I have heard that you can get all service from one provider

[blues90]

LIke your internet access and cell and cable tv .

Now I ask you is this a good idea ? Is this not how box stores wedged their way in ?

At the start they offer lower prices and once most people sign on and all the competition has been murdered these low ball companies raise their prices and control everything .

This is how I see it , sneak in and lie and takeover everything .

What do you think ?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Cox Communications is trying that here

All I know is when I pay my boss's cable TV bill from Cox, it seems to go up month after month, even though his service hasn't changed and he hasn't purchased any "pay per view" features. Edited to add: it is the only cable available in the area.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I've compared the offer of my phone provider

for such services with my current arrangement and I'm not going to alter my current situation. I have different service for phone, satellite and internet service and its cheaper then what the "bigbox" service is offering. I'll stay put.

[blues90]

5. I am sticking to the separate services too

I don't spend alot other than the cell phone service so I have to find a cheaper cell provider or do without a cell altogether , trouble is they have removed most of the phone booths now .

[BOSSHOG]

9. You may find this hard to believe

but I don't have a cell phone. My wife has one for safety reasons, but I'm retired and I don't want a leash. I have a CB radio in the truck in case I get in trouble on the highway; but have no desire for anyone to get a hold of me. I know it's different in the real world. When I was in the Navy I was tethered all the time with some sort of electronic device and for good reason, but now I'm just a bum and want to be free...
In my spare time (thats all I have) I may write a book about cell phone etiquette in public.

[blues90]

15. I hear that

I only have a cell phone since my wife is disabled and if I'm out we would have no contact and if my car did break down here in los angeles I would be screwed . We are looking at a less expensive package since we only use the cells to contact eachother . /we have an old service with free cell to cell calls . But $72 per month is a bit high now .

[Booster]

25. You might want to check out Virgin Mobile, which is what I have.

You only have to "top it off" every 3 months for $20. I only have a cell phone in case I get in trouble so I wanted the cheapest way I could go and this seems to fit the bill. If you sign up though, be sure and check the box that says you don't want any text messages to come through - that was eating up my little $20 til I changed it. I have no problems with Virgin Mobile.

[soothsayer]

23. me, too. sometimes my phone service is down, sometimes my cable,

and godknows whether my cellphone could if it wanted to.

[alfredo]

24. How about prepaid cell phones?

Do read the contracts before diving in. Some charge a dollar for each day you use the phone.

I've looked a Virgin and T Mobile for prepaid.

[Wickerman]

3. We went with the low ball, everything offer

and have never regretted it. Its a mom and pop small town operation. Our other option was to spread it out against two behemoths that are known for lousy customer service and regular price hikes. I can live with supporting a local business and getting my phone, cable and high speed (mid-range high, that is) internet for 67$ a month. From what I gather the local business is profitable, but not so much that it has to worry about satisfying shareholders.

[dkofos]

11. You are so lucky!!

I pay more than that just for satellite service.

[Wickerman]

13. I am happy

and though I have few channels of crap on the TV (so sad), I love supporting the small town business over Time Warner crap.

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. I have all that through Time Warner. Not sure it if such a good deal though.

I could get a better deal with Vonage for phone service. It's about $10.00 cheaper.

For digital cable, broadband and digital phone service, I pay $167.00/mo. If I wanted their DVR service, it's $20/mo more, so I don't have that. Their customer service is pretty good and they will come out and fix any problems in a timely manner and for no extra charge.

I've thought about going with DirectTV for all three services. I might look into it. Not sure what the difference is, really, though?

They all kinda have you over a barrel, so too speak, don't they?

[blues90]

8. That's what concerns me

No company does anything to do you a favor , it is all for some unknown until it's too late reason .

If most people go with one does all then they have the control and can charge whatever they desire as if they don;t do this already . It just may get worse like everything else . I have no trust in corportions .

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Nor do I..

I have no trust in corporations. Like they care. :evilgrin:

It's that barrel thing I mentioned. :rofl: :-(

I guess we could all just choose too not participate. :shrug:

[grasswire]

16. we have DirecTV, DSL, and phone through our phone company

Local, unlimited free long distance, 157 channels of TV (including LinkTV which is fabulous), and high-speed internet service for 3 computers for a bit over $150. All bundled through the phone company. One bill. Good customer service.

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. Well that is a better price than I am getting right now. I might check that out. Thanks.

[nada republic-cons]

22. $10 for cell phone

https://secure.consumercellular.com/pw/plans/faq.aspx
for my emergency use. 25 cents per minute

We have Dish satelite - $55

Landline phone and DSL - $56


My replacement phone cost $35. Is small rectangular, small buttons.
Is usable but I wish the buttons were bigger. Nicer phone, curved
to fit hand, bigger buttons are $$$$

[dogday]

6. What about cities like Houston who want to have free

wireless? What do you think that could be about?

[tyedyeto]

12. My town is in the beginning stages of free wireless.

The first repeater is right across the street from where I live.

So far, it's been very good service and I save by letting my ISP expire. It's also much faster connection than my old dial-up.

[dkofos]

14. Maybe the people want it but the city and the corporations

will never let it happen.

I for one am in favor of free or even low cost wireless.
check this
http://www.freepress.net/communityinternet/networks.php

[tammywammy]

21. I'm pretty sure

that Arlington, TX is moving to free wireless. It's been awhile since I heard anything about it. You can have it free, but there will be ads or pay like $10/month and no ads.

And hasn't Austin moved to wireless in parts of the city?

[annabanana]

7. Not giving up my land line. .

(and keeping the princess phone) Power outages make me nervous.

[dkofos]

10. It is good for your economy but you have to change providers

every year to get a competitors low low price.

[mtnester]

17. Enhanced 9-1-1 is the biggest issue I have with these providers

It is not a real bad idea if your house is a single, billing address. However, if you are a corp and you have a main billing address and satellite offices in the area, this becomes a TERRIBLE problem.

If you are considering a VoIP solutions like with the cable companies, PLEASE make sure you completely understand how it will work if you dial 9-1-1 from your house. DO NOT accept "it will work like it always did." Not good enough of an answer.

[Madspirit]

19. I like

...getting our cable, high speed internet and voip phone all from the same place. It's easy and I like that.
Lee

[BenDavid]

26. Just like an all in one secuirty

suite for your computer I would suggest you not subscribe. If one part of the program (ex. antivirus) goes bad the other programs could or will be affected...For example...a tv with a dvd and vcr combo...something goes wrong with one the other will begin having problems....