Comcast is preparing to launch their new service, Homepoint, which will provide a VoIP handset with integration to email, news, weather, and other services. Wait, doesn’t my mobile already do that?
Honestly, this technology seems a bit outdated to me. You’ve got a VoIP handset that works with a wireless router to provide easy access to your email, weather, news, and contacts. Most mobile phones already do this, so why is Comcast doing this now? Admittedly the service will only cost $39.95 a month, but still, what’s the point? I mean, most mobile phones have this functionality by default, so it doesn’t really make much sense to offer it on a handset that’s tethered in your home. On top of that, it only works with one phone number, and requires that you also have broadband in order to get the full functionality out of the device.
Rumor is that there will be a $5/month charge for the hardware, and then access to the service will cost you $39.95 a month. I’d be hard pressed to find someone who this would appeal to, even if they do bundle it with other services. Of course, Verizon tried something much like this before, and we all know how that turned out.
Really informative.
Wow, this will usher in innovative new features such as Internet on your TV!
They are only trying to make their bundle look more legitimate. Its not legitimately priced and never has been. If it costs $39.95 per month alone, look at what we are giving you in the bundle.
They do not want you to know that they can provide 2GB of bandwidth for less than .50 cents. What fraction of a penny that would be for VIP I will leave for you to guess.
I love Skype, my solution when over 10 years multiple cellular companies attempted to put charges I did not make on my bill and than attempt to force me to pay it.
I am totally cellular free, have been for years. My total cost of service with Skype is < $100 per year. Sure there are cheaper VoIP solutions as low as $20 per year, however I am happy with Skype. Also they do not try to increase my monthly by an additional $10 per month in year two like the cable and cellular companies typically do.
If Skype was deleted tomorrow I would move to one of the cheaper VoIP services while provision my own Linux VoIP server and I would start offering service to others. With the low cost of putting a server on the internet
***MAJOR CORRECTION*** each HomePoint handset only costs $39.95. The lease fee for the eMTA is $5.00 per month. I’ll let you re-do your math there. And remember, not everyone splashes out for an expensive smartphone, so for the 80% of American households that still have a landline and pay cash money every 18 months (on average) to replace their old cordless phones, this is an attractive alternative.