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story category AT&T Offers No Contract 'Price Lock' DSL
To new customers who want to avoid ETFs
04:32PM Wednesday Aug 20 2008 by Karl Bode
tags: dsl · business
On the heels of one of the worst quarters ever for new DSL subscriber additions, AT&T today announced they'll be offering new DSL users a guaranteed monthly rate for two years "without the hassle of a term commitment like those of cable companies." Price lock guarantees (with or without a contract, and sometimes "for life") are fairly common now in the industry, though they may not always be worth it. From the folks at AT&T:
"This is about meeting the needs of today's consumer," said Rick Welday, chief marketing officer for AT&T Consumer. "It's peace of mind with a guaranteed monthly rate for two years, no term commitment required and no termination fees. Broadband is a must for kids as they head back to school, and with our guaranteed price, parents can make a sound, secure investment in their children's education."
Obviously the primary draw is avoiding the early termination fee. Technically, Comcast has been offering a for-life price lock without contract for some time, but you have to bundle TV (whose hikes aren't locked). According to the fine print, AT&T's offer "does not apply to all AT&T High Speed Internet Basic and FastAccess DSL Lite Plans."

Related:
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  2. AT&T VDSL2 Line Bonding Trials Slip Into 2009
  3. U-Verse Hits 3 Former BellSouth Markets
  4. Fairpoint Preps For Final Verizon Switchover
  5. Consumer Reports: FiOS, U-Verse Best Triple Play
  6. Qwest Cuts Off SkyWi Customers
  7. Verizon Again Tweaks DSL Bundles
  8. AT&T Looking For Femtocell Testers
Forums » AT&T Offers No Contract 'Price Lock' DSL
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Post a:

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
·DSL EXTREME


edit:
August 20th, @03:49PM

They just raised the price too...

AT&T High Speed Internet Direct Pro
Up to 50x faster than dial-up with downstream speed up to 3.0 Mbps. Plus, enjoy FREE Wi-Fi access at over 17,000 hot spots, including most Starbucks locations. No voice line or term commitment required!
$40.00

AT&T High Speed Internet Direct Express
Up to 25x faster than dial-up with downstream speed up to 1.5 Mbps. Plus, enjoy FREE Wi-Fi access at over 17,000 hot spots, including most Starbucks locations. No voice line or term commitment required!
$35.00

Yeah ... I don't think $40/month for 3Mbps/512kbps PPPoE is worth it. I can pay DSL-Extreme $25/month + $13 for POTS and have better service. It would be only worth it if I was using T-Mobile VoIP for $10/month.
--
Canada = Hollywood North

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

Re: They just raised the price too...

Didn't they raise prices $5 in February?

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

Re: They just raised the price too...

Yeah - it was raised from $25/month to $30/month
--
Canada = Hollywood North

johnqpublic
Premium
join:2002-03-22
Xanadu

Re: They just raised the price too...

said by en102 See Profile :

Yeah - it was raised from $25/month to $30/month
It's a sound investment in a child's education. Isn't every child worth an extra five dollars -- just $.16 per day -- for AT&T broadband?
--
Never knock on Death's door. Ring the bell and run, he hates that.
jc100

join:2002-04-10

Re: They just raised the price too...

A mere 16 cents a day extra, and this wonderful package can be yours for life! Call now, and don't wait. If lines are busy, please keep trying.

spewak
Kiss It, Kiss It Real Good
Premium
join:2001-08-07
Elk Grove, CA
·SureWest Internet
·FrontierNet Intern..

Re: They just raised the price too...

said by jc100 See Profile :

A mere 16 cents a day extra, and this wonderful package can be yours for life! Call now, and don't wait. If lines are busy, please keep trying.
ShamWow!
--
The weekend is here, grab a can of beer!
BF69

join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN

said by en102 See Profile :

Yeah - it was raised from $25/month to $30/month
Still cheaper than those of us in former bellsouth territory.
dentman42

join:2001-10-02
Columbus, OH
·AT&T Midwest

said by en102 See Profile :

Yeah - it was raised from $25/month to $30/month
Didn't dry loop used to be only $5 more than linehare? (I'd swear at the time elite was listed as $39.99 for dry loop and I was considering adding a 2nd Eite connection dry on my 2nd pair.)

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
What a deal! We'll offer you a higher price then we used to offer, but we won't hit you with an ETF if you leave.

Wow. What a deal, I says!

baineschile

join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI

Re: They just raised the price too...

