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Comcast Will Launch a Wireless Service Next Year (businessinsider.com)

Posted by msmash on from the good-things dept.

Steve Kovach, writing for Business Insider:Comcast plans to launch its own wireless service in 2017, CEO Brian Roberts said at the Goldman Sachs Communicopia conference Tuesday. Since Comcast doesn't have its own cell towers, it'll rely on WiFi networks for connectivity. The user will be switched to Verizon's network when they're away from WiFi. There are already a few smaller carriers that offer services like this, like Google's Project Fi and Republic Wireless. Those companies work as mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) and pay major wireless carriers like Sprint or T-Mobile to use their cell towers when users aren't connected to WiFi. MVNOs tend to be cheaper than traditional wireless carriers, offering benefits like the option to only pay for the data you use. The move will also help Comcast and Verizon compete with AT&T, which merged with DirecTV and is able to offer combined wireless, home broadband, and TV packages.

10 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Hell of a money maker by jmichaelg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They'll make money from the cell phone service and they'll make money from the service fees they charge the cable customers for going over their data caps due to the cell phone traffic.

    Clever !

    1. Re:Hell of a money maker by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Oh, but they would never let someone else's cellphone use count towards your bandwidth cap - not that you could ever check it of course. You just have to take their word for it.

      What's best of all is that they can then charge the guy using the cellphone for going over HIS data cap, too.

    2. Re:Hell of a money maker by UnderCoverPenguin · · Score: 2

      I am aware of xfinitywifi, but I don't use it. As best I can determine, there's no way to confirm any given xfinitywifi hotspot is truly xfinitywifi, so I'm not going to enter my Comcast credentials into one to use it.

      What will change with this new service? (Other than users' phones logging into random hotpsots claiming to be xfinitywifi (or whatever name will be used).)

      --
      Don't try to out wierd me, three-eyes. I get stranger things than you, free with my breakfast cereal. --Zaphod Beeblebr
  2. Great... by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    We not only get to wait on hold for cable modem problems, but now wireless as well.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    1. Re:Great... by ausekilis · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I've always loved how their phone system tells you to look for internet problem solving tips by going to their website. Now an outage means a delightful trip to the branch office, which I bet will be a recently remodeled DMV. "Welcome customer # 75663445752, your place in line is 443,546,563. Now serving # 7"

  3. A shot across Verizon's bow... by Somebody+Is+Using+My · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is a shot across Verizon's bow by Comcast, warning them the two will soon be in direct competition. Not for wireless service - I'm sure they'll both divvy up the country to ensure they each maintain their near-monopolies. Rather, Comcast executives were becoming worryingly upset by the comparisons between the two companies on who was providing the worst customer service. Comcast is getting into wireless telephony solely so they can show up those second-tier Verizon agents about how to /really/ screw over cell-phone customers. Because nobody fucks over customers like Comcast.

  4. Compete? by Atmchicago · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The move will also help Comcast and Verizon compete with AT&T...

    Comcast. Compete. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! That was a good joke.

    --

    You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it dissolve.

    1. Re:Compete? by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 2

      Comcast certainly competes with Verizon and AT&T. Not in the marketplace, of course - just in the competition to see who can be the most evil.

  5. Competitors working together by evilRhino · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Where I live, the only broadband offerings are 1.5Mbps DSL from Verizon, or Comcast Xfinity. Although Verizon had made a deal with the state government to provide broadband service to all residences, they've since reneged on the deal since by arguing their LTE coverage should count. It's been pretty clear that these two companies have made some deal to not compete with each other, and cooperate to maintain high prices and limited service.

  6. This is the devils work by Simulant · · Score: 3, Funny


    Verizon AND Comcast?

    There really is a hell.