Alex, the big issue is not the price of the service, but the quality of what is offered. In the ISP game, you get what you pay for with $10 unlimited access. In practical terms, these services are usually to busy for the average user. Many in the industry struggle to turn a profit at $19.95 per month, let alone $10.
It is more important for CM to create a value service that includes not only access, but reliable, outstanding service. As less tech-savvy consumers increasingly get online, the demand has grown for customer support. Curtis Mathes smaller size with 24hr support, will mean fewer problems for customers connecting to the service and fewer delays in getting and sending e-mail. Even with 4,500 ISPs in the United States there is plenty of room for a new company like CM to expand into this area. If they have a good advertising plan, that in itself will put them ahead of the mom-and-pop providers. An effective ISP program will help Curtis Mathes weather the financial difficulties while trying to get the uniView into the market.
I have gone thru 6-8 providers over the last 2 years. Bigger firms struggle with the imperatives of growth: expensive infrastructure upgrades (and the associated glitches in service) as well as limits in their ability to support a broad base of customers. I am always trying to find the better connection, and would jump at the chance to try out their service. This new ISP service may be what it takes to pay the bills for Curtis Mathes because it already has the technical infrastructure in place to handle the uniView customers. |
