  MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 |  Contracts
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 |  gdmPremium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
kudos:3 | Re: Contracts SBC/ATT has typically not required contracts at all. If you do decide you want a contract then you get a lower monthly bill. That's how DSL has been for a while not sure in Bellsouth area. | |
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| | MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | Re: Contracts said by gdm:SBC/ATT has typically not required contracts at all. If you do decide you want a contract then you get a lower monthly bill. That's how DSL has been for a while not sure in Bellsouth area. Well, yeah. If you want a lower price you don't have to sign one. But guess which price they advertise? | |
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| | |  nklbPremium
join:2000-11-17
Ann Arbor, MI
kudos:2 | Re: Contracts On U-Verse services, there are NO long-term contracts. None. Nada.
This is one of the major draws to the service for me.
I have it and can say it is WORLDS better than the cable ISP I used to have ever was.
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for all your Linux questions | |
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| | | gdmPremium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
kudos:3 Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
1 edit | Right now the pricing is based on the month to month not the yearly term. It shows what a 6 month stint is and then the regular price.
Not sure how the monthly prices are so expensive. $35 gets you 6/768 if you are within in distance for ADSL.
As nklb stated U-Verse currently has no contracts what so ever which is nice. The price you see is what you get. I can't see them changing that anytime soon. | |
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| | | | MattAll noise, no signal.Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
kudos:12 | Re: Contracts said by gdm:As nklb stated U-Verse currently has no contracts what so ever which is nice. The price you see is what you get. I can't see them changing that anytime soon. U-Verse is the ONLY AT&T service which doesn't offer incentives for signing a contract and you don't think once it's rolled out to more locations they'll bump non contract pricing up and require contracts for the existing pricing?
You do realize we're talking about AT&T here right? | |
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| | | | | gdmPremium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
kudos:3 | Re: Contracts I never said they couldn't. For right now I don't see them doing it in the near future it would defeat the purpose of what they are trying to do against the cable companies. | |
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| | ac6bw
join:2003-11-09
San Jose, CA | I have the naked U-Verse VDSL, max 10Mbps/1.5, which was offered to me because my loop length is too far from the CO for regular ADSL. No contract. $55/month. I'm not sure how much lower the price would be with a contract. But it sure beats the $130/month I was paying for the 144kbps IDSL line that I used to have  | |
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| | | gdmPremium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
kudos:3 | Re: Contracts U-Verse doesn't have contracts right now at all. The $55 you are paying is the same amount I am paying for that speed plus my TV service for U-Verse. My total bill is $120 for 10 meg internet, u300, 1 DVR and 1 STB. | |
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| | | Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| said by ac6bw:I have the naked U-Verse VDSL, max 10Mbps/1.5, which was offered to me because my loop length is too far from the CO for regular ADSL. No contract. $55/month. I'm not sure how much lower the price would be with a contract. As stated, there are no contracts. There's also no bundle discount any more, so having U-verse TV will not lower the $55 price for Max Internet. | |
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| cerone
join:2001-10-28
Hialeah, FL | Contract on a landline system? It never happened, it never will. | |
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Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
2 edits | AT&T told me I could do this when they called me to push U-verse. I said "I really don't want the TV, just the Internet." They said, "You could always cancel the TV after it's installed." I said, "That's crazy, you'll spend a lot of money on me for nothing." They said, "Well, that's what people are doing."
I shrugged my shoulders, hung up, and went and ordered on the Web site (you get a better deal that way). I got a free month of U-400 TV (all the channels) and the Max Internet (10/1.5). They came and installed it. We gave it a fair trial, and I got to watch the first two seasons of Dexter on VOD for free.
We decided to cancel and keep Time-Warner Cable because the HD quality of U-verse was not as good as TWC. Other than that, we thought it was pretty good.
AT&T sent me a box to return my three STBs, they paid the shipping. So my out of pocket was exactly $0 for trying the TV (except for the PPV movies my wife ordered!)
The kicker is... part of the deal was a $100 cash-back offer. I had read the fine print, which said your services had to be in effect, and the rebate could not be applied for until after a month. So I figured no rebate for me.
Then, AT&T sent me a letter saying "Hey! You are eligible for your rebate now!" about 6 weeks after I originally installed. So I figured what the hell, the worst that could happen is they deny me. So I logged in and applied for the rebate online.
