Verizon today announced that the company will be offering customers in Tampa the ability to sign up for no contract, no early termination fee service in Tampa — at the same price as contract customers. According to the release, new customers can get Verizon’s base triple play bundle (15 Mbps/5 Mbps broadband, FiOS Digital Voice and FiOS TV Prime HD) for $99.99 per month. Previously, customers had to pay $20-$30 more a month if they wanted to go without a contract.

The release hints at competitor (Bright House Networks) ads that took aim at early termination fees and long-term contracts. Verizon insists the competitive Florida market is the reason for the promotion, but we’re not seeing this kind of offer in equally competitive markets like the NYC suburbs, where Verizon competes with Comcast and Cablevision. We asked Verizon why Florida (where only one county sees Comcast competition) gets this treatment, and whether they’ll expand the deal.

“We’ve heard both anecdotally and in various focus group sessions over time that for some people, the contract requirement is a barrier to purchasing FiOS,” says Verizon spokesman Robert Elek. “So we are taking a cue from the market here and introducing this new pricing plan for month-to-month (and) we ll react accordingly depending on how the market responds,” he says. “And for now, this is in Florida only which for us is one of the most competitive we face anywhere.”

If you recall, Verizon has taken some serious heat in their Tampa market the last few years for billing and support problems, going so far as to offer users their own “personal account manager” (PAM) whose job is to help users break through barriers in resolving support issues. Perhaps offering no-contract service at contract prices will help Verizon’s local brand image — though current contract customers might not be as thrilled about the deal.
read comment(s)

Related posts:

1. Verizon eliminates contracts for FiOS Tampa subscribers
2. Verizon Offers 150/35 Mbps FiOS For Business – As residential offer still not in all FiOS markets
3. Verizon Offers FiOS iPhone, iPad VOD Apps – Improves Flex View Video On Demand Service
4. Verizon FiOS customers faced with $3.50 online credit card payment fee
5. Comcast tries to lure Frontier’s Indiana FiOS TV customers

Tags: bright house networks, contract, contract option, contract requirement, FiOS, fios tv, Florida, focus group sessions, market, PAM, Robert Elek, Robinson, service, Tampa, Verizon

Posted in News
No Comments Yet Posted by Don