Cox Communications has launched a potentially game changing mobile phone service. By combining mobile, land line telephone, Internet, and cable television services, the company offers discounted rates through a “quadruple play”. One unique feature of its service is that users can get their unused minutes refunded for up to a $20 rebate per month. Cox is adding other goodies too. Here’s a clip from the press release:
To further sweeten the reward for existing customers, Cox’s bundled customers can choose one free upgrade when they add Cox Wireless. With Bundle Benefits, Advanced TV customers can choose a free premium entertainment channel such as HBO, Showtime, Starz or Cinemax or Cox Movie Pak, which includes Encore, Epix, Sundance and Vutopia; high-speed Internet customers can upgrade from Preferred to Premier; or home telephone customers can add unlimited domestic long distance calling on their Cox Digital Telephone service.
The service is currently available in the Hampton Roads, Omaha, and Orange County markets. It currently works on Sprint’s 3G network, but Cox has plans to roll out its own network in the future. The launch phones include the HTC Desire, HTC Hero, HTC Wildfire, Motorola Milestone, and LG Axis. The phones will feature special software that interacts with various Cox service.
By getting to people pay for multiple services, Cox can offer attractive bundles that can offer better value than paying multiple companies. Other cable companies have similar plans in the works. It will be interesting to see if AT&T and Verizon offer more aggressive packages that combine their mobile, land line, Internet, and television services.
What do you think of Cox gambit? Will it work? Is this the future of telecommunications? Any of you happen to be Cox customers?
I had COX, but switched to DirecTV & Qwest because even with Cox's bundle package we were paying more money than if we got the services separately through different providers.
Their plans seem in line with the rest of the industry, just a bigger subsidy on the handsets.
The refund on unused minutes potentially makes it lower.
Will they refund me 90% of the minute allotment? I use about 10 mins per month. I use Skype most of the time if not text or email.
Just curious. Cox has no presence in my local area unless you go south of I-12
Nvm