Do cable companies have contracts? I thought those were limited to the sat-cos

insomniac84

join:2002-01-03
Schererville, IN

Re: They just raised the price too...

said by baineschile See Profile :

Do cable companies have contracts? I thought those were limited to the sat-cos
Yes. To get a good price with Time Warner you have to bundle cable and internet and agree to a 15 month price lock with an ETF that is charged if you cancel service or move to an area that lacks service.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·DSL EXTREME
·DSL EXTREME


edit:
August 20th, @05:18PM

Re: They just raised the price too...

Not here in SoCal.
No contract $89/month for the 'all the Best' package for 12 months.

Lets see: DSL-Extreme (AT&T lines)

Vs. AT&T:
$30 for 1500/384kbps
$40 for 3008/512kbps

Of course, AT&T's plans don't require POTS... but they're basically charging you for it anyways.
--
Canada = Hollywood North
hottboiinnc
ME

join:2003-10-15
Toledo, OH
that depends on your area and what TWC you deal with. TWC-MidOhio does NOT charge an ETF.

MisterMarcus

join:2001-11-10
San Diego, CA
·RoadRunner Cable

said by insomniac84 See Profile :

said by baineschile See Profile :

Do cable companies have contracts? I thought those were limited to the sat-cos
Yes. To get a good price with Time Warner you have to bundle cable and internet and agree to a 15 month price lock with an ETF that is charged if you cancel service or move to an area that lacks service.
Cable =/= "TV".

That said, no cable company has a contract that I know of. Time Warner has NO contract for their internet, at least not out here in California. Same goes for Cox.
satellite68

join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY
Not Insight.
dentman42

join:2001-10-02
Columbus, OH
·AT&T Midwest

Re: They just raised the price too...

said by satellite68 See Profile :

Not Insight.
With Insight Columbus you pay at least $8 more for RR if you don't have at least Classic tier cable (used to be $10 more, they gave a $10 bundle discount which has recently dropped to $8, so RR effectively went up $2). That's $47 plus cable costs for 7/512 or $35 + POTS costs (about $20 here) for 6/768 DSL. At my location, both are stable and I haven't run into any throttling so far.

aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Verizon Online DSL

said by en102 See Profile :

AT&T High Speed Internet Direct Pro
Up to 50x faster than dial-up with downstream speed up to 3.0 Mbps. Plus, enjoy FREE Wi-Fi access at over 17,000 hot spots, including most Starbucks locations. No voice line or term commitment required!
$40.00

AT&T High Speed Internet Direct Express
Up to 25x faster than dial-up with downstream speed up to 1.5 Mbps. Plus, enjoy FREE Wi-Fi access at over 17,000 hot spots, including most Starbucks locations. No voice line or term commitment required!
$35.00

Yeah ... I don't think $40/month for 3Mbps/512kbps PPPoE is worth it. I can pay DSL-Extreme $25/month + $13 for POTS and have better service. It would be only worth it if I was using T-Mobile VoIP for $10/month.
How is high speed INternet 1.5mbs and 3mbs. I had a 5mbs connection in 1997 for $16 a month. I couldn't imgaine using a 1.5mbs connection on a daily basis.
I'm too used to my 50mbs FIOS connection now.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest

Re: They just raised the price too...

Seems AT&T's new marketing plan is "Make U-Verse look good by making DSL prices high".

So, if at&t DSL can't compete with cable on speed, well... might as well not compete on price, either.

What the hell kinda marketing is that?

Sure, we know they want to push people into U-Verse... but there's a LOT more ppl who are in DSL range then U-Verse range and at&t is throwing them to the (cable) wolves.

I guess they are just going early; since they pretty much intent to (eventually) offer U-Verse everywhere they have DSL.
--
"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!)

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest


edit:
August 20th, @11:12PM

Seems AT&T's new marketing plan is "Make U-Verse look good by making DSL prices high".

So, if at&t DSL can't compete with cable on speed, well... might as well not compete on price, either.

What the hell kinda marketing is that?

Sure, we know they want to push people into U-Verse... but there's a LOT more ppl who are in DSL range then U-Verse range and at&t is throwing them to the (cable) wolves.

I guess they are just going early; since they pretty much intend to (eventually) offer U-Verse everywhere they have DSL.

I just got the newest offer from at&t in the mail today.

