Verizon doubles speed of its residential DSL services

Verizon is doubling the top speed of its residential DSL services to 3M bit/sec downloads, a response no doubt to the faster speeds offered by cable TV operators through their cable modem services.

Verizon is doubling the top speed of its residential DSL services to 3M bit/sec downloads, a response no doubt to the faster speeds offered by cable TV operators through their cable modem services.

The upgrade for consumers costs $40 per month, up from $30 per month, and the company will continue to offer the slower speed service.

Verizon is also offering a 3M bit/sec service for businesses that will cost $90 per month for service with a dynamic IP address or $130 for a static IP address, which is key if you want to run a Web server or e-mail server. The service comes bundled with other features such as e-mail, dial-up Internet access and tech support.

Verizon’s 1.5M bit/sec business service costs $80.

The big change here is for consumers because the new service offers speeds they couldn’t get before without paying for a business-grade service. Businesses already had several higher speed options ranging up to 7.1M bit/sec downloads for $205 per month for a service with dynamic IP addresses.

A big boon for business customers, particularly small ones, would be delivery of IP voice services over the same broadband connection. Multiple phone lines and a managed VoIP software package that provided PBX features, automated call attendant and voice mail for small businesses would help out a lot of small companies. Many businesses can’t afford technical staff to support these services on their own and if they want Internet access and multiple line phones they have to buy multiple lines.

Verizon has hinted that next year it might offer a business-grade VoIP service over a network that ensures QoS for top-grade voice that businesses demand. This is a good idea that should materialize sooner rather than later and should also include the ancillary PBX and voice mail services that small businesses in particular need.