Time Warner and Verizon begin selling bundled packages just to annoy regulators
Verizon's special relationship with the cable houses deepened yesterday as it started to sell bundled mobile and land-line packages with Time Warner Cable, like it does with Comcast. Residents in various parts of Ohio, Kansas City and Raleigh, North Carolina can sign up and receive a $200 prepaid debit card as a reward for their custom. However, the partnership is raising regulatory concerns about Big Red's business practices, with the Justice Department weighing up if they're anti-competitive. Worse still, the FCC has yet to ratify that $3.6 billion spectrum deal, meaning that both parties could still be off to the tailors to be fitted for a federal lawsuit.
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VERIZON WIRELESS AND TIME WARNER CABLE TEAM UP TO DELIVER GREAT VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET EXPERIENCES – FOR THE HOME AND ON THE GO IN SOUTHWEST OHIO
Release Date: 04/12/2012
CINCINNATI, OH – Verizon Wireless and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) today announced they are teaming up to give customers greater choice, value and convenience in their wireless and entertainment packages.
Customers in Southwest Ohio (see list below for store locations) can now purchase packages of Time Warner Cable video, Internet and voice services and Verizon Wireless smartphones and tablets from both companies.
In December 2011, Time Warner Cable and Verizon Wireless first announced plans to begin selling each other's services in select areas this year. Additional areas launching today include select locations within and surrounding Columbus, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Kansas City, Kan.; and Raleigh, N.C. Both companies expect to launch these packages in additional Time Warner Cable communities in the coming months.
New and current Time Warner Cable and Verizon Wireless customers who sign up for one of these packages from both companies may be eligible to receive a $200 prepaid debit card. Customers can select their package preference from a range of offers that include video, Internet, home phone and mobile service. Time Warner Cable's Ultimate Internet and SignatureHome® are also available to be packaged with a Verizon Wireless offer.
"The joining together of the best products and services from Time Warner Cable and Verizon Wireless into a single package is a big win for customers in Southwest Ohio," said Jeffery Hirsch, chief marketing officer, Time Warner Cable. "These new packages provide more choice, convenience, greater value and bring customers a more complete entertainment and communications experience inside their home and wherever they go."
"Our goal is to deliver a solid product followed by a wonderful experience in things which are important to our mutual customer base: wireless, entertainment and communications," said Mark Frazier, president–Ohio/Pennsylvania/West Virginia Region, Verizon Wireless. "We are confident that the consumers who are looking for stellar value can find everything they need in the comprehensive package delivered by Verizon Wireless and Time Warner Cable. Here in Southwest Ohio, Time Warner Cable continues to deliver the highest quality entertainment and communications services and the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network is the perfect complement to round out the package."
For additional information, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/twc or www.twc.com/verizonwireless. Customers can sign up for these packages in person at a Verizon Wireless Communications Store or over the phone at 1-888-535-0187 or 1-800-TWCABLE.
