AOL
The future of AOL will likely be in two separate parts, with Time Warner planning to split AOL’s dial-up business from the Web portal. The separation will not come until 2009, leaving AOL still floundering for the present. (8/19/2008)
Apple
Apple is a consumer electronics leader by selling devices people love, including the iPod nano and iPhone 3G as well as becoming the number one music retailer via iTunes. Yet questions remain if it can parlay its successes to dominate video. (10/7/2008)
AT&T
AT&T has expanded U-verse, it continues to grow DSL, but continues to lose primary voice lines. AT&T has increased its focus on consumer mobility, and continues to improve its video and data services. (8/14/2008)
Cablevision
Cablevision continues to enjoy a modest increase of basic video subs and leads all MSOs in ARPU and service penetration rates. But it faces an increasing threat from FiOS, especially with Verizon’s launch of FiOS TV in New York City. (8/6/2008)
Charter
Charter has over a million voice subscribers and increased Q2 2008 ARPU to $104.35 showing a 12% year-over-year jump. But, it continues to lose basic video customers and its debt load hampers the company’s ability to modernize the network quickly. (8/8/2008)
Comcast Cable
Comcast, the nation’s largest MSO continues to show gains in voice and broadband. If it continues on its current path, it will regain its title from AT&T as broadband leader and may overtake Qwest as the third-largest consumer voice provider. (11/17/2008)
Cox Communications
About 30% of Cox customers buy its triple play and 62% of the company’s customers buy at least two Cox bundled services. With project E.O.N., it‘s upgrading its network with SDV and DOCSIS 3.0 to add more HD channels and faster broadband. (8/7/2008)
DIRECTV
DIRECTV offers a wide selection of TV programming with over 265 channels and holds the title of most HD channels. But it’s faced with tough competition from cable promotions and it must rely on telco partners to be part of a triple play bundle. (7/16/2008)
DISH Network
DISH Networks has come upon hard times by losing its triple play bundle partnership with AT&T and showing negative subscriber growth in Q2 2008. Aggressively priced video packages and the option of 114 HD channels will help keep it afloat. (10/30/2008)
EarthLink
EarthLink initiated restructuring and massive layoffs a year ago; now, it has less than 800 employees. It has stopped focusing on newer services such as muni WiFi to work on preserving dial-up customers and acquiring more DSL and cable users. (11/13/2008)
Embarq
Embarq will be officially acquired by CenturyTel in Q2 2009, creating a new telco company covering 33 states and 7.89 million access lines. The merger will have minimal impact in keeping cable companies from continuing to steal customers. (11/11/2008)
Google
Google is trying to go beyond Web search to offer consumers a higher level of entertainment and communications. However, the company is unclear on its long-term strategy, as it risks stretching itself too thin across unfamiliar territory. (5/6/2008)
Microsoft
Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division was cash positive but the Microsoft online services business lost $1.233 billion in FY 2008, reflecting the company’s decision to invest in a multi-billion-dollar “search” opportunity. (8/12/2008)
Netflix
Netflix offers its growing customer base of 8.4 million using its mail order DVD rental service free access to some of its movies and TV shows online. Partnerships with Microsoft, LG and Roku are providing a way to stream that content to the TV. (8/26/2008)
Qwest
Qwest is upgrading broadband in 23 markets but has abandoned its own wireless service, instead adding Verizon Wireless to its bundles. It continues to lose voice lines, and a modest $1 increase in H1 2008 ARPU reflects its decision to avoid IPTV. (10/22/2008)
Time Warner Cable
TWC’s bundle strategy is working: about 51.5% of Q2 2008 customers subscribed to two or more services and 19.2% of its customer bought a triple play. With digital video, HD and DVR subscriber adds, its H1 2008 ARPU is up 8.1% since 2007. (9/9/2008)
TiVo
TiVo has created the Swiss Army knife of DVRs with a host of features beyond recording TV with online services from Amazon and YouTube. However, despite this the majority of new DVR users are using cable and satellite TV providers’ DVRs instead. (7/31/2008)
Verizon
Verizon’s investment in FiOS is paying off; Q3 2008 FiOS TV + FiOS Internet ARPU was over $130. However, it continues to lose primary voice lines, down 9.6% in the first 9 months of 2008. Despite the losses Q3 2008 ARPU grew by an impressive 11%. (11/18/2008)
Vonage
Vonage achieved 75% annual growth in 2006, but this rate slowed to 16% for FY 2007 and to a paltry 1.26% for Q1 2008. Vonage has lost its lead as the largest VoIP provider to Comcast and Time Warner Cable, which can also offer broadband and video. (7/14/2008)
Yahoo!
Yahoo! has been under scrutiny with Microsoft failing to buy it. Its mobile initiatives were in overdrive for the first half of 2008 as the company tried to catch up with its peers with recent initiatives like Go 3.0 and oneSearch 2.0. (8/11/2008)
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