Big Carriers Discover the Value in Triple Play

U-verse Voice, Added Value

Launched in Dallas/Fort Worth on Dec. 15, U-verse Voice brings together on one bill AT&T home phone, wireless, broadband and TV services.

Delivered as a managed IP-based service over AT&T's fiber-rich network, U-verse Voice offers a single, combined voice mailbox for voice and wireless messages, which can be accessed from any phone line or PC, as well as an online portal where users can manage call preferences and settings. An online voice mailbox allows subscribers to check, manage and forward voice mail from the Web, much like an e-mail inbox, says AT&T.

Two voice plans are available to U-verse TV customers.

U-verse Voice Unlimited includes unlimited local and nationwide minutes to any location in the U.S., Canada or U.S. territories for $30 a month. The second, U-verse Voice 1000, includes 1,000 Call Anywhere minutes to any location in the U.S. or U.S. territories for $25 a month.

FiOS Digital Voice: TBA

As for Verizon, it’s keeping a rather tight lid on the details of its FiOS Digital Phone, at least for now.

Though the company has not issued an announcement nor provided details on the voice service, Verizon has been testing the service internally for some time and plans to offer it in at least a few markets “soon” according to a spokesperson for the telco.

“This is offering FiOS customers a voice service that leverages the FTTP network to bring them new features,” said the spokesperson. “It’s the natural next step in our FiOS bundle.”

Launched in late 2006, FiOS is the brand name for services provided over Verizon’s fiber-to-the-home network, including FiOS TV, FiOS Internet, and now FiOS Digitial Phone.

Telco TV providers hope triple-plays that include IP voice will stem losses of consumers and businesses to the large cable companies, many of which already include digital voice in their triple-play offerings.

Integrating its U-verse TV service with voice service has helped drive the new VoIP offering, said AT&T CFO Rick Lindner, commenting on the carriers third quarter financial results in October.

“U-verse has demonstrated it’s having pull through with voice,” remarked Lindner. “It’s improving access line retention.”

Still, some analysts wonder about the long-term viability of the voice offerings.

“Verizon is like everyone else; they are looking to increase revenues and reduce costs, so the new offering is likely aimed at doing a bit of both,” explained Tom Nolle, president of CIMI Corp., a broadband industry consultancy. “The question is whether they get enough uptake to get reasonable economies of scale with the new technology.”