Move Over Bells: Comcast Corporation Becomes The Fourth-Largest Phone Service
Provider in the U.S.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSK,
CMCSA), the nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and
communications, today announced it has become the fourth-largest residential
phone service provider in the United States.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080108/NETU073 )
The announcement comes less than three years after having officially
launched Comcast Digital Voice(R), an innovative alternative to the plain old
telephone service traditionally offered by the Bells. Comcast Digital Voice
is the first true home phone replacement service to deliver a seamless and
converged communications experience across all of Comcast's services
(including cable and high-speed Internet) and customers' devices.
"Comcast Digital Voice is the fastest-growing home phone service in the
country and we're reinventing the way consumers think of home phone service in
the process," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation.
"Our rapid rollout of advanced services like Comcast Digital Voice has enabled
us to transform Comcast into the only company in the U.S. to offer integrated
video, high-speed Internet and phone services to more than 40 million
households."
This year Comcast will roll out a number of major enhancements to Comcast
Digital Voice service that will be integrated with Comcast's video and high-
speed Internet services, including:
-- Universal Caller ID to the TV and PC - customers can view caller
information while watching TV or using their computer.
-- SmartZone(TM) Communications Center - a central online location where
Comcast customers can use "viewable voicemail" to listen to calls or
forward them like email, send and receive email and, in the future,
remotely program their DVRs.
-- Enhanced Cordless Telephone - that will enable home phone users to
check email and voicemail, send instant messages and access a
"universal" personal address book as well as a yellow pages directory.
In addition, Comcast Business Class Digital Voice is now widely available
to small businesses.
Comcast Digital Voice is an award-winning* and reliable phone service that
packs better features than traditional phone companies for a better price.
Customers can save hundreds of dollars annually on home phone service from
Comcast when compared to similar offers from the RBOCs. According to a recent
study by Microeconomic Consulting and Research Associates (MiCRA), phone
competition resulting from cable's entrance into residential and business
marketplace will save consumers more than $100 billion over the next five
years. Consumers have already saved $23.5 billion, including $13 billion in
2007 alone.
Comcast Digital Voice service includes:
-- Unlimited local and domestic long distance direct-dial calling -
including calls to Canada and Puerto Rico - with competitive
international rates to more than 200 countries.
-- 12 popular calling features plus enhanced voicemail - includes 3-way
calling, call waiting and caller ID for no additional charge.
-- 911/E911.
-- Battery backup that lasts up to 8 hours during power outages.
-- Compatibility with a majority of home alarm systems including industry-
leaders ADT and Brink's.
-- Ability to retain existing telephone numbers when switching from
another provider.
-- Professional installation.
*Winner of Frost & Sullivan's 2007 Customer Value Enhancement Award for IP
Communications Services.
For a webcast of Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts' CES keynote address
and for additional press information on Comcast announcements at CES, please
visit www.comcast.com/ces.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the
nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications
products and services. With 24.2 million cable customers, 12.9 million high-
speed Internet customers, and 4.1 million voice customers, Comcast is
principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband
cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment
Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, AZN Television, PBS
KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten regional Comcast SportsNets and Comcast Interactive
Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also
has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include
the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball
team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
SOURCE Comcast Corporation
Charlie Douglas, +1-215-264-8020, press_ces@comcast.com, or Lynsey Grady,
+1-267-257-2812, press_ces@comcast.com, both of Comcast Corporation
