I believe these points are less ISP and area specific than we think. Reading DSLreports yields a pattern. Where there is divergence is in metro areas, places that are test markets and places that have competition or regulators that push. The bullseye may move within the target, but the target is not moving much.
I think Verizon wants to position it's ADSL as it has it's cell phone service -- default decision. Cable is scared of unbundling pricing. Bellsouth does not want to lose phone calls to Cable, so they are giving away wireless routers (test markets). Adelphia will boom when they are purchased. All are tinkering with limits, contracts and pricing.
I tell folks:
• Price the service based upon annual and two year cost calculations, not the price this month.
• Both are faster than dialup and how fast you speed beyond the dialup limit is not a consideration.
• It is probable you will NOT disconnect a phone line when installing broad band, so don't count that.
• You will continue to need dialup from a separate ISP.
• Decision points are Price, reliability and phone support.
On Jul 17, 2004, at 9:30 AM, chris wrote:
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All good points to look into, but most of what you relayed is specific to
the ISPs in question. But like you found, when it comes to cable, you
don't get a choice of ISP.
I think the key ones to point out are ISP dependant (because they might
cause other confusion) are the email limits, and the need of a contract.
Near me, Cablevision does the cable. They offer two price levels. $50 a
month with no contract, $30 a month with a one year contract (and bundled
with another $30 a month for voice sevice... so really $60 a month for
one year for two different services added to your cable TV).
Verizon DSL is $30 a month, no contract. They don't offer any kind of a
contract at all, and so no discounts are available for contracting
(although they will knock $5.00 off if you have the Verizon Freedom phone
package).
Covad offers DSL for various prices, all require at least a 1 year
contract (cheaper if you do a 2 year). Speakeasy offers various prices,
highest price is with no contract, lower prices the longer your contract
is (up to a 3 year contract).
So these points will all be different based on what ISP you choose. So it
is important to know these points exist, because they are all things that
should be looked into when picking an ISP.
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