$25 a month for DSL 1.5/256... *IF* you bundle it WITH a wireless plan. IE that's the *bundled discount* price. If you don't get a wireless plan, it's $10 higher for all tiers.... IE $35 for 1.5/256. Gimmie a break!
According to the website, you also pay activation on this plan and have to buy the modem (or bring your own.)

It's quite a deal. For them.

en102
Canadian, eh?

join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
I've been using 3Mbps for $25/month on DSL-Extreme for a few years... it has been VERY reliable, and Skype works better on it than 6Mbps cable (which I currently have).
--
Canada = Hollywood North

fatmanskinny
Premium
join:2004-01-04
Atlanta, GA
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·Comcast
·EarthLink


edit:
August 20th, @04:00PM

Can you feel that? What is that? It is so heavy!!!

It is called "pressure from cable internet." It is so heavy. We can hardly hold up!!! Damn it, Jim! I thought you were an ISP company!

The still small whisper says "sell to Verizon. Implement FIOS. Sell to Verizon. Implement FIOS."

Also, funny thing is I never had a term committment with cable and I have had two different providers. All of my term committments came from telco DSL or third party DSL. Go figure!
--
God saved me from myself! Thank you, Lord, in the Name of Jesus!

Omega
Displaced Ohioan
Premium
join:2002-07-30
Santa Maria, CA
clubs:

Re: Can you feel that? What is that? It is so heavy!!!

I've had three cable providers in different parts of the country, none of them ever required a contract agreement. This is what makes cable so appealing to college students or people who do not live in one place for very long.
rahvin112

join:2002-05-24
Sandy, UT

AT&T is not big blue.

Big blue is a common name for IBM. If you want to call AT&T something other than their name stick to something like ma bell otherwise you are just going to confuse people about why IBM is involved in DSL.

Dime
The Original X
Premium
join:2002-05-14
Findlay, OH

Re: AT&T is not big blue.

said by rahvin112 See Profile :

Big blue is a common name for IBM. If you want to call AT&T something other than their name stick to something like ma bell otherwise you are just going to confuse people about why IBM is involved in DSL.
Big blue is also another common nickname for Whirlpool Corporation. I don't think it matters what company is called big blue.
decifal

join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN

Re: AT&T is not big blue.

I like the death star personally for ATT... I mean, hell, look at the emblem lol.... That being said.. i'm paying 60 a month for sprint wireless thats functional part of the time.. I'd happily pay 60 for 1.5mbps dsl or better... Oh well time will tell if they build out
lvlorpheus

join:2008-02-17
Eureka Springs, AR

Re: AT&T is not big blue.

I am with you. I pay $60 a month for Alltel evdo. I too would pay $60 a month for a 3+ connection from the "Death Star." Now on the statement of Mr. Welday. I am a existing "Death Star" custumer. I need them to build the dsl out.

"This is about meeting the needs of today's consumer," said Rick Welday, chief marketing officer for AT&T Consumer."

IBMMM

@bellsouth.net


moderated:
August 20th, @09:11PM


from:
sparky672 See Profile

said by Dime See Profile :

said by rahvin112 See Profile :

Big blue is a common name for IBM. If you want to call AT&T something other than their name stick to something like ma bell otherwise you are just going to confuse people about why IBM is involved in DSL.
Big blue is also another common nickname for Whirlpool Corporation. I don't think it matters what company is called big blue.
BIG BLUE = IBM
axus

join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Cox HSI


edit:
August 20th, @04:15PM

why would AT&T need a price lock?

Do they plan on raising their rates? It'd be better to just keep their rates as low as possible, that way their customers don't switch after two years because it went up so much.

That said, it's a nice marketing offer with no downside for the customer that I can see. The lock itself isn't as big a deal as not having an early termination fee. They might as well have a contract that states the price will not increase, and no ETF. When I had Cox, I paid a monthly fee that did not increase, and had no contract. They didn't promise me anything, but they kept it the same which was nice.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:

Re: why would AT&T need a price lock?

they need the lock to distract consumers of their rising pots rates/unfees/taxes.

at&t raised business rates recently. time to drop a line...

The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs:

Like Qwest?

I love Qwest's price for life...

Only if you have a phone package, then they can raise the price of the phone package, and not your internet.

Brillant!

jimbo48

join:2000-11-17
Hayward, CA
·EarthLink

Such a Deal

Why would one choose AT&T DSL with their poor deliverables to begin with, unless they were the only game in town. Come on, DSL download at at 1.5(max) subject to the ever lurking "best efforts clause" and 40.00 a month is no bargain or a package to write home about.
Yes AT&T DSL services is hurting because the Cable Cos and Verizion is offering more bag for the buck and DSL isn't a technology that is going to cut it for the majority of Internet users.

