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Comcast Launches New Wireless Service, Xfinity Mobile (cnbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the more-choices dept.

Comcast announced Xfinity Mobile on Thursday, a new wireless service that will be available for its nearly 25 million broadband customers. From a report on CNBC: The company is hoping the new service will lock in existing customers as well as attract new ones, going after the 130 million mobile phone lines in places where Comcast offers services. The company says the service is "designed for the way people use their phones today, with Internet and data at the center of the experience." Comcast is not taking a Wi-Fi-first approach, but is pairing 4G LTE via Verizon's network along with Comcast's 16 million Wi-Fi hotspots, to which the service will automatically connect.

22 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. Fantastic news by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now you can get the customer service you expect from Verizon and Comcast at the same time!

    1. Re:Fantastic news by scubamage · · Score: 1

      I've actually spent time in a Comcast call center. The agent I was shadowing had a lady berating him because he couldn't make her wireless gateway work. The wireless gateway that she bought from walmart, not from Comcast. The wireless gateway that Comcast had no management control over, had no documentation for, and had no information regarding, etc. But somehow, to her, it was Comcast's job to support the device. While there are absolutely problems with Comcast service, a big part of it is idiots who expect everyone to be responsible for their technology.

  2. Oh hell no by sjbe · · Score: 2

    Comcast announced Xfinity Mobile on Thursday, a new wireless service that will be available for its nearly 25 million broadband customers

    Not a way in hell I would use Comcast for mobile. I'm stuck with them for wired internet at home but it's not like they've earned any love from me there. And combining them with Verizon? If they think that makes it better they are using some heavy drugs.

  3. Saw this coming by dysmal · · Score: 2

    This explains why they've been so aggressive about upgrading peoples modems around the country. There's also been rumbles about them using your modem to broadcast a separate WiFi for years. It all comes together now.

    1. Re:Saw this coming by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      There's no rumblings, Comcast's Wifi routers do, already, broadcast a separate WiFi signal (xfinitywifi)

      It's actually a very useful service.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    2. Re:Saw this coming by WaffleMonster · · Score: 2

      There's no rumblings, Comcast's Wifi routers do, already, broadcast a separate WiFi signal (xfinitywifi)

      Nope, they broadcast a separate SSID over the same already contentious ISM band.

      It's actually a very useful service.

      Having your own WiFi suffer as a result of unnecessary contention from long distance lower bitrate connections from neighbors hurts you and everyone else trying to use WiFi.

    3. Re:Saw this coming by tepples · · Score: 1

      And even worse, having to PAY to lease said router so others can share your pipe.

      In exchange, however, you get to share others' pipes. This lets some smartphone users, such as myself, avoid needing to buy a data plan at all because the xfinitywifi SSID is available everywhere they go except a moving vehicle.

    4. Re:Saw this coming by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      Having your own WiFi suffer as a result of unnecessary contention from long distance lower bitrate connections from neighbors hurts you and everyone else trying to use WiFi.

      A theoretical problem, not a proven problem. But do continue to fiddle with your tin-foil hat...

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    5. Re:Saw this coming by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      Everyone knows that Anonymous Coward should not be questioned.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    6. Re:Saw this coming by WaffleMonster · · Score: 1

      Having your own WiFi suffer as a result of unnecessary contention from long distance lower bitrate connections from neighbors hurts you and everyone else trying to use WiFi.

      A theoretical problem, not a proven problem. But do continue to fiddle with your tin-foil hat...

      If signal level is not sufficient to support a given symbol rate decreasing rate to compensate necessarily increases channel utilization. This is a basic fact.

      It's about as theoretical as saying licking lead paint causes brain damage.

    7. Re:Saw this coming by scubamage · · Score: 2

      No one shares your pipe. The wireless gateway is a separate node on the DOCSIS network. It interferes with your service as much as your neighbor across the street does.

