Comcast Extends 'Xfinity' Brand Across ProductsSource tells us rebranding involves 100 Mbps in 20% of markets 10:08AM Thursday Feb 04 2010 by Karl Bodetags: business · cable · ComcastTipped by alfnoid  Comcast recently unveiled their "Xfinity" Internet video service, which the company offers for free to existing TV customers in the hopes they won't cut the cord as more and more content is made available online. While the project is in beta, early impressions have been somewhat mixed, given the limited catalog and some wonky authentication and GUI issues. Hopefully Comcast users liked the Xfinity brand name, because Comcast has announced that while they're keeping the Comcast company name, they're applying the Xfinity brand name across all of the company's "technology platform and products.": XFINITY represents the future of our company and it’s a promise to customers that we’ll keep innovating. When we launch XFINITY in a market, we’ll rebrand our products: XFINITY TV, XFINITY Voice and XFINITY Internet (our company, of course, remains Comcast). This transition is already well underway across the country. Next week, XFINITY will roll out in 11 markets including: Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chicago, Portland, Seattle, Hartford, Augusta, Chattanooga, parts of the Bay Area and San Francisco, with more markets to come later this year. By "roll out," Comcast apparently means local advertising using the brand, since most of the upgrades in these markets (including faster DOCSIS 3.0 speeds) have already been completed. One source familiar with the project tells Broadband Reports that part of the Xfinity push includes making sure every "Xfinity-upgraded" market has 100+ HD stations, 50+ Foreign Stations, and beefed up on demand offerings. But the project also involves getting Comcast's 100 Mbps tier (currently only available in the Minneapolis market) into about 20% of Comcast markets before the end of the year. If you don't like the name, at least be happy that the company didn't use the last decade's most abused marketing meme: "Extreme!" (though it's close).
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canesfan2001
join:2003-02-04
Hialeah, FL | Reminds me... ...of Dunder Mifflin Infinity!
Hopefully this will have equally hilariously disastrous results! | |
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teddystacker
join:2001-12-08
Philadelphia, PA
| Amazing I wonder how much a year they pay the person that came up with this amazing idea?
Names changes never to anything good for an established compamy , as it just causes confusion etc etc , Will be changed back within months , and "the Brain" who thought of it promoted with a huge bonus check.. | |
|  | moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Amazing said by teddystacker :I wonder how much a year they pay the person that came up with this amazing idea? Names changes never to anything good for an established company , as it just causes confusion etc etc , Will be changed back within months , and "the Brain" who thought of it promoted with a huge bonus check.. Nations Bank was known as "The King of Fees" in the banking world so they changed their name to Bank of America. 
Usually, when a brand is so horribly compromised by bad press, it is better to change the name and try to start over.
As an example, remember those Comcast commercials where someone signing in monotone raves about how great the service is and spells out Comcast in the end? That, good or bad, is brand recognition and people remember. Those commercials can't be used anymore.
Also gone is the phrase "Comcastic" which has been bastardized into "Comcraptic."
Reminds me of this Nicholis Cage skit on SNL about baby names.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=els_kUrhqKM | |
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canesfan2001
join:2003-02-04
Hialeah, FL
 ·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast
| Re: Amazing Kind of a strange time to change names, I actually see them building up some positive press lately. Where I live they have gone from the worst, most overpriced, least helpful TV/Phone company around to the most helpful and affordable with the best options as well. The reliability is still lacking, and I wish they would update the DVR boxes, but compared to two years ago, this is much better. | |
| | | | | | MADx
join:2005-05-25
Richmond, IN | I can see Buzz Lightyear Comcast commercials now "“To "Xfinity" and beyond.” Just in time for Toy Story 3 promotions.  | |
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mod_wastrel
join:2008-03-28
 ·magicjack.com
| Re: Amazing Yeah, that's what I thought of when I first heard of it a while back. Still, I have this "extreme" desire to work "Wormhole X-Treme!" into it somehow... how about "Comcast High-Speed Internet Wormhole X-Treme!"? (too long?) | |
| | camaro92
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA | Doesn't matter but it is probably more than me and most people in here make in a year. | |
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teddystacker
join:2001-12-08
Philadelphia, PA
| Re: Amazing A couple of years ago the famous Franklin Institue here in Philly chaged its name to the more trendy/hip "The Franklin" , a total disaster - they ended up changing it back this year.. It does not always work.. But I better shut up before the heavy handed mods here accuse of being "off Topic". | |
| Tcomp
join:2008-07-29
Greenbelt, MD
| Xfinity is more about FiOS and U-verse The move to Xfinity is more about battling well established brands from Comcast competitors like FiOS and U-verss. Telcos have done a better job in branding their product suite. Comcast hopes they can now coalesce their products around Xfinity and take on the FiOS and U-verse brands more effectively.
