Comcast is tapping into the frenzy over MP3 players in a push to sign up new high-speed Internet service customers.
The company is giving away Nomad MuVo digital music players from Creative Technology to new residential high-speed Internet subscribers who activate the service by March 31. The music player, which costs about $50 at online retail shops, can hold up to 128 megabytes of data, or about 30 songs.
The online promotion also includes 10 free songs from Rhapsody, RealNetworks' online music store, and a discount rate of $19.99 a month for the first three months of high-speed service. After the third month, the price of the service shoots up to $56.99. Customers must order the service online to qualify for the freebies.
The company faces heightened competition from cable rivals Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable, as well as numerous regional DSL (digital subscriber line) providers. However, Comcast still remains the dominant provider, with more than 7 million high-speed Internet subscribers. Growth in its broadband unit helped fuel a 10 percent rise in the cable giant's fourth-quarter profit and revenue.
This is how they are spending their money...it is pathetic. Instead of competing via price they are competing via gimicks...and we support them. I will consider them when they stop increasing price by 10x inflation every year.
Comcast's $60/month Internet service (sans TV) is no bargain, even with an MP3 player thrown in. Lately on radio shows I've heard of people dropping Comcast for DSL service. Not that DSL is cheap, just cheaper.
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Instead of competing via price they are competing via
gimicks...and we support them. I will consider them when they
stop increasing price by 10x inflation every year.