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• Mar 19, 2007 9:34 pm US/Central
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  Bundling Options: Saving To Talk, Watch, Surf

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Bundling Options: Saving To Talk, Watch, Surf

(WCCO) Deciding to bundle your cable, phone and Internet service may seem like a bit of a gamble. So we compared the basic bundles offered by Comcast and Qwest, the biggest providers of service to the Twin Cities.

Internet
Both Qwest and Comcast offer high speed Internet access, but Comcast offers faster download and upload speeds. That means it will take you less time to send and receive big files, pictures or videos through Comcast's service.

Qwest is hoping to change that (see the cable section below).

Both companies offer lots of freebies. They both offer free virus protection and parental controls.

Comcast gives you free photo sharing, scrapbooking software and a program called Disney Connection which offers free games for your kids.

Qwest offers lots of free services through MSN--including a free photo program.

Cable
Cable is all about having choices and both Comcast and Qwest offer a variety of stations with their cable service packages.

But Qwest gives you more selection. The basic plan includes more than 140 channels including 50 XM satellite radio channels. The catch—you need a dish. Service is offered through DirecTV.

Qwest is trying to get permission to bring in cable lines to directly compete with Comcast. If approved by state legislators, those lines could also increase the Internet speeds.

You get 45 music channels with Comcast's basic plan and 100 channels total.

Phone
You can use your existing home phone for both phone services, but because of Comcast's wiring during a power outage you may be without service. The emergency battery backup will last 8 hours, but in communities where the power is out for an extended period of time the company has been criticized.

Comcast does give you unlimited local and long distance calls. You'll pay five cents a minute for long distance with Qwest.

Both services offer you up to a dozen different calling features like free call waiting.

Cost
Prices for these basic bundles are pretty comparable $99 for Comcast, $98 for Qwest. You don't get a contract with Comcast, which means you can cancel at any time and not be penalized.

In certain areas Qwest is currently offering coupons which knock off about $10 a month on bundle prices. Look for the deals regularly though. In the past two weeks, the area where I live has offered the discount one week and eliminated it the next.

If you sign a two-year contract-- Qwest promises to lock in your Internet rate for a lifetime. But right now that price is only good for two years.

Comcast's prices go up after a year.

Alternatives for People in the Outer Suburbs
Several smaller companies provide phone and even Internet service to places outside the metro. Be sure to check with each individual company. Most will offer discounts if you get two services with them instead of just one. Frontier is one of the few that offers bundled service that includes cable service. The company covers communities in the southern, western and northern metro areas.

Frontier partners with DISH Network to provide the cable portion of this package. That means you'll need a dish in order to get the cable package.

The basic bundle is quite competitive with the bigger service providers. For example, the three way bundle which includes phone, Internet and cable service for Apple Valley costs $105. Included in the package -- unlimited local and long distance calls, the top 100 Dish channels and one bill for the three services. The company also offers customers price protection for the length of your contract, which means your costs won't change during the extent of your contract.

The Latest Bundle Service Provider

Velocity Telephone started offering bundled service in October 2006 to Minneapolis and St. Paul customers. You can see a more detailed coverage area map here. The company offers resale of DISH Network satellite television and Sprint wireless services. Currently you can get telephone, DSL and satellite television bundle with no contract on the telephone and Internet service with an 18 month agreement and free DISH network equipment for as low as $69.98 a month. The company is also currently offering $10 off the first month.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)