Appetite for "Bundles" Varies

With service providers spending so much attention on creating sticky bundles of services, and with so many suppliers seeking to "move up the value chain" or "add more value" to their existing product lines, it is interesting that businesses of various sizes have apparently distinct appetites for the "one throat to choke" principle that drives buyers to consolidate their buying and use fewer vendors. Very small businesses just don't seem to have the immediately compelling desire to consolidate suppliers. Well over 55 percent of very small businesses don't see the advantage of consolidating their buying of voice, Internet and mobile services.

This seems odd, if the Triple Play is seen as viable for small businesses as well as consumers. In contrast, well over 65 percent of enterprises with 250 to 10,000 or more employees prefer to consolidate their buying. Still, 40 to 50 percent of small businesses with two to 49 employees say they prefer the bundled approach for voice, Internet and mobile services.