Comcast Becomes Nation's Fourth Largest Phone Company - Leapfrogs Embarq with huge surge in VoIP customers...
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Chris 313 @ 8th Jan 09:27AM:
3rd very soon
Comcast will continue the climb and be 3rd very soon. They are the largest cable operator in the US and should have every customer who wants the service.
I'm even thinking of getting the phone service sometime this year.
It'll be interesting to see what they do next.
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 09:32AM:
Really?
Verizon Wireless has 63.7 million customers.
AT&T Wireless has 65 million customers.
T-Mobile has 27 million customers.
Verizon (landline) has 42.3 million customers.
I don't know who Comcast hired to do its counting, but if a quick web search can show that they aren't anywhere close to being the nation's 4th largest phone company, that's pretty sad.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk.
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ptrowski @ 8th Jan 09:38AM:
Re: Really?
Residential phone company....
"PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSK) (Nasdaq:CMCSA), the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications, today announced it has become the fourth-largest residential phone service provider in the United States"
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 09:43AM:
Re: Really?
said by ptrowski :
Residential phone company....
Who is to say that the customers of the companies I listed don't use their phones from these companies as "residential phones."
A phone is a phone is a phone. People use them to call other people. It doesn't matter if is VOIP-based, landline, wireless or uses 2 cans and a string. They all do the same thing. A VOIP-based phone is no more or no less of a phone than a wireless or landline phone.
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ptrowski @ 8th Jan 09:45AM:
Re: Really?
said by pnh102 :said by ptrowski :
Residential phone company....
Who is to say that the customers of the companies I listed don't use their phones from these companies as "residential phones."
A phone is a phone is a phone. People use them to call other people. It doesn't matter if is VOIP-based, landline, wireless or uses 2 cans and a string. They all do the same thing. A VOIP-based phone is no more or no less of a phone than a wireless or landline phone.
I think everyone realizes there is a difference between residential phone service and wireless phone service.
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 09:48AM:
Re: Really?
said by ptrowski :
I think everyone realizes there is a difference between residential phone service and wireless phone service.
I don't think so. Many landline phone companies in the USA are losing business permanently as customers port their service to wireless phones as well as VOIP. All three types of service draw from the same pool of customers.
What I am saying is no different than claiming that cable companies compete with satellite TV providers for the same customers.
--
Only SHATNER is Kirk.
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DonLibes @ 8th Jan 09:54AM:
Re: 3rd very soon
said by Chris 313 :
I'm even thinking of getting the phone service sometime this year.
I understand using Comcast for broadband because you have no other choice of providers but why would you use them for phone service where there is a huge choice of providers?
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ptrowski @ 8th Jan 09:58AM:
Re: Really?
said by pnh102 :said by ptrowski :
I think everyone realizes there is a difference between residential phone service and wireless phone service.
I don't think so. Many landline phone companies in the USA are losing business permanently as customers port their service to wireless phones as well as VOIP. All three types of service draw from the same pool of customers.
What I am saying is no different than claiming that cable companies compete with satellite TV providers for the same customers.
Yes, some people do that, but it is not considered a residential phone. Since that happens you will see wireless companies saying they added more subscribers.
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Kramer @ 8th Jan 10:03AM:
Re: 3rd very soon
The reason I went with them, is their bundled price as well as the ability to lock in my costs over two years. I've had the phone service for a year now and they have a pretty solid service. I haven't had the first problem (not counting the install that couldn't have been worse) in a year.
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Chris 313 @ 8th Jan 10:05AM:
Re: 3rd very soon
said by DonLibes :said by Chris 313 :
I'm even thinking of getting the phone service sometime this year.
I understand using Comcast for broadband because you have no other choice of providers but why would you use them for phone service where there is a huge choice of providers?
That's simple. I use Comcast for internet and TV cause I basically don't have a choice. SAT TV is a no go here because of trees around. Internet because my only other choice is AT&T and back when they were BellSouth, I had a very bad experience with them on Voice service and had my service disconnected.
I switched to AT&T CallVantage VoIP and have been there for almost 4 years this year. I don't plan on switching anytime soon, but if AT&T takes a dive on me, given that my house is not wired for phone, I have 2 choices for phone:
Vonage
Comcast Digital Voice.
These would be the easiest choice in both money and equipment hassle.
I don't view cell phones as a really viable alternative because we have Cingular here and they've been unreliable since Katrina hit.
Huge choice of providers? Nope, not for me.
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 10:07AM:
Re: Really?
said by ptrowski :
Yes, some people do that, but it is not considered a residential phone. Since that happens you will see wireless companies saying they added more subscribers.