  4. Lock In by jetkust · · Score: 1

    "The company, parent company of NBCUniversal, is hoping the new service will lock in existing customers as well as attract new ones,"

    Close, but this should read "The company, parent company of NBCUniversal, is hoping the new service will lock in existing customers as well as trap new ones,"

  5. NIMBY by bbsguru · · Score: 1

    Yes, ComCast, I have to use you as the only local choice for decent internet speed.
    Yes, your DOCSIS modem does have built-in Wireless that you would like to use as a local hotspot for anybody.
    No, Hell No.
    I'm paying for bandwidth, and sharing it with whoever is in range is NOT in my best interest.
    And Yes, I do know how to disable your wireless, and did so the day it was installed.

    1. Re:NIMBY by Obfuscant · · Score: 2

      I'm paying for bandwidth, and sharing it with whoever is in range is NOT in my best interest.

      First, it is not "whoever is in range", it's other Comcast subscribers. They have to log in to use it. Second, you're not paying for their bandwidth. They are. You are paying for the trivial amount of electricity the wireless consumes when not providing service to you, too. In return, you get to use their connection when you are not at home, if you are in range of one of theirs.

      As for the concerns over WiFi interference and congestion. The closest xfinitywifi NAP to me registers so far down in RSSI that it would be impossible for it to interfere with the signal in my own house.

    2. Re:NIMBY by bbsguru · · Score: 1
      OK, so I pay for bandwidth 'X'.
      Are you suggesting that the DOCSIS modem actually provides 'X + y', and serves 'y' to other users?
      But for one inconvenient fact, I would have no complaint.

      Specifically, that's not true.

      When I buy a pie, you don't get a slice without permission.

      Of course, if you want to cut my rate in exchange for 'sharing', we can negotiate. Maybe.

    3. Re:NIMBY by Obfuscant · · Score: 2

      Are you suggesting that the DOCSIS modem actually provides 'X + y', and serves 'y' to other users?

      Yes.

      Specifically, that's not true.

      Uhhh.

      When I buy a pie, you don't get a slice without permission.

      Nobody is eating your pie but you. You don't pay for the bandwidth other people use under this system.

    4. Re:NIMBY by justthinkit · · Score: 1

      You can also simply get one of their new spiffy Xfinity modems that doesn't have wireless. Once the technician realized I didn't want Wifi - we are all securely wired here -- he merely swapped one new modem for a different one. My Acoustimeter confirmed there was no wireless reading.

      --
      I come here for the love
  6. $12/Gig - $2 more than Google Fi + Broadband by Kagato · · Score: 1

    So you have to have Xfinity Broadband, which already includes the WiFi coverage and it costs $2/gig more than Google Fi. So you get all the features of having Fi + Xfinity, but get to pay $2/gig more. That is of course assuming data used on WiFi doesn't count towards your usage. If that's not the case it's even less competitive.

  7. MONOPOLY COLLUSION AND WORSE by PortHaven · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If anyone wondered why Verizon ceased expanding FiOS and competing with Comcast. It's because they have been colluding. It began when Comcast sold Verizon some wireless spectrum it was holding cheap. In exchance, Verizon essentially ceased expansion of FiOS, and both began cross-selling each others services. Now it's moved one step beyond that.

    Frankly, how the Federal Trade Commission can turn a blind eye to this crap, I have no idea.

    Laws are not for the corporations and elites, only for you!!!

  8. Re:You can shine a turd but... by tepples · · Score: 1

    Renaming service to Xfinity. (Brilliant waste of money)

    What else should Comcast have done to distinguish its home services from its small business services?

  9. Have they ever attempted to be sincere? by k6mfw · · Score: 1

    It seems to me Comcast goes out of their way to find ways to screw the customer, or do they try to be good company but profit margins take higher priority? I can understand they have to make positive revenue like all private companies but geez is there a company that I can feel good about?

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
  10. Followup then by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Funny

    know the attempt is to be snarky, but I've never had an issue with Verizon, or their support. Comcast on the other hand...

    Ok, so how about "The price savings of Verizon combined with the award-winning customer support of Comcast!"

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley