Cablecos Extend Triple-Play Bundles to Biz

RCN said the programming packs are geared to appeal to gym, spa and fitness center patrons; small hotel or motel guests; nursing home, hospice center and hospital facilities; and small office waiting rooms. However, they are available to any business.

With the four options now available, customers can select packages with a varied array of 15 to 28 channels at price points that all fall below $30 per outlet and are available when combined with phone or high-speed Internet service.

While that variance may not seem substantial, remember that many SMBs are struggling to survive in a failing economy, often have little or no dedicated internal IT workers and are trying to contain costs in a time when prices for seemingly everything are increasing.

Combine this business environment with the ability to lock in prices on three services for two years by signing up for triple play offerings from operators such as Comcast, along with a single bill for everything, and predictability becomes priceless to SMBs.

“We feel that SMEs should be attracted to bundles because most SMEs like simplicity, and bundling can allow them to have a single point of contact, single bill and one contract,” said an Ovum Inc. report released April 10. “Many customers do not have the time (or in-house expertise) to research all the offers available to them – bundled services are an easy solution to all their integrated communications technology needs; while at the same time, SMEs can avoid the risk of being left behind by technology change – the service provider takes the strain of new technology introduction.”

The Ovum report also noted that small businesses need to avoid capital expenditures, adding further that bundled services “should provide overall cost savings for SMEs – if they buy multiple services for one service provider.”

Comcast, RCN and Cablevision Systems Corp. also target large business, but with a different menu of services – high-speed private lines, hosted services in part to serve multi-location firms, higher speed Internet access, wireless and – in Cablevision’s case, voice-over-metro Ethernet.

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