Guess what... I got my check for $100 in the mail on Saturday. I love it when things go wrong in your favor! | |
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| | | Re: AT&T told me I could do this I had to cancel my U-Verse service after a couple of months because it wasn't available in the area I was moving to. Now, over 7 months later, I still have 3 receivers and the gateway in a box in my closet in brand new condition. I've called AT&T 5 times about this and they refuse to even give me a location to drop the devices off to. They insisted each time that they'd send me a pre-paid return shipment label and I've not yet received it.
It's unfortunate that their receivers are IPTV based because a few clear QAM tuners with all these interface options would do good in my home. | |
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| | Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: AT&T told me I could do this said by JPGrimmace:I had to cancel my U-Verse service after a couple of months because it wasn't available in the area I was moving to. Now, over 7 months later, I still have 3 receivers and the gateway in a box in my closet in brand new condition. I've called AT&T 5 times about this and they refuse to even give me a location to drop the devices off to. They insisted each time that they'd send me a pre-paid return shipment label and I've not yet received it. My advice is to keep a log of your calls with AT&T, and record the date, name, and AT&T ID number of the person who tells you they are shipping the boxes. And make sure they have the right address on file. Even better, get a tracking number for the shipment.
I say this because what's going to happen is you will get a big-ass charge on your credit card for the "non-returned boxes" and you will have to fight it with AT&T. You will need to be able to document who told you they'd send boxes when. | |
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| |  DavidI have a son- d3Premium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
kudos:68 | If you want and can either post in direct, drop me some IM info, or something else I am sure I can get them picked up. | |
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|  en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | I've thought about using Uverse for Internet only (comparable to TWC pacakges).
Here's the only kicker
Currently:
DSL-Extreme DSL: $26.88 (with taxes)
POTS: $57 (with taxes/unfees)
Total: $84
TWC bundle:
HSI + VoIP = $69.99 (increases by $10 after a year + install fee)
AT&T does not offer VoIP in the L.A. area, Vonage will not port my number
Uverse will not be an option.
Uverse 3Mbps = 30
VoIP = $40
Total: $70 + fees/taxes
Since I'm going 'OTA' digital, I have no need or desire for IPTV.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: AT&T told me I could do this said by en102:I've thought about using Uverse for Internet only (comparable to TWC pacakges). Here's the only kicker Currently: DSL-Extreme DSL: $26.88 (with taxes) POTS: $57 (with taxes/unfees) Total: $84 TWC bundle: HSI + VoIP = $69.99 (increases by $10 after a year + install fee) AT&T does not offer VoIP in the L.A. area, Vonage will not port my number Uverse will not be an option. Uverse 3Mbps = 30 VoIP = $40 Total: $70 + fees/taxes Since I'm going 'OTA' digital, I have no need or desire for IPTV. AT&T has a VoIP offering called CallVantage that you could check out and see if they could port your POTS number. It's $25/month, with a $5 discount reported by U-Verse or AT&T Wireless users. CallVantage works with any ISP, it's not tied to AT&T DSL or U-verse. I use it personally and am quite satisfied.
There's a CallVantage forum here :
»AT&T CallVantage | |
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| | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: AT&T told me I could do this If I can't port my number to Vonage... what makes you think I can port it to Call Vantage ?
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | gdmPremium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
kudos:3 | Re: AT&T told me I could do this Just because Vonage can't doesn't mean ATT can't either. Probably can't port it but it depends on if they have presence in that area. | |
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| | | | Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| said by en102:If I can't port my number to Vonage... what makes you think I can port it to Call Vantage ? I don't know but it's worth a shot.
I have seen people post here who have problems porting to Vonage but AT&T seems to be able to do it.
Who has your POTS? | |
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| | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: AT&T told me I could do this AT&T has my POTS (couldn't see Uverse being deployed in an areas that AT&T doesn't own the POTS service)
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | | | gdmPremium,MVM
join:2001-06-15
Mchenry, IL
kudos:3 | Re: AT&T told me I could do this If AT&T is your POTS no reason Call Vantage can't port the number and it's cheaper then Vonage. You get a $5 discount if you have uverse, dsl or cell with ATT. | |
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| | | | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
1 edit | Re: AT&T told me I could do this The difficult part is all the hassle, and being without service for a while..
1. Order Uverse (still considered less stable than ADSL out here) - and hard cut DSL-Extreme (excellent service)
2. Cancel Uverse TV service
3. Order Call Vantage service and equipment (TA?)
4. Port service.. if they will do it. I have had a difficult time from AT&T finding out about Call Vantage, as their local stores had never heard of it.
