The cable operator, in the midst of its first year of cable telephony rollout, is offering free cable telephony and Internet service through Jan. 31 to new subscribers in 10 cities. This also is a way to let customers know they have a competitive alternative.
Prices vary depending on the market.
If they choose the flat rate, however, they will be charged. Some providers of DSL service have reported surges of demand for their product in response to pricing-oriented promotions. In one instance this past summer, Jump.net suspended installation orders to SBC Communications in its Texas markets because the RBOC was so severely backlogged, due partly to price promotions. Analysts and industry watchers have speculated the free offer is purely intended to rack up the desired subscriber numbers, with any loss in revenue made up with steady subscriber income thereafter. Assuming you make the customers happy you are just deferring the profits.