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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.

9 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!

  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 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.

    2. 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. 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!!!

  5. 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
  6. 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.

  7. 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.