Verizon says it will phase in a policy of allowing customers to buy stand-alone high-speed Internet service. Qwest is currently the only major local telephone company that will sell DSL service to customers who do not have a local telephone number at the same location.
Verizon said current customers in 13 Northeastern states will be allowed to drop telephone service but continue to receive DSL service. However, the company said customers would have to transfer their number to a wireless carrier, to a VOIP provider like Vonage or to a cable company -- not to a competing local phone company that uses Verizon`s lines.
Verizon said it will expand the stand-alone option to all of the states in which it operates. Eventually, the company said, it will offer stand-alone DSL to new customers as well as exissting customers but said a timetable has not been established.
Not everyone was pleased. Gene Kimmelman of Consumers Union said Verizon`s new policy was "less than what consumeres need to have a vibrant, competitive marketplace."
With the growing popularity of Internet telephone service, many consumers would be expected to get rid of their regular telephone service and rely solely on VOIP, which is not only cheaper in most instances but also offers many features not available with regular telephone service.
Verizon`s move leaves SBC and BellSouth as the hold-outs. Neither company currently provides DSL-only service.
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20.04.2005
Verizon Will Offer Stand-Alone DSL Service
Verizon says it will phase in a policy of allowing customers to buy stand-alone high-speed Internet service. Qwest is currently the only major local telephone company that will sell DSL service to customers who do not have a local telephone number at the same... |
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