Comcast 'HomePoint' Debuts in Florida

The Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) "Hub" is pushing up daisies, but Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s take on an enhanced, IP-fed communications center that ties in the MSO's VoIP service with access to email, voice mail, and some light Web apps, is alive and well… and has quietly made its debut in one market.

That product, which has been previously referred to as the "enhanced cordless phone," also has a new brand name to go with it: HomePoint. DSL Reports was first to catch wind of the new moniker, but Comcast has recently disclosed some details on the Web for all to see.

Comcast spokesman Charlie Douglas confirms that HomePoint will indeed be the brand, and that the MSO has already introduced it in Fort Myers, Fla., with additional rollouts expected "soon."

"We haven’t made an official national announcement at this time," he told us via email.

However, sources familar with the rollout plan have identified Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, and perhaps Denver, among other markets that are already in line to launch HomePoint.

The initial product is based on Thomson (NYSE: TMS; Euronext Paris: 18453)'s Advanced Cable Gateway (ACG), a Docsis 2.0/PacketCable 1.5-powered voice modem (embedded multimedia terminal adapter, or eMTA) that also provides an IP-based digital interface to DECT-based wireless handsets. According to the product specs, the ACG also supports 802.11 a/g, two Ethernet ports, and one RJ-11 phone line. (Comcast is expected to use similar products from other suppliers as well).

In addition to feeding in some weather, sports, and news data directly to the hansets, the system will also handle Comcast's "SmartZone," a centralized system that gives subs access to their email, voice mail, an instant messaging app, and an integrated address book. Comcast has also spec'd out a new home handset that would include a full keypad. (See Comcast Gets the (Unified) Message .)

The HomePoint FAQ notes that handsets (up to five total, including the first one) will sell for $39.99 each. Comcast isn't charging shipping fees for the first order, but will charge $5.95 in shipping for each order thereafter.

DSL Reports says Comcast will lease the HomePoint service hardware (the ACG) for $5 per month, $2 more than what it's charging for a regular eMTA. That jibes with the numbers Comcast SVP of voice services Cathy Avgiris suggested to Cable Digital News at The Cable Show back in April, though she indicated that the $5 fee would apply to customers who take the MSO's triple-play services bundle. Whatever the case, HomePoint will sell for much less than the $199.99 (plus $34.99 subscription fee) Verizon had originally set for the failed, though more feature-rich, Hub product. (See Comcast Enhancing the Home Phone and Verizon's Home Hub-Bub (But No Femto).)

The FAQ, meanwhile, also indicates that HomePoint customers may have to pay an installation charge (if a tech needs to set up HomePoint) and may be subject to a service activation fee. Comcast said HomePoint is generally made to work with fax machines, but warns that some brands and models are incompatible with Comcast Digital Voice service.

Although Comcast will likely use HomePoint to lure in new subs, it has indicated that it views the new offer as a handy retention tool. The product is coming along as VoIP subscription growth continues to slow at Comcast and at other MSOs. In the second quarter, Comcast signed on 233,000 new digital voice customers, versus 555,000 new adds in the year-ago quarter. (See Comcast Profits Grow, Sub Adds Slow .)

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News