Well over time, wireless companies have been adding more subscribers, at the expense of the landline companies. More and more people simply don't see the need for any landline-based service for their phone needs.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk.
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djrobx @ 8th Jan 11:06AM:
Re: Really?
We get your point, but you are splitting hairs. "Residential" may not be the perfect term to describe hardwired home phone service, but most do understand its distinction from cellular providers.
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anon @ 8th Jan 11:08AM:
Comcast Becomes Nation's Fourth Largest Phone Company
I LOVE VONAGE
OK I SAID IT BEEN WITH THEM SINCE THEY STARTED SERVICE IN ATLANTA GA
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 11:09AM:
Re: Really?
said by djrobx :
We get your point, but you are splitting hairs.
I would say I was combining them, not splitting them.
said by djrobx :
"Residential" may not be the perfect term to describe hardwired home phone service, but most do understand its distinction from cellular providers.
But if we are going to make the distinction, then we must apply that to VOIP and landline as well. We've seen some pretty spectacular failures in VOIP when compared to landline phone service. In light of this, it would be disingenuous to describe VOIP providers as "residential phone" providers when they clearly are "different."
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Only SHATNER is Kirk.
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cypherstream @ 8th Jan 11:11AM:
New features coming in 2008
NICE!
•Universal Caller ID to the TV and PC – customers can view caller information while watching TV or using their computer.
ITS ABOUT TIME.
•SmartZone Communications Center – a central online location where Comcast customers can use “viewable voicemail” to listen to calls or forward them like email, send and receive email and, in the future, remotely program their DVRs.
This sounds GREAT!
•Enhanced Cordless Telephone – that will enable home phone users to check email and voicemail, send instant messages and access a “universal” personal address book as well as a yellow pages directory.
I hope this comes out soon, because I need a new cordless in the next few months. Ours is getting pretty beat up.
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djrobx @ 8th Jan 11:15AM:
Re: 3rd very soon
My TW voip (similar technology to CDV) works 100% with digital services like faxing. It even makes "56k" dialup connections. Vonage and many of the other internet based services do not work as reliably for those sorts of things. I also prefer my phone services not mingling with my internet bandwidth, nor do I want them relying on public internet connectivity. With triple play bundling discounts it's a good deal and consolidates bills, too.
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djrobx @ 8th Jan 11:19AM:
Re: Really?
When my Time Warner installation was complete, my telephone service works nearly identically to how it worked when AT&T provided service. It's functionally the same hardwired land line service that works with my home phones and faxes, it's just provided in a different manner.
Using your logic, you wouldn't be able to compare DSL to Cable as ISPs, because they have completely different delivery mechanisms with different failure modes.
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dadkins @ 8th Jan 11:22AM:
Re: 3rd very soon
Yes! The dedicated channel(?) for phone that does not interfere with my internet connection.
Dialup works fine! Also, supposed to work with security/alarm services.
I like it! :)
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dadkins @ 8th Jan 11:26AM:
Re: New features coming in 2008
said by cypherstream :
•Enhanced Cordless Telephone – that will enable home phone users to check email and voicemail, send instant messages and access a “universal” personal address book as well as a yellow pages directory.
I hope this comes out soon, because I need a new cordless in the next few months. Ours is getting pretty beat up.
'bout time for mine to be retired as well. :huh:
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera
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anon @ 8th Jan 12:29PM:
Re: Really?
Ahh, yes its functionality is the same... but is your 911 the same... hmmm...
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morbo @ 8th Jan 12:02PM:
Re: 3rd very soon
said by Kramer :
The reason I went with them, is their bundled price
what is the breakdown in pricing for you? or just the total so we can examine the cost.
TV price = ?
Internet = ?
Phone = ?
TOTAL = ?
Cable has done a good job of making it seem like people save money by getting their phone service. I have relatives that dropped Verizon to get the "deal" from the cable company that is about as much or even more per month. The illusion of savings is what got them.
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dadkins @ 8th Jan 12:35PM:
Re: Really?
said by anon156879654 :
Ahh, yes its functionality is the same... but is your 911 the same... hmmm...
*HERE* 911 works fine!
I hit 911 and the police show up without me saying a word.
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dcurrey @ 8th Jan 12:44PM:
Re: Really?
Who is third?
1. AT&T
2. Verizon
3. ????
4. Comcast
5. Embarq
Landlines Not Cell.
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neufuse @ 8th Jan 12:48PM:
Nice but...
It's nice to bundle everything for cheaper but something about VoIP on comcast even with a dedicated bandwidth area still scares me... something about having two seperate services makes me feel better knowing if the cable is out I can still use a land line and vice versa... wouldn't want my cable internet and phone all going out at once personally...
