Variety is the spice of life, but the telecom and cable providers don’t always make it easy to understand our options for bundling services for TV, phone and Internet. First you have to decide which type of company you’ll use to bundle services, and then you’ll need to decide what you want in your bundle as far as individual service packages. There are so many technologies and plans to choose from, and though it gets a bit messy with all the different flavors to choose from, it’s competition for customer satisfaction that brings the price down.
Options for Bundling Service
The first thing you’ll want to do is locate a provider that services your area. You may already know who your providers are, but if you’re unsure you can always use a comparative search to locate them. Phone service providers and cable service providers are typically the ones who offer bundled services. Each have phone, TV, and Internet, but the technologies vary drastically.
Phone Service Bundles
Don’t be mislead by the title. The fact that it say’s phone service bundles only reflects the services are coming from a phone service provider. In fact, in many instances you don’t even need to order phone service to bundle other products. Below is a list of products you might find available for bundling from a phone provider.
- Landline phone service
- Cell phone service
- Digital home phone service (also know as “voice”)
- DSL high-speed Internet
- Fiber optic high-speed Internet
- Satellite TV service
- Fiber optic TV service
Cable Service Bundles
While cable providers can offer phone, TV, and Internet, the list of products isn’t as extensive as a phone service provider. Below is a list of services you might find available for bundling from a cable provider.
- Cable TV service
- Digital home phone service
- Cable high-speed Internet
In very rare cases – cellular
Bundling Package Options
Now that you know which services are available, and from who, the next step is deciding on your level of service for each product. For example, some home phone calling plans might have local, or local and long distance together. You may want a higher speed of high-speed Internet, or more channels and extra options for your TV service like DVR or HD channels. Generally the price goes up for higher levels of service. Even if you’re looking for the cheapest package, make sure you’re going to be happy with your levels of service. Don’t skimp if it’s going to cause you problems. Just remember you’re already getting service at a discounted rate for bundling in the first place.
Who do you think offers the best options for bundling services? Cable, or phone providers?
