The Blind Consumer
Posted by Joseph Brochin
Most consumers of telecommunications and information technology services are walking around with blinders on. Big name providers of services, that I will not mention, have applied these blinders from years of commercial advertisement.
Most feel that the telecommunications de-regulation in the late 90’s helped the consumer. In some ways I think it did, but in some ways it did not. To me it seems all the deregulation did was allow for monopolies to reappear. As an example let us look at some of the recent buyouts. One of the largest providers of telecommunications services buys out the largest provider of wireless cell service. This particular provider is already in partnership with one of the two largests satellite TV companies and promoting that companies services. They even advertise a discount on data services if you’re that satellite TV company’s customer or a subscriber to their telephone service.
I am not downplaying these carriers or their product. Hell, they do a very good job of keeping the consumer in the dark by applying these “blinders”. What most consumers do not know is that they do have choices outside of these larger providers.
Smaller companies provide a low cost alternative for the same services these larger providers offer.
The services provided by these smaller low cost companies run the table, from long distance telephone, to VOIP, to Internet access.
Big companies offer incentives like unlimited long distance phone service for $29.95. This “Unlimited” offer attracts lots of customers. They are attracted by the flat rate that is offered no matter the calling patterns. In fact most customers do not require unlimited service. Most customers have only dealt with big name companies and their high per minute rates. So when an unlimited plan is offered it seems to the customer that they are saving when in reality they are not.
For an example, to see for yourself look at your last phone bill and calculate up the long distance minutes and write those down. Separate the interstate (outside your state) and the intrastate (inside your state) long distance. Write these numbers down.
Now go to the advanced calculator provided by Brochin.net free of charge. Enter in the information you wrote down and compare to your current bill. I would wager you would save by switching to one or more of the carriers the calculator lists. Try the advance long distance calculator and seperate high speed Internet shopping services to cost compare.
Stop being blinded and controlled by the hype of the big corporate monsters.
