As I remember correctly, these were the same folks that tried to sell me dial-up internet service because it would be 'better for me to receive one bill from one provider', instead of the phone and other broadband solution that I had at the time. The facts today, as they existed back then, was/is that SBC, now the new at&t, does not provide high speed internet at my address, in my neighborhood, in my city, in my county, PERIOD! And to think the poor soul on the phone who is privy to customer information trying to upsell DIALUP to those already enjoying broadband via their company's competitor.
So, this new at&t is now trying to convince the listening audience that every 11 seconds, someone returns to new at&t. To that, I say, 'give me something worth coming back to'.
For example:
Cell Phone: Cingular (the affiliate of this new at&t) offers two phones under a family plan for 69.99 with 700 minutes each month. That's $10 over a similar plan from T-Mobile. That's 17% more (rounded up).
Land Line: Local service when I disconnected ran me about 50$ per month, and that's just for a dial tone. My current broadband service runs $199/year - taxes included, long distance included. So the new at&t would cost me upwards of 300% more, and that's not including the international calling credit I get each month.
Broadband: Well, I don't really have a choice here, or at least not one that I consider a choice. I get mine from the cable provider, for what I believe is an excessive price. There's this supposed wireless broadband (where they put up an antenna), but it costs even more, for less speed. Or a satellite solution, with the unacceptable latency. So I fork over 50$ each month for my broadband.
TV: Well, U-verse ain't here. Actually, it ain't anywhere, other than select parts of San Antonio and Houston. I don't get cable TV. The 'new at&t' prices the "America's Top 120" package at $44.99. Dish Network prices their "America's Top 120" package at $39.99. That's a 13% premium for a single bill from this new at&t.
So, let's add it up for a year:
Service new at&t ala carte
Cell Phone: 839.88 719.88
Voice Line: 600.00 199.99
Internet: n/a 600.00
TV: 539.88 479.88
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Totals: 1979.76 1999.75
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So, there's a whopping savings of 19.99 per year if I went with the "new at&t", but I'm guessing that they can't provide me even dial-up service for $19.99 a year, and I'm unlikely to prefer dial-up service over broadband.
Some marketing genius must have thought this up, but they haven't got this old goat fooled. This 'old goat' already knows that even the cable company provides a single bill.
And I know for a fact that this "new at&t" does not provide package my other bills into a single bill - electric bill, gas bill, water bill, doctor bill, grocery bill, etc.
Oh, I did consolidate my 'bills' - they now come in on a credit card, and I make a single payment to the credit card company.
Note to 'marketing genius' - get your company to co-brand or try to buy a bank like WalMart - you can THEN provide a single bill to the customer.
Note to readers - don't keep a balance on your credit card - pay it off each month (or use AutoPay) to avoid the finance charges.
Cheers!
