  johnt
join:2002-09-13 Richmond, VA clubs:
| Small, yes - BUT...
Rich,
They are small. But you do have to start somewhere. Also, since they are serving (A) residential accounts in (B) areas that the LEC and cable company have stated that it is cost ineffective to upgrade the networks servicing these same areas - then the people that live in those areas really have no choice. If they want the advanced services - then it would seem Urban Telephone is the only option at the moment.
Also - their VoIP system is through Vonage. They are only Private branding the Vonage service with their name.
While the operation may be small, and only time will tell what happens to them - I like the approach that they have taken with building out their OWN network and not leasing parts of it from Verizon. Verizon can not complain about yet another CLEC using it's network, and Urban Telephone can not complain that Verizon's wholesale rates affect their business plan.
I remember a lot of people on the forum when the new FCC rules came out about regulation of the LEC applauding stating that why should a CLEC be allowed to make a profit of of someone else's property. Well - here is one company that can not be accused of that - and the free market will sort it out in the long run.
For what it is worth I hope the best for them, at least these guys found their niche market, and are serving people that otherwise would not be. |