When Comcast SmartZone goes live, Comcast's 12 million broadband subscribers and three million phone subscribers will be able to access the newfangled SmartZone communications center.
May 8, 2007 (Press Release) --
To generate customer loyalty in a cutthroat telecommunications industry, Comcast plans to introduce a new Web-based communications center that integrates its e-mail and voice-messaging services.
Dubbed SmartZone, the online portal will offer Comcast customers free access to several communications tools in one central location. Beyond the staples of e-mail and voicemail, the service will offer an online dashboard as a jumping-off point to launch instant messages and manage a new "smart" address book.
Comcast isn't pulling off SmartZone alone, though. The cable operator is partnering with high-tech firms to design and create the communications application that will roll out later this year. HP is managing and hosting the integrated data, voice, and video services center, for example, while Plaxo is offering the address book integration.
Comcast's 12 million high-speed Internet subscribers and three million digital phone subscribers will be able to access the newfangled communications center at no additional charge. Analysts are calling SmartZone another play to reduce churn in a competitive landscape that has seen prices for bundles of television, phone, and high-speed Internet access decline.
When SmartZone rolls out later this year, customers will be able to access the Web 2.0 features powered by unified messaging and collaboration software provider Zimbra. Visual voicemail will let customers listen to their voicemails online and forward messages via e-mail to anyone. Customers also will be able to view, save, and print their call history just as they can with e-mail. Additionally, customers will be able to manage calling features such as call forwarding, do not disturb, and voicemail playback options.
The alliance with Plaxo will let customers merge their contacts into a single address book that will synchronize with and be accessible from a wide range of tools, services, and Web-enabled devices. There also will be options to send video messages, plus options for customizing feeds for news, weather, and video clips.
Rounding out its collaborative communications portal effort, Comcast tapped Biznaga's e-mail anti-abuse system, Cloudmark's e-mail antispam and antiphishing tools, and Trend Micro's antivirus software to add security and safety features.
Because prices can only drop so low and still allow companies to make a profit, innovation might be the long-term competitive differentiator. SmartZone is a value-added service that is designed to compel customers to stay with or subscribe to Comcast's services, said Paul Erickson, market analyst with IMS Research's Digital Consumer & Broadband Division, whose clients include Intel, Motorola, and Sony .
SmartZone is not necessarily a stronger argument to buy Comcast's service versus a competitively priced package from another provider.
Author: Jennifer LeClaire
Source: http://www.newsfactor.com/
Dubbed SmartZone, the online portal will offer Comcast customers free access to several communications tools in one central location. Beyond the staples of e-mail and voicemail, the service will offer an online dashboard as a jumping-off point to launch instant messages and manage a new "smart" address book.
Comcast isn't pulling off SmartZone alone, though. The cable operator is partnering with high-tech firms to design and create the communications application that will roll out later this year. HP is managing and hosting the integrated data, voice, and video services center, for example, while Plaxo is offering the address book integration.
Comcast's 12 million high-speed Internet subscribers and three million digital phone subscribers will be able to access the newfangled communications center at no additional charge. Analysts are calling SmartZone another play to reduce churn in a competitive landscape that has seen prices for bundles of television, phone, and high-speed Internet access decline.
When SmartZone rolls out later this year, customers will be able to access the Web 2.0 features powered by unified messaging and collaboration software provider Zimbra. Visual voicemail will let customers listen to their voicemails online and forward messages via e-mail to anyone. Customers also will be able to view, save, and print their call history just as they can with e-mail. Additionally, customers will be able to manage calling features such as call forwarding, do not disturb, and voicemail playback options.
The alliance with Plaxo will let customers merge their contacts into a single address book that will synchronize with and be accessible from a wide range of tools, services, and Web-enabled devices. There also will be options to send video messages, plus options for customizing feeds for news, weather, and video clips.
Rounding out its collaborative communications portal effort, Comcast tapped Biznaga's e-mail anti-abuse system, Cloudmark's e-mail antispam and antiphishing tools, and Trend Micro's antivirus software to add security and safety features.
Because prices can only drop so low and still allow companies to make a profit, innovation might be the long-term competitive differentiator. SmartZone is a value-added service that is designed to compel customers to stay with or subscribe to Comcast's services, said Paul Erickson, market analyst with IMS Research's Digital Consumer & Broadband Division, whose clients include Intel, Motorola, and Sony .
SmartZone is not necessarily a stronger argument to buy Comcast's service versus a competitively priced package from another provider.
Author: Jennifer LeClaire
Source: http://www.newsfactor.com/
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