Comments on: Utilities http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/ falling indelibly into the past Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:33:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: G Zombie http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/#comment-1292 G Zombie Tue, 04 Jan 2005 03:32:24 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=576#comment-1292 <p>I believe SBC used to be Southwestern Bell. </p> <p> Why not pay for broadband Internet access only, but then use your cell for phone calls? I know a handful of people who do that and like it. </p> I believe SBC used to be Southwestern Bell.

Why not pay for broadband Internet access only, but then use your cell for phone calls? I know a handful of people who do that and like it.

]]> By: profgrrrrl http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/#comment-1291 profgrrrrl Mon, 03 Jan 2005 20:43:44 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=576#comment-1291 <p>Ah, sucks to be locked in when you feel like you should have a choice (even if the choice can be overwhelming) </p> Ah, sucks to be locked in when you feel like you should have a choice (even if the choice can be overwhelming)

]]> By: Jason http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/#comment-1290 Jason Mon, 03 Jan 2005 20:39:24 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=576#comment-1290 <p>Right - Cav’s not one of the former Bells, but one of those small competitors that started up when the Feds told the BabyBells that they have to share their lines.  For the price, it’s been a much better deal… </p> <p> Anyway, congratulations on the new condo, and happy New Year :) </p> Right - Cav’s not one of the former Bells, but one of those small competitors that started up when the Feds told the BabyBells that they have to share their lines.  For the price, it’s been a much better deal…

Anyway, congratulations on the new condo, and happy New Year :)

]]> By: KF http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/#comment-1289 KF Mon, 03 Jan 2005 20:06:49 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=576#comment-1289 <p>SBC’s a good bit bigger than Cavalier, from what I can tell.  I think they’re a renamed version of a former Bell service, but I can’t figure out who.  Their DSL is hooked up through Yahoo, and they’ve got some kinda satellite deal with Dish, and they’re connected somehow to Cingular.  They’ve also, according to their corporate info pages, bought out PacTel and Ameritech, among others.  So while they’re smaller than Verizon, they’re still Big Phone, and so not really a solution. </p> <p> Anyway, I’m still seeking other options.  Thanks for the info! </p> SBC’s a good bit bigger than Cavalier, from what I can tell.  I think they’re a renamed version of a former Bell service, but I can’t figure out who.  Their DSL is hooked up through Yahoo, and they’ve got some kinda satellite deal with Dish, and they’re connected somehow to Cingular.  They’ve also, according to their corporate info pages, bought out PacTel and Ameritech, among others.  So while they’re smaller than Verizon, they’re still Big Phone, and so not really a solution.

Anyway, I’m still seeking other options.  Thanks for the info!

]]> By: Jason http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/#comment-1288 Jason Mon, 03 Jan 2005 19:50:14 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=576#comment-1288 <p>I don’t know what options you have on the other coastline, but we bought into Cavalier Telephone - one of those alternative to Verizon deals - and we love it.  $25 a month for all features (voice mail, call waiting, caller ID, etc.).  Much cheaper than Verizon. </p> <p> Is that the same kind of thing that SBC is? </p> I don’t know what options you have on the other coastline, but we bought into Cavalier Telephone - one of those alternative to Verizon deals - and we love it.  $25 a month for all features (voice mail, call waiting, caller ID, etc.).  Much cheaper than Verizon.

Is that the same kind of thing that SBC is?

]]> By: KF http://www.plannedobsolescence.net/utilities/#comment-1287 KF Mon, 03 Jan 2005 17:05:01 +0000 http://www.new.plannedobsolescence.net/?p=576#comment-1287 <p>Sigh.  Insofar as there is any good news, it’s this:  things are still much simpler than I thought. </p> <p> SBC cannot find my address, and thus it appears that I’m stuck with Verizon. </p> <p> Verizon offers a fabulous-sounding VoIP package, but in order to use it, you need broadband internet access.  And my best source for broadband internet access is Verizon DSL.  And in order to use their DSL, you have to have a regular Verizon local phone line.  So their VoIP is entirely an add-on to your landline, not a replacement for it. </p> <p> So it looks like I’m back where I was three years ago:  Verizon landline with DSL.  Nothing any niftier, at least not yet. </p> Sigh.  Insofar as there is any good news, it’s this:  things are still much simpler than I thought.

SBC cannot find my address, and thus it appears that I’m stuck with Verizon.

Verizon offers a fabulous-sounding VoIP package, but in order to use it, you need broadband internet access.  And my best source for broadband internet access is Verizon DSL.  And in order to use their DSL, you have to have a regular Verizon local phone line.  So their VoIP is entirely an add-on to your landline, not a replacement for it.

So it looks like I’m back where I was three years ago:  Verizon landline with DSL.  Nothing any niftier, at least not yet.

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