Cox announced the launch of Pivot wireless service in select Rhode Island markets including Providence. Cox joins Time Warner and Comcast in rolling out the cable industry’s answer to wireless service in select markets across the U.S. Like its Pivot wireless partners, Cox hopes to incorporate video/entertainment features into wireless service and offers content from Fox News, ABC News and the Weather Channel, among others. Pivot wireless users can also access the channel listings of their respective cable service channel line-up.
Pivot wireless launches are slow and steady. Cable MSO executives have stated that they are purposely taking their time, in the hopes of getting wireless right. Meanwhile, traditional wireless carriers are not wasting time in trying to leverage their wireless lead. AT&T seems to be the most aggressive by launching bundling plans tied to wireless services and capitalizing on the iPhone craze. Wireless service may be the wildcard in developing winning bundling strategies. Cable has done quite well with their triple play bundles, but AT&T and Verizon hope to storm back and perhaps leap frog their cable competitors by effectively inserting wireless into their triple play bundles for quad plays. As 4G applications begin to enter the market, expect to see significant innovation and marketing creativity, as wireless may become the next frontier for hyper competition between the cable and telecom industries.
