Russell Shaw has a thought provoking post about the idea of bundling voice, data and video–and soon wireless. There are two sides to this argument and he presents one of them–the risks.
Shaw also challenges the independents (CallVantage, Packet8, Vonage et al) to markt counter to the bundles.
Actually, I’m surprised that the counter bundles haven’t rolled out yet. Take SBC for example. The currently bundle DSL, local phone service and satellite TV. Pretty soon they can bundle VoIP with CallVantage.
Verizon can do the same thing. For the independents like Vonage and Packet8 they have to find the smaller market players who don’t have the in-house VoIP capabilities. And unfortunately I don’t see that many out there for them to build critical mass, especially for me too, me also type of offerings.
The only way this “unbundled” offering will really work will be when the MSO’s have to provide equal access to VoIP players the way the RBOC’s had to provide equal access to long distance carriers. Somehow, I don’t see that happening any time soon.
Now to the advantages of bundling. First is obvious. One bill. Second is combo pricing. Third is ease of installation. Fourth is new service activations are done at once. The downside, as Shaw points out is when one aspect of the service is down, it’s all down. That’s the rub in my book.
I never liked all in one stereo systems and preferred components. I guess I’m still in that camp explaining why I use CallVantage, PhoneGnome, Skype, Gizmo, have multiple cell phones on multiple carriers..but in fairness, if tech wasn’t so much a part of my life, i’d have a lot less I’m sure.