Get Your Strategy On
I don’t need your stinking landline.
Oct232007 Filed under: Technology Author: Tony MorganBelieve it or not, AT&T still thinks they’re in the telephone business. I haven’t had a landline in about nine months. Don’t miss it. There’s no need for it with wireless service which I also happen to have through AT&T.
I called the company the other day inquiring about high-speed Internet service. It’s available in my area. And, it’s cheaper than the Internet service that the cable company provides. The only problem is that AT&T won’t sell you Internet service unless you also purchase local telephone service. I don’t need local telephone service, because I have AT&T wireless service. But, by requiring the landline, their "Internet" service ends up being $15 per month more than the cable company.
Now I’m stuck with the cable company. Makes me wonder how long it will be before Google has WiFi in my area? Sign me up.
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Tony Morgan is a pastor and the Chief Strategic Officer at NewSpring Church where he develops creative solutions for communications, technology and NewSpring Ministries--the church's ministry that equips other church leaders.
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seth
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
tony
did you check on a metered line? in most places it’s only like $5 a month. just a thought.
either way, it’s still frustrating.
Anne Jackson
October 24th, 2007 at 12:34 am
We have the same problem. I don’t know if they offered you this, but you can get a basic landline for 9/month. It just limits the calls (which you won’t use) to 25 or something. It is the only thing offered in our area so we pay 45 total for cable, internet, and phone. You just have to talk them down a little :) Also if you bundle your cell phone, they’ll give you an additional $10 off (but that might have just been a promo?)
I hadn’t had a phone since before we were married - so late 2001 probably!
Phil
October 24th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I’m in the same boat for now…stuck with cable internet because I don’t have a landline.
Lucas
October 24th, 2007 at 10:36 am
AT&T is rolling out u-verse which is 100% IP based video service…ie cable and high speed internet without the need for a landline. See more info here.
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=5838
J.C. Jennings
October 24th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I feel your pain. I’ve been considering switching to satellite service because of the greater number of high def channels vs. cable. But guess what. My cable company won’t let me have high speed internet w/o basic cable service and I don’t want to switch to DSL because I’ve witnessed the problems we have with DSL at the church office and with other friends that have it.
Steven
October 24th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Just a note from my own battles with AT&T.
If your neighborhood has fiber optic lines you can get seperate internet service according to AT&T.
Good Luck
Brian
October 24th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
You might want search Google for “att naked dsl” and read the USA Today article.
I tried to get standalone dsl in Anderson and was told that it was unavailable. When I asked if it was not required in their agreement with the FCC for allowing them to buy BellSouth, they gave me another number to call. I changed my mind before I called though, so I don’t know if it would work or not. Good Luck.
Will
October 24th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
I just read this post last week on a blog that I track. Maybe the internet only option that is discussed in that post is only available where the wind only blows northeast and the humidity is a constant 23% and the Matron Bell has more competition (insert extra fine print here). Anyways, it may be worth rechecking to see if things have changed.
Jen
October 24th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Hey-
I know you’ve already gone with the cable and everything, but I just wanted to put this out there… I just got married last month and my husband and I both use just our cell phones. We didn’t want to pay for the extra land-line if we didn’t need it (we don’t) so my techy brother told me about the “naked” dsl as a previous poster had mentioned. He called AT&T (not sure if it was a “special” number or not) and talked to someone in their customer service department about just getting naked dsl. They were able to set us up with no issue. All I had to pay for was the dsl modem and the wireless router (which I already owned). It’s only $23 which is much cheaper than anything else I have seen out there. I’m having some speed issues, so I need to call them back to see what the problem is, but just wanted to throw it out there that it IS possible to get it in some locations if you specifically ask for it. You still might be better off though speed-wise with your cable, but yeah, it still is annoying how somethings with technology move forward at lightning speed, while others are stuck decades behind.
Michael
October 24th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
They call this a “dry loop” in our neck of the woods. Check out this link complete with the “special” phone number to call. Good luck!
http://consumerist.com/consumer/leaks/get-att-dry-loop-for-2399-303233.php