According to two new reports issued this week, while operators recognise the need to provide bundled service offerings, they have yet to determine how to change consumer buying habits and generate extra demand. Recent consumer market studies by Yankee Group and In-Stat show that consumers are not used to looking for a bundled service offering and are still most attracted by the lowest price available for a specific service. In-Stat reports that just 14 percent of potential residential customers in the US intend to sign-up for a bundled offering from a single service provider in the next twelve months, prompting a warning that operators need to better understand specific market segments and provide more targeted offerings. Commenting on what she described as �tepid at best� growth potential for bundled services, In-Stat analyst Amy Cravens said, �In order to better capitalise on the bundled opportunity, providers must offer a variety of package choices to match the appropriate services with different customers� needs.�
Try to imagine this scenario, that General Motors and Ford were given exclusive franchises to build America's interstate highway system, and also all the highways that connect local communities. Now imagine that, based upon a financial crisis, these troubled companies decided to convert all "their" local arteries into toll-roads -- they then use incremental toll fees to severely limit all travel to and from small businesses. Why? This handicapping process reduced the need to invest in building better new roads, or repairing the dilapidated ones. But, wouldn't that short-sighted decision have a detrimental impact on the overall national economy? It's a moot point -- pure fantasy -- you say. The U.S. political leadership would never knowingly risk the nation's social and economic future on the financial viability of a restrictive duopoly. Or, would they? The 21st century Global Networked Economy travels across essential broadband infrastructure. The forced intro...