Industry News

Rangers or Islanders?

Robert Moses or Jones Beach?

They are plenty of Long Island-centric debates, but when it comes to Internet and TV service (OK, and phone, but what’s a landline?), the heavyweight battle is between verizon’s FiOS and Cablevision’s Optimum.

I’m posing this Sound Off today for purely selfish reasons. I’m moving into a new place in a month and from what I can tell, promotional packages for service from both companies are similar in price. 

So, what I want to know is how they stack up in performance (i.e. Internet speed/reliability, TV channel selection, etc..). Has anyone had experiences with both verizon and Optimum? Are there pros and cons to each provider?

Vote in today’s poll below and share thoughts on the topic in the comments section. 

Editor’s note: We are aware that FiOS is not offered in some areas as this article is posted across several Patch sites. If that’s the case for you, we’d still love to hear about your experiences/satisfaction level with Optimum.

Article source: http://westislip.patch.com/articles/sound-off-verizon-or-optimum-cable-internet

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Rangers or Islanders?

Robert Moses or Jones Beach?

They are plenty of Long Island-centric debates, but when it comes to Internet and TV service (OK, and phone, but what’s a landline?), the heavyweight battle is between verizon’s FiOS and Cablevision’s Optimum.

I’m posing this Sound Off today for purely selfish reasons. I’m moving into a new place in a month and from what I can tell, promotional packages for service from both companies are similar in price. 

So, what I want to know is how they stack up in performance (i.e. Internet speed/reliability, TV channel selection, etc..). Has anyone had experiences with both verizon and Optimum? Are there pros and cons to each provider?

Vote in today’s poll below and share thoughts on the topic in the comments section. 

Editor’s note: We are aware that FiOS is not offered in some areas as this article is posted across several Patch sites. If that’s the case for you, we’d still love to hear about your experiences/satisfaction level with Optimum.

Article source: http://westislip.patch.com/articles/sound-off-verizon-or-optimum-cable-internet

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(Justin Sullivan – GETTY IMAGES)

T-Mobile and public interest groups on Tuesday urged the Federal Communications Commission to block verizon Wireless’ spectrum and marketing deal with cable firms, saying the transaction would lead to less competition and higher wireless service fees for consumers.

In filings late Tuesday at the FCC, T-Mobile said the $3.9 billion sale of airwaves to verizon by cable firms would create “excessive concentration” in the wireless market. verizon Wireless is the nation’s biggest wireless service provider with more than 100 million subscribers.

Several public interest groups including Public Knowledge asked the FCC to block the deal, expressing concern over a a unique cross-marketing agreement between fierce rivals in the business of supplying wireline Internet connections into homes.

Verizon Wireless defended the deal, saying it needs more spectrum to bolster its networks.

“It will put spectrum to work to meet growing demand, and we believe the transfer is in line with goals in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan,” Verizon said in a statement.

Through the deal, Verizon Wireless and cable companies have begun to cross-promote each other’s services so that they can offer what is known as “quadruple plays” — bundles of landline phone, wireless, cable television and high-speed Internet connections to consumers.

That portion of the deal is being investigated by the Justice Department, which is also reviewing the deal, because of concern Verizon Communications may let its FiOs wireline television and Internet service atrophy.

The marketing arrangement “gives rise to serious concern that not only will these providers decline to compete further with one another, they will actively collude with one another,” the public interest groups said in a joint filing.

The Communications Workers of America labor union told the FCC that it does not oppose the sale of spectrum to VerizonWireless because if feels unused airwaves should be quickly put to use to handle the capacity problems faced by consumers.

But it asked the FCC to ensure Verizon keep up its television and landline Internet service to areas it covers and to expand it to cover nearly the whole nation. Verizon Communications has said it won’t expand beyond its current footprint of about 14 million homes.

Related:

Justice probing Verizon, cable over marketing deal

Senate to take up Verizon, cable deal in hearing

Verizon strikes spectrum, marketing deal with cable firms

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/critics-tell-fcc-to-block-verizon-deal-with-cable-firms/2012/02/22/gIQAQ5eOTR_blog.html

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(Justin Sullivan – GETTY IMAGES)

T-Mobile and public interest groups on Tuesday urged the Federal Communications Commission to block verizon Wireless’ spectrum and marketing deal with cable firms, saying the transaction would lead to less competition and higher wireless service fees for consumers.

