AT&T Just Can't Let Go Of It's Forced Bundles... But Claims It's In The Customers' Best Interest
from the not-so-believable dept
It really was just a month ago that AT&T's CEO said forced bundles were bad. Specifically, he said forced bundling "is an old mind-set. We need to get over it." Apparently, it's not that easy. Broadband Reports lets us know that AT&T's new U-Verse service requires you to bundle broadband internet access with TV -- but it's okay, because they claim it's got nothing to do with how desperate the company is for TV subscribers, but because it's really the best thing for customers (and, apparently, those customers are too dumb to make that decision on their own): "Because AT&T U-verse members will gain the most features and benefits from having both AT&T U-verse TV and AT&T U-verse Enabled Internet, Internet must always be bundled with TV." Old mind-set indeed.
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REALLY
BASIC phone
Basic sat TV.
then you want internet, DSL.
And they want you to sign up for something ELSE, Also..If you want it cheap. they want you to pay $10 per month MORE to save $10...Then they Add the DSL modem.. at $7-10 per month.
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Regardless, I don't entirely see how this is "forced bundling" seeing as AT&T does have other options last I checked. I myself AT&T DSL stand-alone and pay less for it than I would have if I got a stand-alone cable connection at the same speed. Those of us not interested in TV (I assume) are probably not going to be interested in this Uverse nonsense either.
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iptv
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Of course, since they both stifle competition, I guess I have no choice.
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First AT&T opts for last-mile over copper, then they foist television service on customers who don't want it. If they need a hint as to why they're getting slammed in the market, here it is: You're doing a half-assed job with half-assed products.
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i dont think its bad
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completely retarded
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Have you looked at what U-Verse offers?
No wonder the rumors are flying about at&t buying Echostar. I bet they need the provider contracts, to get a few decent channels on U-Verse.
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You people are all idiots.
Back when I used to live in Time Warner territory I was getting free cable TV because the apt. I moved into was all ready set up that way.
Well needless to say about a year or so of free cable later a neighbor decided to get cable, and low and behold TW came knocking on my door to inform me that my house had been hooked up to receive the very same signal illegally.
Playing stoopid I said I don't even watch TV I only go online (56k at the time).
The cable guy then asked me if I wanted to sign up for cable internet. After a long talk, and a few bowls of some really dank chronic the cable guy told me that he didn't care about the cable TV hookup, but that he couldn't leave it because his superiors would find out, and it'd be his ass. Seeing as how 56k was really starting to piss me off and he was offering me a 5-6 megabit internet connection for 35-40 bucks a month when I was already paying 25-30 bucks a month for shitty dial-up I couldn't help but jump at the offer after he also explained to me that I could simply split the line from my cable modem, and re-route it into the back of my TV to continue to receive free basic cable.
Now that I have wasted several minuted of your time...
If you split the line from your cable modem, and plug it into the back of your TV you can get free cable TV.
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U-verse is IPTV
I'm no fan of forced bundles. In order for me to get call waiting from Verizon, I was forced into their stupid voicemail product also. Can't get one without the other. But, I don't see where forced bundles play into U-verse TV and High-Speed-Internet. The customers have the option of getting one without the other. AND, when they subscribe to both, they're offered a discount.
-Wes
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vonage
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