See 8 replies to this post
benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
·Charter Pipeline
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
·AT&T Midwest

Who'd Want a Contract?

Thing is, I consider it likely that things would be better within the time frame of the contract, or at least not any worse.

Do you really want to be stuck with what may be a lousy deal near the end of the contract?

This is why I always go month-to-month, or at most a one year contract, even if there's a discount for a two year contract.

I live in AT&T land, so of course no FIOS is available. But as for FIOS, I might consider a two year contract if it meant that I could switch to a different tier during the contract without an ETF.

GoodyearMark
Premium
join:2001-05-02
Goodyear, AZ

hmm

No cable contracs in Arizona or California. Don't know what kind of FUD AT&T is trying to push on people, trying to make themselves seem generous.
--
»hackThatPhone.com

me2000
Obama-Biden 2008

join:2003-06-23
Normal, IL

Hmm...

ATT
$40 - 3 Mbps

Comcast
$42.95 - 6 Mbps

I wonder what's a better deal...?
alfnoid
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-18
·Comcast

Re: Hmm...

said by me2000 See Profile :

ATT
$40 - 3 Mbps

Comcast
$42.95 - 6 Mbps

I wonder what's a better deal...?
Apples to apples please...
That comcast price is WITH TV ONLY...much higher without TV
Enlightener

join:2006-01-28
Cedar Park, TX
AT&T U-Verse Maxx 10/1.5 $55/mo.

( no voice or video )

For me, that's the better `value`.
jasher

join:2006-09-15
New Orleans, LA

Still need to bundle too

At least with Bellsouth you still also need a phone service which is at least $12.64 more. I'd pay it if they delivered half the promised speeds. Cox can't deliver 1/10th.
Airwolf7
Premium
join:2004-12-12
Franklin, KY
·AT&T Southeast

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Call 1-800-626-9149 to order.

rtp

@bellsouth.net

Read the Disclaimer

Guaranteed Price for 24 Months: Price guarantee applies to monthly recurring charge for a period of 24 months from date of service, and does not include taxes, fees or
excessive bandwidth usage charges. Offer excludes AT&T High Speed Internet Basic service with a term commitment. Offer available for orders placed between 08/15/08 and 11/15/08. Does not require term commitment. Altering, suspending or terminating service will cancel price guarantee.

They have included the phrase "
excessive bandwidth usage charges"
Sound fishy there
dentman42

join:2001-10-02
Columbus, OH
·AT&T Midwest

Re: Read the Disclaimer

said by rtp :

Guaranteed Price for 24 Months: Price guarantee applies to monthly recurring charge for a period of 24 months from date of service, and does not include taxes, fees or
excessive bandwidth usage charges. Offer excludes AT&T High Speed Internet Basic service with a term commitment. Offer available for orders placed between 08/15/08 and 11/15/08. Does not require term commitment. Altering, suspending or terminating service will cancel price guarantee.

They have included the phrase "
excessive bandwidth usage charges"
Sound fishy there
The first time they try to hit me with an excessive bandwidth charge I won't pay and they'll lose both my POTS and Internet business.

XBL2009
------

join:2001-01-03
Chicago, IL

They both suck

Cable and DSL both suck can we get a third option?
qworster

join:2001-11-25
Los Angeles, CA
·Brand X Internet
·RoadRunner Cable
·Vonage
·DSL EXTREME
·EarthLink

Re: They both suck

said by XBL2009 See Profile :

Cable and DSL both suck can we get a third option?
Nope!

The FCC has made sure that you can't!
EPS

join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA
How about Satellite? Look into that a bit and Cable/DSL won't seem so bad... Or if you like 5GB caps, there's always wireless!

hdman
Flt Rider
Premium
join:2003-11-25
Appleton, WI
·AT&T Midwest
·Alltel Axess

I pay that AND MORE!!!

I pay MORE if DSL was available to me....and I would toss in a left or right nut....but my only choices are EVDO, Hughes, or Wild Blue. I've had all 3, and they don't compare to DSL.

AT&T, hear me on this one, BRING ME DSL DARN IT!!!!!

HDMan
--
The proper way to break in a Harley: Grab a fist full of throttle, and ride it like you stole it!!!
Forums » AT&T Offers No Contract 'Price Lock' DSL


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