Verizon sent out FiOS TV letters

[Chris Miller]

It looks like Verizon is getting read to offer FiOS TV in Bethlehem. I just received a letter from Verizon announcing that FiOS TV is coming. There were a few items of note in the letter:

• Call 877-879-6195 to be notified when FiOS TV will be available in your area.
  
• The phone service is Freedom Essentials, not FiOS Digital Voice. That's disappointing. Freedom Essentials is their POTS package, it would have been nice to get the VOIP package.
  
• FiOS Internet will be offered at speeds up to 150/35 Mbs.
  
• A channel listing was included. It was the national lineup, which should be available from verizon.com/fiostvcentral
  

[barryg]

I chatted with Customer Service. They're offering 24-month plan of 15/5 FIOS plus ExtremeHD TV for $80/mo plus $16/mo DVR (plus extra $10 off for first 6 mos). They also offer month-to-month which is same price for first year and then goes up $20/mo after that. Pro-rated $360 cancellation fee for early termination of 24-month plan.

I didn't price the triple play because already have $10/mo voip

[chenrikson]

Feb 18, 2011 8:14:43 GMT -5 barryg said:

I chatted with Customer Service. They're offering 24-month plan of 15/5 FIOS plus ExtremeHD TV for $80/mo plus $16/mo DVR (plus extra $10 off for first 6 mos). They also offer month-to-month which is same price for first year and then goes up $20/mo after that. Pro-rated $360 cancellation fee for early termination of 24-month plan.

I didn't price the triple play because already have $10/mo voip

You did better than I did. I called the number and the very helpful CSR was not aware of any way she could put me on a priority list for installation. This is apparently SOP in that marketing doesn't communicate with customer service. She even contacted the VZ technical folks to see if there was any information about installation but they didn't have any info either (sigh). She did offer to upgrade my FIOS speed to the 15 range( I now have the 10 speed) at no cost but with a 2-year obligation but I was hesitant without knowing what the bundles will have. Good luck!

[Chris Miller]

Now is not the time to order. The early adopters will not get any discounts. After it becomes available, VZ will be more aggressive in discount offers. Once TWC wakes up and becomes aggressive with trying to keep subscribers, we should see the gloves come off and the real discounts to be made available

Right after I had FiOS Internet installed, a VZ salesman walked through my neighborhood. He was trying to get people to switch. He upgraded me from 10/1 to 20/5 by grouping my VZ Freedom Essentials landline to the FiOS account. For no extra cost, I got a much faster rate (which oddly enough is no longer available).

[psternklar]

I called as well, told they do not know when it will be available in Bethlehem and which packages will be available.

[Skaggs]

From today's Times Union:

Verizon pitches ‘the thrill’ of fiber optics

Marketing campaign takes aim at Time Warner Cable service

By LARRY RULISON, Business writer, February 19, 2011

BETHLEHEM — Verizon has officially begun its marketing offensive, pitting its FiOS TV against Time Warner Cable.

The New York City telecommunications provider sent letters to residents of parts of Bethlehem and the villages of Colonie and Scotia pitching the new service.

The letter, which includes channel lineups but no pricing, urges residents not to sign contracts with cable or satellite competitors until they experience FiOS.

“Once you experience the thrill of fiber optics, you’ll never go back,” the letter states.

Verizon has offered Internet and phone services through its FiOS system in select towns in the Capital Region for several years now. But it had yet to add FiOS TV, an arduous process that requires that the company negotiate individual franchise agreements with each village, town or city where it wants to offer service.

After claiming for the past several years that it had no plans to introduce TV service here, Verizon quietly negotiated franchise agreements with Bethlehem, Scotia and the village of Colonie over the past several months.

Verizon spokesman John Bonomo wouldn’t say Friday when Verizon customers can buy FiOS TV or the other FiOS services.

For those customers living in areas where Verizon has laid down FiOS fiber optic cable, that day should come sometime next month. Verizon previously has said it would offer TV here by the end of March.

“It won’t be that much longer,” Bonomo said. “That’s a mere few weeks away.”

Under the terms of its franchise agreements, Verizon is required to build out the FiOS infrastructure to all town or village residents. So it may take longer for some homes to get the FiOS service.

“We’re in the process of building in these various towns,” Bonomo said.

The local introduction of Verizon’s much-anticipated cable TV service comes at a time when Time Warner Cable is also vying to sign up as many customers as possible to Internet, phone and TV, including enticing new customers with a deal for all three for $99 a month. A price war could end up driving down the price of a typical bundled package, which can top $140 a month.

Time Warner doesn’t require contracts with its service, although in previous years it offered a “price lock guarantee” to people who signed a contract. That program is no longer offered here, a spokeswoman said.

Verizon is likely to offer a similar price to new customers, and on its web site it is offering all three services for $84.99.

Larry Rulison can be reached at 454-5504 or ▶

at [e-mail].

[psternklar]

Anyone have a date when Verizon will start taking orders?

[Chris Miller]

Feb 22, 2011 9:41:34 GMT -5 psternklar said:

Anyone have a date when Verizon will start taking orders?

I just called the 877 number and they don't have a date in the system. The saleperson was able to provide a few details:

• When service is available, they will make a big push. Door to door sales, kiosks in the malls, mailings, etc.
  
• If you have Verizon Wireless, you can add that to your FiOS bill and knock $9.95 off the combined bill. Be very careful if you pick this option as it will reset the VZW contract date back to day one.
  
• You will probably get the best deal from the door to door salesperson. I found this to be true when I got FiOS Internet. I was already on the 10/1 plan when the salesman came to my door. I was friendly with him and offered him some lemonade. He got me a free bump to the 20/5 plan by linking my landline to the FiOS account.
  

[hurnik]

Feb 18, 2011 11:23:05 GMT -5 Chris Miller said:

Now is not the time to order. The early adopters will not get any discounts. After it becomes available, VZ will be more aggressive in discount offers. Once TWC wakes up and becomes aggressive with trying to keep subscribers, we should see the gloves come off and the real discounts to be made available

Right after I had FiOS Internet installed, a VZ salesman walked through my neighborhood. He was trying to get people to switch. He upgraded me from 10/1 to 20/5 by grouping my VZ Freedom Essentials landline to the FiOS account. For no extra cost, I got a much faster rate (which oddly enough is no longer available).

Odd because I had the complete opposite experience. I got the sign up bonus via the website for FIOS internet (10/2 I think) and a month later the flyer was on my door and it was $10/month MORE!!

About 6 months later I think they jacked the price up again (not for me) but definitely the "early adopters" in my area got a better deal.