The only noticable advantage of having AT&T over DSL-Extreme is AT&T WiFi.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | | | | | Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: AT&T told me I could do this said by en102:The difficult part is all the hassle, and being without service for a while.. 1. Order Uverse (still considered less stable than ADSL out here) - and hard cut DSL-Extreme (excellent service) 2. Cancel Uverse TV service 3. Order Call Vantage service and equipment (TA?) 4. Port service.. if they will do it. I have had a difficult time from AT&T finding out about Call Vantage, as their local stores had never heard of it. Actually I'd do it the other way around. Get CallVantage first and port your number. Then worry about switching DSL to U-verse (if you even want to do that).
The big savings is going to come from cutting that POTS phone bill down.
Here's where you order:
»www.usa.att.com/callvantage
The only noticable advantage of having AT&T over DSL-Extreme is AT&T WiFi.
If you are a road warrior this is a big deal. Having free Wi-Fi access at any Starbucks, McDonalds, and many other hotspots is great.
Other than that I'd agree with you, no compelling reason to change.
If you do consider a switch, note that AT&T will insist that your previous DSL be CANCELLED before they start installation. This will possibly be a multi-day outage for you. (This is not the case if you are switching from AT&T DSL to U-verse... but that's not your situation). | |
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| | | | | | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: AT&T told me I could do this I can't port my number w/o cancelling my DSL.
DSL-Extreme and others are forced to have a POTS number for DSL service by AT&T.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | | | | | | Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: AT&T told me I could do this said by en102:I can't port my number w/o cancelling my DSL. DSL-Extreme and others are forced to have a POTS number for DSL service by AT&T. Yeesh.
OK so here's another approach (this is actually what I did).
1. Get CallVantage up and running on a different/new phone number (or Vonage for that matter if you prefer).
2. Cut your POTS line down to the lowest possible cost measured service. (I cut mine to $4.50/month, with fees/taxes it was about $13).
3. Tell all your friends to use the new number.
4. Set up an answering machine on the old number telling people to call the new number.
5. Wait some period of time until call volume to the old number goes down.
6. Do the DSL switch and cancel your POTS line. (They will do a message "this phone number not in service, the new number is..." for at least 30 days.) | |
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| | | | | | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: AT&T told me I could do this I would have already switched to something else if I didn't want to keep my number.
Probably the quickest/easiest is to port to TimeWarner (Internet + VoIP) then decide what I want to do.
TWC has a $69.99 6Mbps+VoIP package, and I don't have to go through all of AT&T's B.S. to move service around.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | | | | | |  KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| said by en102:I can't port my number w/o cancelling my DSL. DSL-Extreme and others are forced to have a POTS number for DSL service by AT&T. Isn't anti-competitive action grand.... | |
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| | | | | | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: AT&T told me I could do this I would have already been on VoIP if AT&T let DSL-Extreme offer dry loop. Verizon lets DSL-Extreme offer dry loop.. AT&T just wants to make it painful to port... unless you're using their service.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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| | | | | | | | | | You can alway port your # to a Cell phone.
»www.howardforums.com/showthread.···10629240
OR
a Company that offers Voip service Such as www.viatalk.com
When the # is ported to Voip(viatalk) you can configure your phone calls to be forwarded to a cell phone when DSL NOT in service if you like or simply go to voicemail(this is completely independent of having active dsl/cable internet).
If you don't have a cell phone, simply get a prepaid cell phone like a trac-phone.
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| | | | | | | | | en102Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | Re: AT&T told me I could do this I'm not in a rush to jump ship - DSL-Extreme is worth a few extra $$.
My coworker across town is on TWC and had a 6 hour outage.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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 maartenaElmoPremium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
kudos:1
·AT&T U-Verse
 ·DIRECTV
| They can't offer high speeds... My cable provider (RoadRunner) offers me 10 meg down and 1 meg up for $49.95 (normally $54.95, but I get a $5 discount for having digital cable with them as well), and the rumor is that they will soon increase that to 15/2 to compete with FIOS in the region.... (unfortunately I am AT&T, just outside Verizon territory)
No matter how you look at it, DSL copper isn't going to give you any higher speeds then about 1 Mbps upload due to technology restrictions, and since they are trying to cram 2 HD channels on the same copper pairs, chances are the download speeds aren't going to be higher either.
For now, I have 0 interest and 0 confidence in U-Verse at the moment. I am planning on buying a HDTV next month, and I already got the HD-DVR from Time Warner, and I am going to record 2 HD streams at once plenty of times to record from the main network HD channels, PLUS watching regular TV in my office.
