What controversy? Verizon, Time Warner begin cross-selling services

Verizon’s joint marketing pact with the cable providers may be facing some serious scrutiny, but Verizon and its partners don’t seem to have noticed. On April 12, Time Warner Cable blithely announced they would launch bundled mobile and cable services together in five markets.

The move is the first Verizon Wireless has made with Time Warner to sell each other’s respective wireless and wire line wares, but Verizon and Comcast have already forged ahead on the west coast, working together in Portland (OR); Seattle and Spokane (WA); and San Francisco (CA). In the Bay Area, Verizon and Comcast struck right in the heart of AT&T’s U-Verse territory, demonstrating just how powerful their tag team arrangement can be. Time Warner and Verizon Wireless are kicking off their partnership in Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo (OH); Kansas City (KS); and Raleigh (NC), but plan to expand to other Time Warner markets in coming months. As in the Comcast arrangement, customers will be able to purchase a bundle of Time Warner cable TV, broadband and home phone and Verizon mobile services. They’re also sweetening the deal with a $200 prepaid debit card.