MISSISSAUGA – When it comes to bundled service packages combining Internet, home phone, mobile and cable services, 68 per cent of Canadians believe they benefit the service provider more than the consumer, according to a national survey commissioned by Internet phone company Vonage Canada.
The survey, conducted by Decima Research, indicated that 66% of Canadians believe they have to pay for more services than they want or need just to receive a package discount.
When asked what Canadians disliked most about bundled telecommunications packages, nearly one in four Canadians said bundles don’t meet their needs, while the same amount dislike long-term contracts. As well, of those surveyed, half said they would consider de-bundling their home phone service from their current communication provider to benefit more from lower prices and more features.
The survey was carried out Sept. 28-Oct. 3 as part of a Decima Televox National Telephone Omnibus survey of 1,026 randomly selected Canadian adults. With a sample size of 1,000, the survey data is accurate within a range of 3.1%, 19 times out of 20.
“Customers are breaking through the marketing hype and starting to see the truth behind the bundle: no real savings and no real choice,” said Bill Rainey, president of Vonage Canada in a press release. “To save on one service, you often have to purchase another and another, while committing to a long-term contract, ultimately driving up the total price – what kind of savings is that? At Vonage, phone service is our core business, it’s not just an add-on service.”
Among the survey’s other findings, 67 per cent of Manitoban and Saskatchewan residents currently subscribe to two or more services (Internet phone, phone, mobile, cable) from one service provider, 71 per cent of Ontarians believe bundles benefit service providers more than consumers, and 70 per cent of Albertans feel forced into paying for services they don’t need in order get a discount on cable, Internet, mobile or home phone service.
