exam before letting them run amok.
--
"No one will believe you solved this problem in one day! We've been working on it for months. Now, go act busy for a few weeks and I'll let you know when it's time to tell them." (R&D Supervisor, Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing /3M Corp.)
okie11

join:2003-11-20


2 edits

Re: great idea

not true, at geek squad all you need to be is have the ability to sell the customer stuff they don't need. seriously. they no longer care if your certified, they only care about making a sale.

»consumerist.com/search/geek%20squad/
check out this link and do some reading

inteller
Sociopaths always win.

join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

i'd rather somone bring me a log book of all of their service calls (successfully completed) rather than a list of certs that any good test taker who crammed overnight could pass.
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept

join:2004-06-26
·Embarq

Re: great idea

said by inteller See Profile :

i'd rather somone bring me a log book of all of their service calls (successfully completed) rather than a list of certs that any good test taker who crammed overnight could pass.
I agree. Years back, I took a Network+ course at a community college. The course was test-centric in that the curriculum and labs (a joke, the latter) were geared towards passing the exam in 16 weeks. Granted, most everyone who took the test passed, but that was only a handful of people due to the fact that the class was part of the IT curriculum at the college, and that was divvied up into programming, applications and networking. The first two groups only wanted to pass the class and didn't appear to care much about learning anything real-world applicable.

I ended up the 'leader' of my lab group due to the fact that I had a home LAN and ran Linux on my notebook at the time (big whoop, I realize). Long to short, ten weeks into the course the lab assignment was to create specific user accounts on a w2k server for the purpose of troubleshooting steps. The two computers (w2k server & w2k workstation) had been futzed with beforehand and were not communicating.

I asked my 'group' what first? Silence. After finding the cable between the computers was not a crossover, I said "what next?" silence. I had to create the network (subnet, etc) while my 'group' sat by and watched in amazement. I then watched in utter disgust as they fumbled through the lab book step by step, skipping a process at the first sign of trouble and moving on to the next, which, of course, on more than one occasion couldn't be completed due to the previous step being uncompleted. And on it went. I couldn't believe it.

That was the first lab where I was actually more hands off because I realized that I was doing practically everything up to that point and thought maybe one guy was getting pissed. His demeanor changed completely when I sat there while they had their thumbs planted firmly up their backsides while trying to create, mangle, and then repair accounts on the client/server.

One of my group passed the CompTia test at the end of the course by cramming the practice tests the class took. It's a joke. Period. One in ten 'cert- masters' are truly interested and qualified to call themselves technicians in any tech field today.
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A monthly desktop thread should only happen when Paris Hilton buys a computer.

trparky
Bite My Shiny Metal Ass
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join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
clubs:
Are you saying that I'm stupid because I work there?
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Tom
okie11

join:2003-11-20

Re: great idea

don't think any ones calling you stupid, its the place you work that has destroyed the geek squad reputation. they care more about making more millions (which is ok) than helping the customer.

trparky
Bite My Shiny Metal Ass
Premium,MVM
join:2000-05-24
Cleveland, OH
clubs:
·AT&T U-Verse


1 edit

Re: great idea

Hey, I've been known to tell the customer that they don't need a product.

For instance, customer came in and bought a notebook. The college said that you needed Windows Vista Business on the machine as well as Office 2007 Professional and not Home and Student. I right there at Customer Service went over all of the different things that the two editions had of each product. After going over it all, the customer said he didn't think he needed it all and I saved him well over $250.
--
Tom

BluesFan
Waiting For A Stanley Cup

join:2002-05-25
Granite City, IL

Porn and privacy?

Cable operator's version of Geek Squad hits Arizona
Am I the only one that thought...now Cox is copying your music and porn while recording you in the shower?
Eagle Eye

join:2002-12-19
Glendale, AZ

Cox Solutions

Always negative comments from this site. Pretty sad I must say. I think its good idea for Cox to do this.
Forums » Cox Expands 'Tech Solutions'


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