'»www.telecompetitor.com/comcast-t···xfinity/' | |
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Sabre
Di relung hatiku bernyanyi bidadari
join:2005-05-17
·Comcast
| Re: Xfinity is more about FiOS and U-verse I don't care for the name, but a solid brand name isn't a bad idea.
I recall, back when I worked for them, talking to people who were there for the early days of the @home transition. The only name they had was "Comcast High-Speed Internet", thus abbreviated to CHSI. Not a good brand name to use given the number of people who would pronounce that acronym as "cheesy".
"Would you be interested in our cheesy internet service?"
Not that Ex-Finity is any easier to pronounce (I give it 1 week before half their customer base is calling it X-Infinity).
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With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Save American Soccer - Stop the MLS! | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Heh... Xfinity is the amount we'll be charged for service. | |
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Madmen
@comcast.net | Marketing Geeks Techies understanding/comments of marketing is about as relevant as Ad peoples understanding/comments about technology.
Somehow they both work and sometimes break, but neither really understands the other. | |
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mod_wastrel
join:2008-03-28 | Re: Effective Monday, February 8th... Xtreme Rick has a so much better sound to it, though. | |
| | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: Effective Monday, February 8th... Or RICK TO THE MAX  | |
| | | | | | | | rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ
| rebranding It's nothing to do with Fios or U-Verse. It's got a lot to do with buying NBC and its networks. If a regular guy off the street buys the Xfinity product (triple play service), then they always call it Xfinity, even if everyone knows it's really just Comcast.
Look at Cablevision. Everyone who has their services has "Optimum" Online, TV, and Digital Phone service. You call it Optimum service. You call Optimum when things go sour. You don't call Cablevision (yes, you do, but mentally, you're trained to consider the company that you are calling to get help "Cablevision").
It's the same with Comcast. They're hoping to improve their brand, since now they'll have to be more involved with cable networks than they were previously, and dodge any negative publicity by casting it all off on the Xfinity brand.
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Abortion is murder, Reagan was a hero, Clinton was a sleazeball, Iraq is much better off without Saddam, and the telcos are not trustworthy with American tax dollars. There! I've managed to offend a significant portion of BBR! | |
| | jus10
join:2009-08-04
Sterling, VA
·Comcast
| Re: rebranding Except that Optimum is a word which already has meaning (and in a positive sense). Xfinity isn't a word; has no meaning, and isn't enjoyable in the pronunciation department. Perhaps they could have put some clicks into the word or some silent letters.
Their marketing department should be given the boot. | |
| | | rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ | Re: rebranding Agreed. Though, honestly, asking Comcast to do something right is like expecting it to rain donuts. Which I do. Every morning. | |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Re: rebranding Well, people like you aren't happy unless you're unhappy for some reason or other.
Comcast could be springing roses from their ass and the anti-CC crowd would complain about something. | |
| | | | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: rebranding I'd much rather them slash prices by $15 per month and include modem rental in their monthly internet fee, but whatever floats your boat... | |
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Goober
Premium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL | Re: rebranding How does your response even make any kind of sense? | |
| | | | | | EPS
join:2008-02-13
Hingham, MA | Well, Verizon isn't a word either, but we got used to it. (Admittedly, a bit easier to pronounce though)
I still miss Bell Atlantic though... | |
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DaveDude
No Fear
join:1999-09-01
New Jersey | Optimium is a word. Xfinity isnt I have Optimum, I have ziFinitie. Great Marketing. Lets use words that people can say correctly. | |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
·Comcast
| In Reality, Everyone who has lousy service already has their own brand-name:
ComCrap.
Then there are those who are fanbois: ComTastic!
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~Help Find a Cure for Cancer~
~Proud Member of Team Discovery ~ | |
| | | Weatherman
join:2004-12-04
Bel Air, MD | It would be of interest of it was exempt from the 250G cap! I see all this useless unless amendments are made to their 250GB monthly cap.
That is like saying "Sorry, you watched too much TV this month in your house". We will terminate you if you don't watch less TV. | |
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Xizer
join:2004-02-05
New York, NY
| Have fun with that 100 Mbps, Comcast users... Have fun with that 100 Mbps connection, Comcast users...
Just remember, you'll hit your 250 GB cap in under six hours if you actually use it.
Good luck using your connection for the remaining 30 days 18 hours in that month without exceeding your cap. | |
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keithps
Premium
join:2002-06-26
Soddy Daisy, TN
1 edit | Small market Compared to the rest of the list, Chattanooga seems like a rather small market to deploy their new stuff to. Wonder if it might have anything to do with competition from Uverse, and more importantly from a local FTTH competitor?
