Comments on: AT&T Unity: Big deal, or just big news?

By: roderickm

roderickm — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 22:37:08 +0000

“wireline minutes are down 40% since 2001″

The PSTN wasn’t just used for voice. Many modem users have migrated to DSL or Cable internet services in the past five years. (Seen an AOL CD lately?) This may seem a minor factor, but modem calls are typically much longer than voice conversations. I can easily see how modem users migrating off the PSTN to DSL/Cable and competition from wireless providers have hit wireline minutes so hard.

By: Alec

Alec — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 19:35:18 +0000

I think AT&T customers will benefit, no doubt. It’s the AT&T shareholder that is going to suffer, and that’s because this action will likely not lead to any substantial number of new subscribers.

By: Jonathan Roberts

Jonathan Roberts — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:29:48 +0000

Thanks, Alec.

Do you see any benefit to the consumer or is this strictly self-serving to AT&T?

By: Alec

Alec — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 17:12:50 +0000

I don’t think it’s a disruption at all, Jonathan. It’s a rear guard action to encourage existing AT&T customers to stay.

By: Jonathan Roberts

Jonathan Roberts — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:04:13 +0000

I donâ€™t see the big disruption here. If you already must have an unlimited land line plan, what are you gaining? No penalty for cell phone minutes? With thousands of roll-over minutes anyway on Cingular, is this even an issue for most consumers?