In filings late Tuesday at the FCC, T-Mobile said the $3.9 billion sale of airwaves to verizon by cable firms would create “excessive concentration” in the wireless market. Verizon Wireless is the nation’s biggest wireless service provider with more than 100 million subscribers.

Several public interest groups including Public Knowledge asked the FCC to block the deal, expressing concern over a a unique cross-marketing agreement between fierce rivals in the business of supplying wireline Internet connections into homes.

Verizon Wireless defended the deal, saying it needs more spectrum to bolster its networks.

“It will put spectrum to work to meet growing demand, and we believe the transfer is in line with goals in the FCC’s National Broadband Plan,” Verizon said in a statement.

Through the deal, Verizon Wireless and cable companies have begun to cross-promote each other’s services so that they can offer what is known as “quadruple plays” — bundles of landline phone, wireless, cable television and high-speed Internet connections to consumers.

That portion of the deal is being investigated by the Justice Department, which is also reviewing the deal, because of concern Verizon Communications may let its FiOs wireline television and Internet service atrophy.

The marketing arrangement “gives rise to serious concern that not only will these providers decline to compete further with one another, they will actively collude with one another,” the public interest groups said in a joint filing.

The Communications Workers of America labor union told the FCC that it does not oppose the sale of spectrum to VerizonWireless because if feels unused airwaves should be quickly put to use to handle the capacity problems faced by consumers.

But it asked the FCC to ensure Verizon keep up its television and landline Internet service to areas it covers and to expand it to cover nearly the whole nation. Verizon Communications has said it won’t expand beyond its current footprint of about 14 million homes.

Related:

Justice probing Verizon, cable over marketing deal

Senate to take up Verizon, cable deal in hearing

Verizon strikes spectrum, marketing deal with cable firms

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/critics-tell-fcc-to-block-verizon-deal-with-cable-firms/2012/02/22/gIQAQ5eOTR_blog.html

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MILPITAS, CA–(Marketwire -02/22/12)- The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies dedicated to promoting Z-Wave as the standard in wireless home control, with close to 600 interoperable products world-wide, today announced the addition of verizon as its newest Alliance member. verizon joins an impressive list of industry leaders in the Z-Wave Alliance, including: 2Gig Technologies, Danfoss, Evolve Guest Controls, Fakro, Sigma Designs, Ingersoll Rand, and Jasco Products.

“The Z-Wave Alliance is eager to welcome verizon as an Alliance member,” said Mark Walters, chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. “This membership is an extension of our partnership that was formed with the debut of Verizon’s connected home products last year. We look forward to continuing this partnership as Verizon extends its home control offerings.”

In October 2011, Verizon launched its connected home solution, Verizon Home Monitoring and Control, which uses Z-Wave. With this offering, Verizon provides a variety of home monitoring and energy management capabilities enabled by Z-Wave technology, which provides a cohesive experience across platforms. With the Verizon connected home solution, consumers can do things like monitor their home’s energy usage and control appliances and electronics remotely with a computer, smartphone, FiOS TV, and tablets.

“Verizon’s home monitoring and control service provides customers convenient, anytime, anywhere access and control to one of the most important things in their lives — their home,” said Ann Shaub, a director of product management for Verizon. “The Z-Wave ecosystem seamlessly connects a whole host of devices and allows our customers to control them from a computer, smartphone, or TV.”

Verizon is focused on breaking down old technology boundaries to create a borderless world where work, play and home become one virtual reality. The company’s goal is to provide anytime, anywhere connectivity to the information and the entertainment end users want on any device. Verizon anticipates that the connected home market will continue to grow in 2012.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 109 million total connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

About Z-Wave
Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers, and security systems. Developed by Sigma Designs, Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety, and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in close to 600 products world-wide. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.

About the Z-Wave Alliance
Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of more than 160 leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include 2Gig Technologies, Danfoss, Evolve Guest Controls, FAKRO, Ingersoll Rand, Jasco Products Company and Sigma Designs. Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety, and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.z-wavealliance.org.

Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

Kari Brownsberger
Finn Partners for Z-Wave Alliance
312.329.3980
kari@finnpartners.com

Article source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/verizon-joins-z-wave-alliance-221500237.html

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