DirecTV Broadband Failure Pares Choices

[James_F]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=528&e=6&cid=528&u=/ap/20030130/ap_on_hi_te/directv_broadband

With DirecTV Broadband poised to dismantle its high-speed Internet service, consumers are losing one of the last alternatives to the increasingly dominant telephone and cable giants.

I think the key here is that fact that as more and more companies go bankrupt, prices will rise.

[Bogy]

I think the key is that prices will rise for customers who want to pick various suppliers for their communications needs. The cable/telephone companies are in a battle with each other to provide "one shopping shopping" for local/long distance telephone, television and internet. In my area Qwest and Cox are now in direct competition for all these services. Since I receive all the aforementioned services from Cox the internet part of my bill remains at about $35 and my telephone bill is significantly cheaper, although Qwest has felt the sting of the gauntlet, and if you go for their all in one package costs go down as well. For many communications companies increased profits through increased subscriber numbers is limited, and increased profits through increased prices is counter productive, as seen in the last part of article. Increased profits through the sales of new/premium services is seen as the best strategy.

That leaves those of you who are DBS subscribers in a weaker position in purchasing the other communications products on a piecemeal basis.