AT&T Broadband To Merge With Comcast Cable 214
quualudes was one of the many people to
submit the AT&T Broadband/Comcast merger. CNNfn has more of the story as well. 72$ billion is the cost. Wow. I wonder how this affects @Home. One alert reader also submitted the news that Comcast will evidently by launching a video gaming channel - more information will be coming in February 2002.
press release (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Praise Murphy (Score:2, Informative)
Restrictions? (Score:2, Informative)
Stock Price Difference Interesting.... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:It's not @home anymore (Score:3, Informative)
Maybe for you, but not for Cox@Home or Comcast@Home (or Rogers@Home) customers. We still have @Home service until sometime before Feb. 28th...
Re:Restrictions? (Score:5, Informative)
They guarantee nothing, save that you get a bill.
Oh, and if you sue them, YOU pay the lawyer fees regardless of whether you win or lose.
Copy 'n pasted from the Second Example: (Caps and all...)
FINALLY, YOU AGREE TO DEFEND, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS AT&T AND THIRD PARTIES WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THE AT&T WORLDNET HIGH SPEED SERVICE FROM ANY LOSS, DAMAGE, OR COST (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) RESULTING FROM YOUR VIOLATION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY ACTIVITY RELATED TO YOUR AT&T WORLDNET HIGH SPEED ACCOUNT.
In the first two examples, read "You're Responsible" REAL closely.
More Examples:
http://www.attbi.com/general-info/policies.html
http://www.att.net/general-info/terms.html
http://www.att.com/terms/
For what it's worth... (Score:1, Informative)
We anticipate that the transition will be completed by nine to 12 months. AT&T Broadband will continue to provide support for your AT&T Broadband Internet service until the merger is complete.
Will my service change in any way?
As an AT&T Broadband Internet customer, you can expect to receive a reliable, fast, always-on connection to the Internet. The changes in our business will not cause service interruptions and, at this time, we anticipate no changes to your service. As we have done in the past, any future changes or enhancements to your service will be announced well in advance.
Will AT&T Broadband Internet move back to the @Home network as a result of the merger with Comcast?
We anticipate no changes to your service. As we have done in the past, any future changes or enhancements to your service will be announced well in advance.
Will my prices increase as a result of this merger?
AT&T Broadband's prices reflect the cost of providing service and operating the business. There are no price increases associated with the announcement of this merger.
Why do you keep changing your brand name?
The Internet business is a rapidly changing and developing industry. Over the past four years, we have worked hard to provide the latest technology and best-in-class service. Companies and brands have changed as there have been mergers, acquisitions and partnerships.
Will my bill change?
Your bill and billing cycle will remain the same for the time being. Any changes to your billing cycle or the appearance of your bill will be announced and explained prior to the change.
Will I have the same contact methods for Customer Care?
Your customer care contacts won't change as a direct result of the planned merger with Comcast. Our Online Customer Support Center will continue to provide chat and e-mail links so you can reach a specialist 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Also, you may call the same phone number for Customer Care, as there are no immediate changes planned for telephone support numbers.
How will you keep me informed of any upcoming changes to my service?
As we have done in the past, any future changes or enhancements to your service will be announced well in advance via your AT&T Broadband Internet e-mail account, direct mail and the Announcements and Updates section of this site.
Will there be any further disruption to my service?
We are committed to providing you with quality and reliable high-speed cable Internet service. The previous disruption to your high-speed cable Internet service was result of Excite@Home's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing. There are no planned disruptions to your AT&T Broadband service as a result of the proposed merger.
Will my e-mail address change? What about my personal Web page address?
We do not expect any near-term changes that would effect either your AT&T Broadband Internet e-mail address or your Web page address. Down the road, some changes may be necessary. If that occurs, we will notify you well in advance to address any needed changes.
Will my payment method change?
Your current payment via credit card or billing statement payment process will not change as a result of this merger. We will we will notify you well in advance if there are any changes to your payment method.
If I have AT&T Broadband Internet, will I get Comcast service after the merger?
There are no immediate changes to your AT&T Broadband Internet service. At this time, we do not know any details regarding when you might be able to receive the Comcast service. Unless otherwise notified, you will continue to receive AT&T Broadband Internet as your high-speed cable Internet service.
Will my home page change again?
There are no immediate changes to your AT&T Broadband Internet service.
Will I still be able to use my AT&T Broadband Internet log-in information?
There will be no immediate changes to your AT&T Broadband Internet service. At this time, we do not know any details regarding when you might be able to receive the Comcast service. Unless otherwise notified, you should continue to use your AT&T Broadband Internet username and password. As we have done in the past, any future changes or enhancements to your service will be announced well in advance.
Will the minimum system requirements for my computer change again?
We don't anticipate any changes in the minimum system requirements at this time.
Will you be offering any additional features to the service?
Yes, we have several technical trials and market trials underway right now and expect to announce new features beginning next year.
Does this mean that I will finally be able to get high-speed Internet in my neighborhood? I've been waiting for years. (Will the upgrade be any faster?)
We can't give you a specific timeframe for the introduction of high-speed Internet services in your neighborhood. We're working to introduce the service in as many communities as quickly as we can.
AT&T Broadband cable TV in Boston (Score:2, Informative)
This summer, I was disconnected on a Tuesday. I called them and after some hemming and hawing on their part, they finally agreed to reconnect me on Friday. I had to call a relative on the state comission that regulates cable TV to get them to move it up a day. I also had this relative get them to credit me for two weeks as recompense for disconnecting me in error. Yes, that's right, AT&T Broadband cut me off in error.
The picture quality on some channels is bad, the volume varies wildly between the satellite programming and locally inserted commercials.
You wait for at least 30 minutes while trying to get someone to answer a phone, oh, and their phone service! Once you've navigated phone menu hell, you listen to crappy music and hear some dweeb tell you to jot down the emergency phone number.
The emergency phone number presents you with exactly the same phone menu hell you get when you dial the regular phone number. And you still wait forever.
Thank Dobbs that the Boston cable TV system has been bought by a real cable TV company.
Someone else can use this here soapbox now.
Re:@homeattbicomcastdial-up? (Score:2, Informative)
I've been with them from pretty much the beginning, 2 years, and while they started off rocky, they seem to have gotten they're stuff together. 768 / 128, which, by some standards, may not be all that great, it's always consistent.
Re:AT&T in Cash Town (Score:2, Informative)
AT&T has been aware that its core businesses are shrinking, have been aware for a long time. The big purchase of broadband interests was Michael Armstrong's plan to reposition the company.
But these businesses were purchased at the peak of the Bubble. Much debt accrued. And the Bubble burst. Hence the need to sell, in order to service the debt that is crushing the company. Hence also the need for AT&T to try to price services in a way that will minimize their loss per customer.
You're right, the company is in godawful shape, but if you understand the forces at work, it's not difficult to understand why.
Media merger mania - when will it end? (Score:3, Informative)
Always a good time to see who owns what [cjr.org]