SBC introduces bundled service offering

SBC Communications today announced SBC Connections, a bundled service package that contains voice, Internet and wireless services on one bill and at the carrier’s “best available” pricing.

The first component to be offered is SBC Total Connections, which combines local and long-distance services with wireless services from Cingular--SBC’s joint venture with BellSouth--and SBC Yahoo Internet service, in either dial-up or DSL mode. The bundle is available where the carrier is able or authorized to provide such services--for example, SBC currently can provide long-distance service only in its Southwestern Bell territory--starting at about $85 per month. SBC estimates that customers will save from $276 to $575 annually when choosing the bundle over purchasing the same services a la carte.

The bundle can be personalized to include features such as voicemail, or to allow customers to choose from multiple wireless and long-distance calling plans. This flexibility is important, said Ray Wilkins, SBC vice president of marketing and sales, in a statement.

“Our research shows bundling is ‘right’ when it’s created by the customer, and that’s at the heart of our new family of bundles,” Wilkins said.

SBC said that independent research indicates that about 60% of American consumers are interested in bundled packages. Currently, 22% of SBC’s customers--about 7 million--subscribe to some sort of package from the carrier.

--Glenn Bischoff, Senior Writer