Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    Comcast Enters VOIP Market

    By
    Libe Goad
    -
    January 11, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Comcast Corp., the largest cable TV and high-speed Internet service provider, has decided to delve into the VOIP market, with a goal of snagging 8 million customers in five years.

      The new Comcast Digital Voice plan will cost customers $40 per month, about $10 (and then some) more than other voice-over-IP services. Comcast says customers will be willing to pay the higher price because of the enhanced services that come with the plan, including unlimited local and domestic calls, caller ID, voice mail, call waiting and battery backup. The latter feature is designed to keep the phone line functioning for at least 16 hours during a power failure.

      The company is also hoping that the prospect of an all-inclusive bill—cable, Internet and phone—will appeal to customers.

      /zimages/6/28571.gifClick here to read about the growth of the VOIP industry.

      Comcasts success will depend on whether customers will choose to use VOIP in lieu of a regular phone service and whether theyll be willing to pay more for a Comcast service when other providers offer similar services for less.

      Ben Silverman, contributing editor for FindProfit.com investment newsletter, says the higher price will be a sticking point for customers. “The company will have to lower its prices to be competitive and, quite frankly, were surprised by the high price point of the initial offering,” Silverman said. “However, the price point does serve to indicate the confidence with which Comcast is deploying the service.”

      No matter what the customer reaction, Silverman said, Comcasts move will cause huge waves among phone companies and VOIP providers.

      “Comcasts move should send shivers down the backs of executives at Verizon, Qwest and SBC Communications—the companies most likely to lose landline customers to Comcast,” Silverman said. “The Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Dallas, Denver and Philadelphia areas should prove to be serious battlegrounds for the incumbent phone companies.”

      Digital Voice is currently available in Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Springfield, Mass. Comcast says it plans to roll out the service in 20 new markets by the end of 2005, and then fill in the rest next year.

      /zimages/6/28571.gif Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on voice over IP and telephony.

      Libe Goad
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×