Saturday, December 5, 2009

Buy Phone, TV, Internet Together Or Separately?

The latest trend for telecom and media companies is to bundle their services together and promote a money saving package deal. This trend started with cable companies like Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter and Cox and moved to national phone carriers who now offer TV and broadband in select areas on top of traditional phone service. Is it better to purchase a bundle (for your television, internet and phone) or is it cheaper to get each one individually? This article will compare and contrast the digital products that the leading companies provide their customers with and find out who offers the best deal.


It's hard to turn all your home digital needs over to a single company. It just doesn't feel right for some reason. We wonder if the cable or telco provider will increase the amount I have to pay without warning and I'ill be obligated to pay it no matter what because I signed a contract? Or will I have to buy expensive equipment without the opportunity for a refund if I change companies. These are great questions to ask when shopping for TV, internet, and phone offer. After your special deal comes to an end what do you do next? Due to the high level of competition in this industry, rates are rarely raised. In fact, the drive to keep customers is so great that even when promos or special deals end, very often existing customers can extend their offer or move to a new promotion. It just might take a simple phone call from you to get the latest deal. A few cable businesses, such as Charter Communications, now provide consumers the opportunity for locking in prices for up to 2 years if they purchase cable TV, high speed internet, and digital phone digital package. The question of what happens to the hardware a service provider gives you comes down to the individual business an their policies. The type of equipment you're going to get from your provider is usually just a digital receiver for your television and a broadband modem if you order high speed Internet. If you got a higher tier package, you may have a DVR along with the receiver and modem. Most often, the company will not charge you any surprise fees if you are using the equipment in the normally expected manner. A small monthly fee may be charged for a monthly broadband modem rental fee if you do not purchase one of your own. You may also be charged a small fee for additional digital receivers for multiple TV's. You need to check with the providers in your area in order to learn the exact regulations. If you change address or switch providers you're generally only responsible for giving the equipment back to the office of the local company. Baring loss or damage, you shouldn't be charged anything. Therefore, there's no reason for consumers to reject a bundle price because they are concerned about the equipment. Every digital company has basically the same rules and regulations about equipment fees and how to return them.


Let's check out the digital service bundles you can now purchase for your home. Satellite become popular again in the 90s when they installed small dishes that delivered higher quality than cable. Satellite TV also had more overall programming than cable at a price that was usually lower than cable. For the past ten years or so satellite TV hasn't changed much at all. Restricted by technological limitations, satellite companies like DirectTV and Dish are fighting to compete in the digital revolution currently going on in cable and telecommunications field. Even though television prices are still very competitive, satellite has a poor Internet option that's only useful to homes in very rural areas and no phone service option. National communication businesses like Qwest, Verizon, and AT&T have recently been providing high-speed Internet, digital television, and cell and landline telephone packages. Telcos entered this market by utilizing fast fiber-optic networks available in high population centers and through partnerships with satellite TV and broadband companies. Even though a telco company offers quality and competitive pricing, I still don't recommend it for all three services. Since they are working with other companies in order to provide TV or broadband services, you are only getting the same product except now more people are involved so there are more places where things can go wrong. If one of the businesses involved with the telco decides to bail on the contract then you have a lot of problems to face.


So where should consumers spend their money? The bundled service packages that cable companies are offering can save you some money. Today's cable companies offer a complete digital and HD programming lineup that matches and often beats what Dish and DirecTV offer. Plus, you can get great add-ons like DVR boxes and on demand service that satellite is only beginning to deliver. And unlike the telco's, you're getting digital cable tv, broadband internet, and digital phone service all from one company that will support all three products. However, for those who are just in the market for television service it might pay to consider satellite or teco because the competition is higher. With bundled services though, you can't beat the savings you get from the cable industry. You should evaluate for yourself every aspect of the main cable and satellite offers. Use this knowledge to find the very best television, broadband internet, and phone deal for you!


Find more Comcast Cable Bundle Promotions here!



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