landline

Verizon marketing dumping DSL down the memory hole?

Maybe it’s Verizon’s landline unions that should watch out: Shortly after writing this morning’s post on Verizon’s DSL vs. wireless debate, I caught up with DSLReports’ note that Verizon is deleting DSL mentions in marketing material. For the record, I think this is only about as ominous as when the cable companies renamed VoIP “Digital Voice” to escape the bad name (scratchy sound, dropped calls, lack of 911) it had received. OK, maybe the erasures are a bit Orwellian, but isn’t Big Brother just a part of big business?

The updated language does underline an important point, however: People don’t really care how they are connected so long as they are connected, and in a way that they feel is fast and consistent and fairly priced. In some markets, this might mean DSL; In others (large, population-rich urban environments), Verizon’s FiOS will be the standard; Others will be happy with microwave connectivity.

But if Verizon’s going to use this as excuse to charge FiOS-like rates for its broadband DSL package, they’re going to be doing themselves a serious disservice, ultimately hurting the FiOS brand more than anything as consumers vent to each other via word of mouth, online comments, and Twitter. That’s an advantage I’m sure the cable companies would love to seize, particularly as Comcast lashes out with a sharp responses to the cable creeper ads Verizon’s been running. See both below, and feel free to share your thoughts.

When Verizon’s copper and wireless collide

I hate to break out the old saw about the unstoppable force versus the immovable object, but it just seems too appropriate here. Verizon’s (landline) unions are pitching a fit at Verizon Wireless’ latest campaign in Massachusetts, which is urging customers to “cut the cord” by switching to an all-wireless plan, as the Boston Herald reports:

“The whole trend (for Verizon) is to dump anything to do with plain old phones,” said Paul Bouchard, a district representative for the Communications Workers of America.

Don Trementozzi, president of the Communications Workers of America Local 1400, disputed Verizon Wireless’ assertion that intended to target only non-Verizon customers.

“Even I got one of the fliers at home,” said Trementozzi, whose union represents about 1,000 Massachusetts Verizon workers. “The ad campaign is real crazy. It’s a big mistake.”

Verizon Wireless, which is 50% owned by Verizon with the other half being owned by Vodaphone, said mailers sent to cross-over customers (who have both Verizon Wireless and Verizon landline services) were accidental and limited, but the unions see something a bit more sinister: They note that Verizon is selling off their landline business in well over a dozen states, and that Verizon Wireless has many fewer unionized employees.

Don’t expect this battle to go away anytime soon, particularly as other players like Comcast and Time Warner get into the wireless game through Clearwire.