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Comcast Entering the Wireless Biz to Take on Verizon and AT&T

GigaOm is reporting that Comcast has created its own wireless division and is bringing the pieces together to jump into the wireless biz to offer quadruple play bundle competition (TV, landline, internet, wireless) against Verizon and AT&T. Speculation is that they could buddy up with a WiMax deal, or flat-out buy Sprint (more likely) or T-Mobile (less likely). Usually more competition is more better, but not sure what'll come out of this Pandora's box. I'm sure the FCC will love it though. Update: A tipster tells us that the wireless move will be under their Fancast brand, which is currently the name of their online video site. Smart, avoids the negative Comcast connotations. [GigaOM]

4:59 PM on Wed Apr 23 2008
By matt buchanan
4,019 views
31 comments

Comments

  • I think I speak for the entire nation when I say: "Aw hell naw!"

  • You can't turn a quadruple play! This shouldn't be allowed to happen.

  • Image of homerjay homerjay at 05:38 PM on 04/23/08 *

    Yay! something else for them to fuck up!

  • Damnit, cell phones suck enough without Comcast in the mix!

  • I can't stand telecom packages. I do not want your Telephone connection, stupids!

    Put some damn fiber in the ground!

  • Welcome the new worst carrier period theres no debate on this.

    Comcast plus cell service just give me the old At&t i'd rather have them. Well atleast now SprintNexhell, Verizon Wireless, At&t, T Mobile all look better.

    Comcast Why! you already fucked up one market; why fuck up cell service even more.

    At least don't name the new venture Comast Mobile or Wireless

  • please don't buy sprint at least they got somewhat competent workers they just don't know english.

    While comcast on the other hand has people whom speak english but are just douchebags

    get ready for faster, better and cheaper service because this will start the bidding war to hell. No one will pay up to $100 for Comcast cell service.

  • I like the idea of being able to program my DVR from my cell phone; watch recorded programs on my cellphone, watch OnDemand programming from my cellphone, and whole bunch of other nice features.

  • And geeze Giz - Comcast signed a deal with Sprint over 2 years ago (along with the other major MSO's - Time Warner, Bright House, Cox, Charter, etc.) and it was made public at the time...

  • Possibility Three is that they simply take advantage of Verizon's "open services, open devices" 700 Mhz requirement and "open network" line of business. Why spend all that money on setting up a physical network?

  • @DigitalNoise: You mean the one, which they PULLED OUT OF TODAY?

  • @DigitalNoise: Yeah, they pulled out of the Pivot deal. Not really relevant for most readers, but if they want more details, they can hit up GigaOM, which is top notch on the subject.

  • Oh Canadaaa, our home and comcastless land! Still, we have rogers.. Damn traffic shaping bastards.

  • *I cry* People need to know about the horrors of this company I do not understand how any mofo's still sign up for their service. I guess they will run out of people eventually they only reason they have such a large number of people is so many sign up to make up for the ones that constantly leave.

  • It's sad when your company can go into the current wireless market and everyone would rather stay away from you because the other companies are actually liked more.

    That's like someone hiring a pedophile as their babysitter because they trust them more then you.

  • @Brock: Because the "open" portion of VZ network band won't carry enough traffic to make them much of a player. That assumes Comcast wants to be a major player in the cell market of course, and not just tiny.

  • It's good to know the insane amounts of money they're squeezing out of their customers for dreadful service is being used to buy ventures in other fields rather than upgrading their existing, incredibly substandard, infrastructure.

  • It's good to know the insane amounts of money they're squeezing out of their customers for dreadful service is being used to buy ventures in other fields rather than upgrading their existing, incredibly substandard, infrastructure.

  • Since I'm on spring break, I've been playing Assassin's Creed a lot. From the picture I take it that Comcast represents the Templars and Verizon and AT&T are either Saracens or Assassins. Because I'm on fios and my cell is att, I am finally ALTAIR!! lol

  • I wonder what kind of BS ad campaign this is going to get... we've all seen cable ads and as geeks we know where most of their "truths" fall flat.

    Fact: Comcast wireless offers better selection than [insert major carrier] and faster connection speeds. NOT!

  • I for one don't see why all the hate for this. Comcast already has an agreement with Sprint for three years now.

    Besides, Sprint isn't doing so great either. Comcast definitely has the funds to make this work.

    Sure, if you don't like Comcast, don't go with Fancast Mobile. But for those like me, on Verizon, competition only lowers prices.

  • The $400 cell phone plan is coming. Everything in last year's $100 plan but with integrated sensor cleaning.

  • Comcast buying Sprint? Can you imagine? If people think Sprint is bad now, just wait....

    I have (and love) Sprint, but would be terrified that Comcast would jack up my prices. Barf.

  • @DigitalNoise:

    I like the idea of being able to program my DVR from my cell phone; watch recorded programs on my cellphone, watch OnDemand programming from my cellphone, and whole bunch of other nice features.

    You mean like AT&T's Uverse offering, which allows just what you described? Just wait for the rollout, which unfortunately looks like just short of millennium before it will be complete.

  • @C4WDeX: Do you fucking read?

  • used to work at comcast and this has been talked about for a long time, sprint and comcast already have a partnership so they will most likely buy them

  • @DigitalNoise: MSN Remote Record and Orb don't do the trick for you?

  • is this even true?

    comcast, cox and TW cable just dismissed their 4-play promo deal with sprint.

    where do you guys get this stuff?

    [www.msnbc.msn.com]

  • so this is their answer to their limitations in order to try to keep growing

  • So if you use too much wireless minutes, Comcast will reset your phone calls?

  • Its way more likely that they will bundle up with sprint.
    Comcast is about speed (according to them) and well EV-DO on sprint's network being run off of the mogul is super fast.
    And didnt comcast in the past want to buddy up with sprint to help the push for wimax smoother.
    I think comcast will in the end buy out sprint. One because sprint is way cheaper than t-mobile and because sprint has less customers, less innovation, with those blazing fast speeds.
    (im assuming sprint is cheaper because sprint has less customers than t-mo last time i checked.)
    It wouldn't be that bad to have comcast own sprint because then sprint would most definetly have an easier time setting up their wimax network because comcast could just claim their upgrading their servers in residential areas and just put in wimax towers.
    I think t-mobile will have most competition for users with t-mobile because the rumor of the t-mo 3G release will be in may and they're going to be releasing HSDPA supposedly right after 3G takes off.
    I wonder who wins.
    im rooting for sprint but i want t-mo tobile win because im a loyal customer.

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