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N3OGH @ 8th Jan 01:22PM:
Re: Really?
Comcast: The Big NEW expensive phone company ;)
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anon @ 8th Jan 01:31PM:
Re: Really?
I assume Quest is third.
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 01:48PM:
Re: Really?
said by djrobx :
Using your logic, you wouldn't be able to compare DSL to Cable as ISPs, because they have completely different delivery mechanisms with different failure modes.
Where did I say that? I routinely compare Internet service provided by cable, DSL, wireless or whatever means. All of these products, regardless of the delivery mechanism or underlying technology, are the same thing. The same is true of phone service.
Refer to my example of comparing cable TV to satellite TV. Both are the same product as far as the end user is concerned.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk.
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 01:50PM:
Re: Really?
said by dadkins :
I hit 911 and the police show up without me saying a word.
I think as technology progresses, 911 on wireless phones will work the same as it does with landlines. In a few years, this won't be an issue at all.
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Only SHATNER is Kirk.
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punker @ 8th Jan 01:55PM:
Re: Really?
WERE talking about LAND line NOT
Verizon Wireless or att wireless or t-mobile
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 01:59PM:
Re: Really?
said by punker :
WERE talking about LAND line NOT
VOIP phone service is not the same as landline service. Just like wireless service is not the same as landline service. Comcast's press release is comparing apples to oranges and trying to claim it has 4th place in a fruit contest, but they are ignoring the pears and bananas at the same time.
The only valid comparison here is all phone providers against all other phone providers.
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punker @ 8th Jan 02:11PM:
Re: Really?
yes it is landline
Cable phone = Digital phone NOT VOIP
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 02:13PM:
Re: Really?
said by punker :
yes it is landline
Cable phone = Digital phone NOT VOIP
Huh?
quote:
Leapfrogs Embarq with huge surge in VoIP customers...
Comcast's entire claim rests on the number of subscribers to its VOIP service.
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NormanS @ 8th Jan 02:16PM:
Re: 3rd very soon
A friend of mine signed up for the Comcast Triple Play; $33 a month each for TV, Internet, and Phone. Internet was a slam dunk; he was too far from the CO for reliable DSL, and only at 384kbps/384kbps at that. But the Triple Play bundle doesn't include the Franchise taxes on TV, or the PUC taxes on telephone, so his total bill is closer to $120 a month, after adding taxes; and will go up when the promotion period ends and the service prices revert to their full retail.
The landlady is paying for AT&T POTS, AT&T DSL, and DirecTV; at about $99 per month. I think she is also paying about $25 per month for long distance service. The price appears to be a wash between the two bills. At least until the Comcast promotion is over, and the prices go up.
--
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~Oh Lord, why have you come
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punker @ 8th Jan 02:20PM:
Re: Really?
yes but Digital phone
is an hardwired into the house
because you can not move it like voip phone
you also can use
dial up
Fax etc with out issuse
unlike voip Vonage were it would not work
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 02:23PM:
Re: Really?
said by punker :
yes but Digital phone
is an hard line
because you can not move it like voip phone
Ahh but mobility is just another feature of any phone service. Although this isn't directly related, any phone that I cannot take with me has less features than a phone that I can take with me.
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punker @ 8th Jan 02:28PM:
Re: Really?
even Comcast says it's Digital phone
»www.comcast.com/Customers/FAQ/Fa···?Id=1715
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we also should be call att Voip TOO cause it could go over tcp/ip too
(At some point)
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pnh102 @ 8th Jan 02:37PM:
Re: Really?
said by punker :
even Comcast says it's Digital phone
And again, this shows that while the technology might be VOIP, it is still phone service. So why not compare it with other companies that offer phone service.
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anon @ 8th Jan 02:50PM:
Re: Really?
HOME PHONE NOT WIRELESS PHONE. BIG DIFFERENCE.
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timmo @ 8th Jan 03:39PM:
Home Security System?
Anyone know if they will offer a home security system as well? I would love to ditch ADT for Comcast as another bundled service.
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punker @ 8th Jan 05:26PM:
Re: Really?
said by pnh102 :said by punker :
even Comcast says it's Digital phone
And again, this shows that while the technology might be VOIP, it is still phone service. So why not compare it with other companies that offer phone service.
