Verizon drops DSL in FiOS areas, hints prepaid smartphone
updated 09:25 am EDT, Thu April 19, 2012
Verizon sheds legacy wired tech as FiOS ramps up
Verizon during a call discussing its winter 2012 results made clear that it was shedding large parts of its legacy business in wired technology. It would stop adding DSL subscribers in those areas where FiOS was active, steering everyone towards the fiber service that's now 63 percent of Verizon's home landline revenue. It was implied that existing DSL users would get support until they left Verizon or upgraded to FiOS.
There was also a new speedup planned for FiOS to adapt to the market, Verizon said. Details weren't given other than that it would appear by the end of the year.
Along with the shift away from DSL, Verizon was likewise cutting legacy businesses that it didn't believe were making sense regarding goals. Both payhones and calling cards were going away, Verizon said. Exact timelines weren't given for the exits, but they reflected the near-total ubiquity of cellphones and factors like Internet calling that reduced the need for long distance calls.
As a final teaser, Verizon hinted that a prepaid smartphone was coming in the near future. Little was mentioned outside its expected low cost.
