Slashdot Mirror


AT&T Quietly Introduces $10/Month DSL

prostoalex writes "As part of the deal with the FCC to approve the AT&T/BellSouth merger, AT&T started selling, but not advertising, a $10-per-month DSL service in 22 states, AP has learned. 'The service provides download speeds of up to 768 kilobits per second and upload speeds of up to 128 kbps, matching the speeds of the cheapest advertised AT&T plan, which costs $19.95 per month in the nine-state former BellSouth area and $14.99 in the 13 states covered by AT&T before the acquisition.'"

8 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Worthless by Lord+Ender · · Score: 4, Informative

    To get ATT DSL, you need to sign up for a 1 or 2 year contract, pay an installation fee, and buy their landline service.

    Because anybody with a clue is using VoIP by this point, these terms basically mean their $10 DSL costs $35 (=$10 for DSL + $25 for worthless phone service) PLUS the amortized cost of installation and the effective cost of an illiquid 1-2 year contract.

    Note: Last time I priced DSL, these were the requirements. They may have changed, and if so, feel free to correct me. Until T unbundles their services, though, I'm sticking to cable.

    --
    A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
  2. Re:That price is basically a lie. by Constantine+XVI · · Score: 4, Informative
    If you re-read the TFA, it also said:

    who have never had AT&T or BellSouth broadband

    --
    "I think an etch-a-sketch with an ethernet port would beat IE7 in web standards compliance."
  3. Au Contraire by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 5, Informative

    I just ordered it for someone today that already had POTS.
    Got the 1.5Mbps package for $20/month. Did it online,
    which probably helps.

    The catch is that you also have to purchase a DSL modem ($50)
    or a combo DSL Modem/Router ($80), plus another $27 for S&H.

    And you'll definitely want to skip the $200 technician option
    to install it for you.

    --
    You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  4. Link by g0dsp33d · · Score: 4, Informative

    Its there for anyone signing up, as its on their page.

    I'm still stuck on crappy dialup or one way services. :(.

    --
    lol: You see no door there!
  5. Re:Which states? by Conspiracy_Of_Doves · · Score: 5, Informative

    Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, California, Nevada, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

  6. Cost in Chicago by djfake · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've had Ameritech or SBC or ATT DSL for over seven years now. Here's what it costs for May 2007: Telephone (excluding calls & Call-Waiting): $16.08, DSL Basic:$14.99. Tonight's line test: 1313kps download / 313kps upload. Other than the fact that the DSL charge will go up to $19.99 upon renewal, it's done nothing but get less expensive. My only grip is that on the rare occasion when I have to call customer service, I have to deal with some off-shore help center. I always demand level two support immediately.

    --
    www.itjerk.com
  7. G711 by thegameiam · · Score: 4, Informative

    FYI, there are two VoIP codecs which are common: G711 is relatively uncompressed, and when Ethernet overheads are included, comes out to about 80K per stream (yes, much more than POTS). G729a is highly compressed, and runs about 8K. There is a significant MOS score difference between the two codecs, and many IP Telephony add-ons (lots of voice mail, for instance) requires G711.

    -David

    --
    Need Geek Rock? Try The Franchise!
  8. Re:Other problems by gavink42 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Okay, working for a telco, I throw the bull$hit flag on this one! DSL is either available to your cable pair, or it's not. It's all based on your distance from the CO or SLC DSLAM.

    So, unless you're getting your dial tone FX'd in from another CO, as long as your pair is qualified as good (distance and not loaded), it doesn't matter what your phone number is! Heck, we even have people with ported numbers and DSL on their line!