It makes economical sense to run copper instead of fiber (at least for now, the price of copper is on the rise - see the copper thieves that steal cables) and in most cases it's already there anyways.... but the future demands fiber. At least for the telco one-on-one type connections, the cable companies are good for the next 10 years with a last mile of copper like they do now. But they will eventually need to move to fiber also if all current channels will move to HD in the next 10, 15 years or so.
--
"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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| Reviews:
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: They can't offer high speeds... VSDL with U-verse is already 10 megabits down and 1.5 megabits up, for $55/month. So to say it's "not going to get higher than 1 Mbps upload" is not valid.
20/2 would be no problem at all for the current AT&T VDSL implementation. Even at maximum distance, VDSL is synching at 25 megabits/second (I personally get a 57 megabit synch) However, AT&T does not offer a provisioning profile for Internet-only VDSL. They arbitrarily cap it at 10/1.5. There have been reports in the field of people who accidentally get an uncapped profile and get well over 20 megabits download.
They will eventually go to VDSL2 and get faster, even over copper.
That said... 10/1 for $50 from TWC is a pretty good deal, even better if they go 15/2.
I am a former Road Runner customer myself. I switched to AT&T ADSL originally because RR did not provide a clean enough pipe for VoIP (too many dropped packets and latency jitter). AT&T DSL has been perfect for me. | |
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 Three88buPremium
join:2004-08-14
Crystal Lake, IL
·AT&T U-Verse
| Pulled the trigger This is good stuff. I just got off the phone with AT&T and ordered U-Verse with the $40 TV package(I have no intentions of keeping it) and the 10/1.5 package.
Currently paying about $60 a month for POTS & 6/768 service. I dont know EXACTLY what my new bill will be for internet after the USF fees or whatever, but I shouldnt be paying anymore than what I was before since I can cancel the POTS line now with U-Verse.
I doubled checked with the agent that there is no penalty to cancel the TV, and I will also be getting $150 back in rebates after a month of service.
$150 back + free install, 10/1.5 vs 6/768 for the same price = no brainer!
For me, AT&T is basically ISP god atm. It might not be a 50/5 fiber connection, but then again im no l33t warez/movie downloader either.
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What would you say...ya DO here? | |
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 CUBS_FANNext Year Again..
join:2005-04-28
Chicago, IL
kudos:1 | Sweet! If and whenever U-Verse makes it to my area I'll be capable of getting VDSL only!. I fall under the category of out of DSL range ( Vanilla DSL ?? sounds delicious  ) | |
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 ILpt4UPremium
join:2006-11-12
Lisle, IL
kudos:4
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Yahoo
 ·magicjack.com
1 edit | Union is why Internet Only U-Verse is limited... The various union contracts are why U-Verse TV MUST be bundled with U-Verse Internet at ordering time (unless you are in a ADSL "Red" zone (unable to get Vanilla DSL, or are in FTTH areas), but U-Verse TV DOES NOT have to be bundled with U-Verse Internet.
U-Verse Installation Techs (Prem Techs) are on a lower pay scale (comparable pay to cable TV installers, as Prem Techs are considered a Video Service installer) than traditional DSL techs who are legacy phone tech employees, and therefore are paid as phone techs (I&R Techs) (Disclaimer -- the various union contracts are public forum available on the internet). DSL Techs have their job of providing DSL Internet services protected by the union. DSL Techs install ADSL internet, not U-Verse (VDSL). U-Verse Prem Techs are responsible for U-Verse jobs.
If U-Verse techs were installing Internet Only U-Verse where regular ADSL is "green" (available), they would be taking work away from their union brothers and sisters who are DSL Techs, and doing it at a much lower pay rate. That is why it is not happening. It has nothing to do with AT&T wanting to bundle you. Of course, you can do Internet only in ADSL "red" zones, because you are taking no work away from a Union brother/sister, when his/her work cannot be done there, anyway, because that service is not available! Same with FTTH.
So that is why you have to jump thru the hoop of ordering both TV and Internet (which is video and related services) via U-Verse, have both installed, and then can cancel the TV to keep the U-Verse Internet.
The moral of this story: The U-Verse Prem Tech job is more on par with the DSL Techs and Phone I&R Techs than regular cable TV installers, and the pay and job description should be adjusted appropriately. If/When this happens, U-Verse Internet only will then become broadly available (that is my prediction). Most of the legacy SBC and BellSouth Union contracts run out at various times in 2009, so some time next year, we will see what happens with all of this... | |
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