SubscribeTime Warner Cable’s Business Class division has introduced new high-speed broadband packages designed for at-home teleworkers and telecommuters. But unless you need the advanced security, prioritized repair, and assurances that your Business Class online traffic will take precedence over residential traffic on Time Warner’s broadband network, you may be better off with residential service.
Four Teleworkers Solutions broadband bundles are now available in New York, New England and the Carolinas:
There is a setup fee for $75-150, a $23 fee for a static IP (free with Basic Plus or Premium Plus service), and rates are guaranteed for 1-3 years depending on the final contract. Businesses with 20+ telecommuter accounts will receive a volume discount.
In contrast, the best available residential promotional price for broadband-only 50/5Mbps service in the northeast outside of New York City is $78.94 a month, which includes the modem rental fee, does not include a Wi-Fi router, and is good for 12 months before the prices increases.
Though these prices are (of course) more expensive than residential service, they are miles cheaper than what TWC charges for Business Class cable…and, post-promo, there’s very little difference between residential and Teleworker Basic rates. As much as I hate to say this, these plans are likely an interim step toward capping residential connections. Similar to Comcast, there isn’t much price difference between residential (capped on Comcast) and lower-end business class (or Teleworker for TWC) service, so there’s a definite upsell path if you run up against a cap when on residential. And, to be honest, the rates could be a… Read more »
Offering “more dependable” and “prioritized” service over the same infrastructure the rest of us peasants use, just means they’re selling an illusion of confidence. This might be an illusion which a few more employers will buy into, and approve teleworking for their employees. But if customers continue to use their residential service for business purposes, however shall TW encourage uptake of this option? They now have incentive to start trolling their network for evidence of telework so they can issue stern TOS warnings. They could disrupt unauthorized teleworker’s vital VPN SSH and VOIP sessions. They’d limit your “residential” service choices… Read more »