It's time to stop worrying and get naked. This suggestion didn't
come to mind after one too many glasses of wine last night--no, not this time.
This time, I got the idea from AT&T. Oh, I'm talking about naked DSL--you
knew that, right?
Discussion of naked DSL, like the concept of actual
public nudity, is something that makes the telecom industry very uncomfortable.
Even if telcos offer naked DSL, they often don't publicize it. Basically, it's
the practice of selling customers DSL without requiring them to also purchase
wireline voice service. Qwest Communications was the first major U.S. ILEC to
loosen the lines that bind, doing so back in 2004. Verizon Communications also
has allowed existing customers with DSL to cancel wireline voice
service.
Now according to the Chicago Tribune, AT&T's doing
it, at least as part of a trial targeted at younger consumers who are ready for
broadband, but who are less likely to want or already have wireline voice
service. Still, AT&T is playing down its willingness to provice naked DSL,
which is pretty much modus operandi for big telcos. They've seemed hesitant to
promote this kind of service in the past because they wanted to do everything
possible to stall inevitable access line decline.
But the funny thing
about the inevitable is that it's destined to happen. Access line losses were
steep for some years, and now the decline has become more gradual. Telcos need
to take control of their own destiny and realize that wireline voice can't
continue to be their lead dog, either as a revenue generator or a sales
hook.
In another way, the timing couldn't be better: VoIP service
providers are losing their edge, whether via legal, competitive or economic
challenges, and ILECs have never had a better opportunity to wean themselves
from traditional wireline voice, and instead promote their own VoIP or wireless
offerings along with DSL. It's time to bare all. Getting naked isn't anything to
be ashamed of anymore. It just make good business sense.- Dan
And, for more details
about AT&T's naked adventure, read Jon Van's story in the Chicago
Tribune