All phones run on tcp/ip at some point (Over an High Speed Fiber) :p
it's just that it's closer to me
(100Feet to my co (the modem) ) then over to Coaxial Cable then to Fiber
Also POTS uses Coaxial Cable & Fiber too if you did not know (Saw it on the history channel on an show called Modern Marvels )
also Voip uses internet NO QOS
were Digital phone uses it's OWN internet
(More like LAN cause it DOES NOT go passed the node and has it own channel for QOS)
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hottboiinnc @ 8th Jan 06:11PM:
Re: 3rd very soon
Cable prices always do not go up. You can either lock your price in or by rebundling again. You just have to know who to talk to and what to ask for. I get TWC Digital Phone for $25 per month; RR Turbo for $35, and $30 for expanded basic cable. ATT can't beat that no matter what they do. Even in the year it expires i'll just call them back and sign it back up at the same price. Or add Digi Pic 1000 Digital Cable with it for roughly the same price.
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hottboiinnc @ 8th Jan 06:19PM:
Re: Really?
Same here with TWC Digital Phone. I even called just to make sure. They pick the address up and the phone number.
Comcast, and TWC and Cablevision have the problems with 911 worked out for the most part. Its Vonage and other "VoIP" providers that don't.
Digital phone providers actually provision 911. VOIP provider's dont.
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hottboiinnc @ 8th Jan 06:29PM:
Re: Nice but...
My internet was out the other day for about 12 hours. my digital phone with TWC still worked. Just because you have Digital phone doesnt make the entire thing go down just because one service does. With Vonage or any other VoIP provider this would not have been true. Even about a year or so ago a major Fiber cable owned by ATT was cut in my neighborhood by a construction company. The POTS lines were out. TWC digital phone still worked. I wouldnt give it up for any POTS carrier.
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neufuse @ 8th Jan 08:14PM:
Re: Nice but...
I am taking when the entire cable line is out not just the DOCSIS CMTS system
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NormanS @ 8th Jan 08:16PM:
Re: 3rd very soon
I am talking about Comcast introductory offers. Comcast, not Road Runner. We don't have Road Runner where I live.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum
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hottboiinnc @ 8th Jan 10:40PM:
Re: 3rd very soon
You can do the same thing with Comcast. They have a Retention Department. Also just because you don't have RR doesnt mean you have to have TWC. RR is just the ISP; not the cable operator.
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hottboiinnc @ 8th Jan 10:42PM:
Re: Nice but...
If i'm not mistaken the Digital phone part of the modem is DOCSIS too. It has to provision just like the modem part by MAC address. Its just not turn it on. It gets passed a data packet to tell you what you have and what not; just the same as the modem does for speed.
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neufuse @ 8th Jan 11:02PM:
Re: Nice but...
I don't know how it works myself, all i know is it has its own dedicated area of bandwidth... anyways my point is I want a backup if my cable is out... its always good to have a 2nd option... like a data provider does with multiple links over different networks incase one goes out you can still communicate
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KA3SGM @ 9th Jan 12:11AM:
911 Crank Caller???
said by dadkins :said by anon156879654 :
Ahh, yes its functionality is the same... but is your 911 the same... hmmm...
*HERE* 911 works fine!
I hit 911 and the police show up without me saying a word.
That would likely happen if you crank call 911 so often that they realize it's you every time the phone rings, no??? :o :o :o
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xlilxbo1x @ 9th Jan 07:10AM:
Re: Home Security System?
so who is
1st - ?
2nd - ?
3rd Qwest?
4th - Comcast
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tokar @ 9th Jan 03:19PM:
Re: Really?
Yes, Comcast needs to stop making and showing these commercials...ASAP.
The commercial is to play on the phone companies and how they are big and expensive, and old.
Comcast might not be old, but they sure are a big, expensive phone company if this latest PR from them is any indication.
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Kramer @ 10th Jan 08:28PM:
Re: 3rd very soon
The total that I pay Comcast is $182/month including all taxes and junk fees. I get all movie channels, an HD DVR, another digital converter an upgraded 8mb/750KB Internet package (this they never really delivered on as they don't seem to be able to hit the telephony/cable modem box with the right codes), and a sports package and the unlimited LD telephone service that works like a champ. I know I am saving a large amount of money because before I bundled the services I was paying about $162.00 plus about 50 bucks for a Verizon line that didn't have unlimited long distance. Not only do I save about $30/month but I get the large number of movie channels that were added, a sports package, and if I am willing to have a heart attack fighting for it, upgraded Internet speed . I'd say the value of the added services is well over 50 bucks, so some people could say I am saving $80/month, but I just look at it as $30/month saved because that is how much less I am paying per month.
FIOS is becoming available in my area, but not in my neighborhood yet. The deals they have, offer similar savings. I am perfectly happy with Comcast for once in my life and will stick with them until Verizon gets their act together with regard to On-Demand and on-the-air HD programming. My only complaint with Comcast is with their DVRs. Verizon's isn't much better.
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