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Hang gliding ratings: H2 Novice, Foot Launch, Cliff Launch, Flat Slope Launch, Aerotow | |
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keithps
Premium
join:2002-06-26
Soddy Daisy, TN
| Re: Small market said by NetFixer :said by keithps :Compared to the rest of the list, Chattanooga seems like a rather small market to deploy their new stuff to. Wonder if it might have anything to do with competition from Uverse, and more importantly from a local *FTTH competitor*? Thanks for the scam and spam link  I think (hope) the link you wanted to post was: » epbfi.com/* Hyperlink removed for safety * My apologies. Typo'd and switched 2 of the letters. Fixed now.
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Hang gliding ratings: H2 Novice, Foot Launch, Cliff Launch, Flat Slope Launch, Aerotow | |
| b10010011
Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA | Putting "X" in front of something is so 90's... And getting old like generation X. | |
| | | yhp
join:2006-12-27
Philadelphia, PA
| Re: Clarify something said by sansri88 :It says Philadelphia for one of the markets....which would mean the freedom region (Philly Metro, NJ, SE PA). None of us have 100+ HD channels [...] They must be counting HD versions of premium-channels (HBO, SHO, Starz, etc.), which I'm presuming here actually exist (presuming because I don't get any, myself).
The 11/2009 "World of More" brochure for Center City Philly shows 71 confirmed HD channels, (30 of those new as of 11/09, btw), none of them the HD premiums.
»www.comcastworldofmore.com/Cente···neup.pdf | |
| | | iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO
·Verizon Online DSL
·Comcast
 ·AT&T Wireless Broa..
·Cricket Broadband
·Qwest.net
·magicjack.com
·BeeCreek Communica..
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| My Take Comcast will roll out the Xfinity brand anywhere they have fiber competition. That competition can come from FIOS or some home-grown fiber optic provider (or a regional one like TDS or CinBell if Comcast serves such areas now). U-Verse areas will be put lower on the list though Xfinity might go there to be "not so sucky TV" to compete with AT&T's excellent TelcoTV UI (yay M$). *Hopefully* the Denver metro will also get Xfinity due to Qwest's (very limited) VDSL2 deloyments in the area, but I'm not counting on it.
I'm guessing that the 100M internet tier is indeed real and will have 15 Mbps up, and will be priced where 50/10 is right now for residential users to stave off conversions to competitors. Eventually that tier will get rolled out cross-footprint but it will be used surgically for awhile against FTTH. Sucks for me, but whatever. Heck, 50/10 might go on promo in XFinity areas for $50 per month like I hear it does in certain cases. Pretty cool, though I can't seem to get that deal here.
As for CDV, CDV + HomePoint = XFinity Digital Voice. Throw in a DOCSIS 3.0 eMTA with the HomePoint functionality built in and that's that side of the equation.
For TV, let there be a better box. Oh please let there be a better box. Becuase, from what I hear, cable boxes are crappy. Fingers crossed for TV viewers out there.
One thing that's for certain: Comcast will try to push out lots of HD channels as part of XFinity. I'd expect Xfinity markets to go all-digital except for broadcast basic in order to free the bandwidth needed to push 00+ HD channels over the waveguide.
We'll see what happens. Hopefully the rumors about internet speed increases are true and 16/2 becomes 20/4, with a 100/15 tier being added on the top end (or morphed from 50/10) for whoever wants it. Which would consist of lots of small and medium businesses, plus super power users on the residential side and a college frat house or two, though those on my campus wold be reticent to part with their 50M+ symmetric connection via the campus network, which is now connected via a gigabit to the Interwebz. | |
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fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| yawn... Whatever they name it, it is of not much use to me. I thought it would be kind of cool to be able to watch my "cable tv" when I was traveling, but soon discovered that even though I could log into the system and it recognized me as a customer, I couldn't actually view anything because their servers refused to stream anything to me because I wasn't located in the US. So what's the point?
Another useless service.
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***************
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking | |
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BettyBooBop
@comcast.net | Comcastic....Dream Big....Xfinity No matter how much you dress it up, crap is still crap. | |
| chgocolt
Premium
join:2004-07-10
Chicago, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
·Clearwire Wireless
·magicjack.com
| It's related to the NBC aquisition They are splitting the company to into 2 divisions, content and delivery. They are rebranding the delivery side to soften the impression that their other content customers (Time-Warner, Cablevision, etc.) that they are buying from a competitor. They will likely come up with a new name for the content side too, or operate it all under the NBC brand.
But when it comes down to it, nothing changes other than the prices, and they always go up. I've had service from 4 different cable companies over the years. Every one had common elements. Bad service, rude employees and high prices. I'm done with them and sticking with DirecTV. | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ | Wonky authentication Is that what they call DRM these days?
shit by any other name still stinks! | |
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Re: Xfinity is more about FiOS and U-verse
although price is steep $350 or something liek that a month.
