By PETER SVENSSON 06.13.08, 12:01 PM ET
NEW YORK -
For the first time, Verizon Communications Inc. is set to give discounts to wireless customers who don't have landlines but order Internet or TV service from the phone company.
In response to households dropping traditional service in favor of cell phones, Verizon will introduce a Flex Double Play bundle starting some time next week, giving discounts ranging from $8 to $12 a month for those who combine a Verizon Wireless plan with broadband or FiOS TV.
Surveys point to about one in seven U.S. households now lacking landlines.
"We remain very bullish on the traditional copper-based phone service, but we also recognize that there's a growing segment of society that wants to have wireless as its principal home service," said Verizon spokesman Bill Kula.
The discount applies to DSL service with downloads at 3 megabits per second, and to FiOS, or fiber-optic, broadband at up to 20 megabits per second. The fastest DSL plan, at 7 mbps, and the fastest FiOS, at 50 mbps, are not eligible for the bundle.
Adding FiOS TV, Verizon's cable-TV service, on top of wireless and broadband yields another $8 a month in savings. The discount does not apply to the satellite TV service Verizon markets from DirecTV.
AT&T Inc. last year started giving discounts of $4 to $5 a month to people who lack landlines but sign up for wireless and mid-tier DSL service, according to spokesman Michael Coe.
Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of New York-based Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain.
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