Yes that's right but, have a look at what Walmart does to smaller cities and communities. This just a different way of looking at things but, similar. The Ma and Pop businesses who have invested time, money and effort for their business is wasted because, a majority of shoppers will go to Walmart simply based on PRICE. I've also worked for Bell in the past and they WILL discount everything to attract the customer back with the eventual fact that the price will rise once again to regular price but, these "deals" are given out based on one to three year contracts. This factor alone will put the perception in the customers mind that, it's too difficult to switch now and it's a pain in the ass. Why? because, they have started to process of switching either in their minds or physically and suddenly the interruption of the regular carrier is stopping them with, "oh you wanted that price? OK! But, you need to promise to be with us." Now imagine if this was done with every opportunity?
Another excellent example of how the gov't thinks is; trying to get a gov't contract. They have an RFP put out and look at what each service provider offers. In the end it's always PRICE. I know because, I have gone through the process and lost. Before I get off topic in my rant. The end result is that independent providers are in the business to make money, build a company and do it better then the incumbents. This involves hiring staff that gets paid who then pay taxes and purchase necessities for everyday life. This can't be done when the environment changes with this resent decision. Many of the people involved in this new industry are from a Nortel or Bell back ground who have been laid off by these companies in the last five years. If the gov't takes away the ability to compete with Bell and Telus on a fair playing field then ultimately, they would taking their lively hoods and putting them back on employment insurance. This takes me back to the "promise" above; when the promise/contract expires where is the alternative company to provide service? Dead and GONE. Three years can make or break a small business. BTW, Vonage is hardly able to make a profit at this point due to their pricing and advertising and smaller companies can't afford the cute commercial spots mind you. They send more in advertising than they get in revenue at this point and it's just to try to get some market share. I have a sneaky feeling this may come from the decision not to allow the incumbents to become income trusts. - Sorry if my thoughts are all over the place but, it's how I feel - In all of my typing, I have noticed a few more emails on this but, I have to quote John here, "On this matter your window of opportunity has passed. The government directive is effective today." Well John, win or loose, I still have a vote and it's Liberal. I also recommend that you get to know your MP or their competition personally if possible. Keith -----Original Message----- From: Julian Dunn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 11:12 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [on-asterisk] Elevator news >>> On Thu, Nov 16, 2006 at 10:05 AM, in message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Simon P. Ditner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > That doesn't sound like very good news. VoIP is just getting across that > chasm from early adopters to general consumers, and this overruling seems > to cast the pioneers aside in favour of the incumbents to line their > pockets. > > I particularly like this snippet: "companies such as Vonage, Primus > Canada and AOL Canada which have been taking away thousands of > traditional telephone subscribers" ... oh no, thousands, poor Bell, > surely this atrocity can not be allowed to continue.</sarcasm> I don't mean to resort to trite political aphorisms, but given that the current government is very pro-business, this is an unsurprising (though disappointing) development. Still, it doesn't necessarily mean the death of the pioneers. After all, many third-party DSL providers operate successfully in the same space as the big boys. Many people, and indeed companies, may make a conscious decision not to go with the traditional telcos for VoIP service, because of "out-of-band" factors (e.g. crappy customer service) so there is still opportunity there. - Julian -- -- Julian C. Dunn, P.Eng. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- Platform Administrator * CBC.ca Production & Operations -- Office: 2C310-J * Tel.: (416) 205-3311 x6988 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.6/535 - Release Date: 11/15/2006
