[*] VoIP marketshare

Dan Keizer ve4drk at shaw.ca
Fri Nov 10 20:30:04 CST 2006


Ron, interesting stats.  I'd like to wade-in on this discussion and 
offer my thoughts on the subject(s)...  I don't have any special 
insights into these issues, but I'll throw my comments in anyways :-)

I think that you'll probably see a resurgence in MTS's revenue in the 
next while.  They appear to be responding to Shaw's promotions with 
their own bundles that do make them very attractive price-wise.  I was 
on their internet service for many years and only switched when I moved 
and they tried to stiff me with connection fees and the like (they don't 
do that now).  Their phone service is always good and they have finally 
woken up and bundled their packages to compete directly with shaw's 
package plans.  As for their TV service, I can't really comment as I 
can't get it in my area -- go figure -- it's not that old an area -- yet 
I still receive leaflet advertising in my mail and mailbox flyers!  I 
would try their TV service as it has some good options in terms of 
choice and digital quality (at least for one tv). 

A year or so ago, when shaw's service came available, I switched to 
shaw's (voip) phone service and was relatively happy with them.  Their 
bundling is what made the pricing options attractive -- and the thought 
had crossed my mind that since they are providing a voip service that 
they may have some interesting options/integration points for the phone 
service -- but it appears to be *just* a phone service with no special 
integration options.  (There's an open area for shaw to develop)   After 
about just over a year of service with them, I have gone back to MTS on 
a real land-line service.  (I still have a couple of VOIP providers I 
use, but I still use a 'regular' service ;-)   I'm not one of these guys 
who switches just to save a buck or two -- I usually get a service and 
stay with it as long as I'm happy with the service.  I was having 
difficulties with shaw's service and for once I can say that I was 
really unhappy with their customer service -- it was so hard to get a 
straight answer from them that I just gave up after about a week of emails.

I think it will be imperative for MTS to be aggressive with their 
win-back strategy as I thought I heard that shaw may be entering into 
the cell service business in the not too-distant future (those in the 
know can correct me anyway) -- competition is good and it looks like it 
will continue on many fronts for a while yet.  The biggest issue, beyond 
similarly offered product qualities,  will be customer service.  MTS has 
some catch-up to do here, but they appear to be in a position for a 
powerful comeback.  Only time will tell ...

Dan.


Ron Dallmeier wrote:
> ... I do not recall seeing a big price reduction so it
> would be fair to suggest that Shaw and others have eaten away close to 10%
> market share in one year. 
> I find it interesting that after the first year of MTS-TV a similar
> percentage of TV subscribers went the other way. According to the
> financial reports from both companies Shaw is doing much better and MTS is
> doing worse despite cash cow cellular service.


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