Verizon Adds Wireless For 'Quad-Play' Services Bundle

Verizon plans to add wireless phone services to its existing bundle for television, Internet and landline voice services, marking its first "quad-play" bundle for customers.

The packages are available in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets and can save customers between $59 and $179 per year, depending on the bundle, according to Mike Ritter, Verizon chief marketing officer for consumer wireline and business services. The discounts come on top of existing savings for customers who order two or three of Verizon's TV, Internet and home phone services, according to the company.

Verizon also has a package that doesn't include traditional home phone service but has the other three services, according to Ritter. "We recognize that some customers prefer to use Verizon Wireless as their primary voice service while others appreciate the reliable convenience and the peace of mind that comes with a wired home phone as well," Ritter said in a statement.

Verizon also is giving new customers a $150 Visa gift card for signing up for "quad-play" or "triple-play" bundles by Jan. 16, 2010. Existing Verizon customers can also add a missing service to qualify for the new bundle pricing, according to the company.

A basic quad-play FiOS bundle includes a national Verizon Wireless calling plan of 450 minutes, Freedom Essentials voice service, FiOS Internet service with downstream/upstream connection speeds of up to 15/5 Mbps and FiOS TV Essentials service for $135 per month with a one-year agreement.

For customers where Verizon FiOS TV is not yet available, the bundle includes the 450-minute Verizon Wireless plan, Freedom Essentials calling plan, HSI service with downstream connection of up to 3 Mbps and a DirecTV Plus DVR package for $124.99 per month. A one-year Verizon commitment and a two-year DirecTV commitment with hardware lease are required with these bundles. Additional bundles feature different broadband speeds, TV and calling plans.

Carriers and cable companies are vying to bundle more services as the number of home phone subscribers dwindles. Many consumers now use cell phones as their primary voice service. For example, Comcast and Time Warner Cable recently struck partnerships with Clearwire for wireless Internet services, according to Reuters.

"Consumers want the best communication and entertainment," Ritter said in the statement. "These plans let consumers get it all by offering the ultimate voice, entertainment and online experiences at home and on the go."

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