October 22, 2001 - October 26, 2001
News - October 26,2001
V21 & Free24-7 ISPs Still Offline
By:mark.j @ 3:48:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Customers of the UKs cheapest and V21 backed unmetered dialup ISP, Free24-7 (£7.99 PM), are beginning to loose patience with the service after yet another spate of downtime continues.
It's apparently the second time in a period of one week that the service has been off the air for nearly a whole day. Interestingly the ISPs service status page claims 'There are no problems with the service.', while V21's status page says:
26/10/01 0800 Due to emergency work on our radius server, our service will be out of service for the next 2 hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.
As you'd expect both ISPs appear to be getting hit with the same issue, a problem that has enraged subscribers, not least because 2 hours has LONG since passed. This is being perceived badly because of V21’s recent attempts to woo Ex-Nutshell customer onto their ISP.
Today IS NOT a good day for ISPs.
Update: V21 & Free24-7 now back online. |
Nutshells Official Service Statement
By:mark.j @ 3:35:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We've yet to see a formal E-Mail version of this, although Nutshell's website has finally issued the following statement regarding the status of their unmetered service and C&W dispute (suppliers):
Nutshell Official Statement
Nutshell is currently in a dispute with Cable and Wireless over modem allocation. Nevertheless, Cable & Wireless has chosen to suspend, and now terminate Nutshell’s service.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the Internet agreement, anyone who purchased an account within the 7 days prior to October 19th is entitled to a full refund.
Nutshell is seeking full compensation from Cable & Wireless for all customers, but is unable to refund at this time. Due to the nature of this dispute, no further details can be given.
All customers who believe they are entitled to receive a refund once settlement is reached please submit an e-mail requesting to be added to the list for refunds through cancel@nutshell.net.
In other words the service is now officially Terminated and no longer just suspended, this is because the statement makes no mention of their future intentions. Typically those able to get a refund should start seeking one now as they don't appear to be coming back online.
Please note that the HELP page has now removed the statement, although some people are saying it's a bug with the site, sometimes you see it - others you don't. The statement itself seems to be very bland and cold, not even an apology to the thousands left without a service! |
Gateway Problems Hit R/ADSL ISPs
By:mark.j @ 3:22:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide has a lengthy news item concerning the new 'Gateway' problem that seems to be making itself known with many R/ADSL broadband ISP.
A number of ISP's including in no great order, Freeserve, Demon, Zen, BTopenworld, Nildram and iomart have users all reporting problems with the first hop, i.e. the first TCP/IP interface seen beyond the ADSL modem. The situation shows up in different ways: for gamers, it's high latency (100ms-200ms) and levels of packet loss that in the worst situations make UDP gaming less fun than it should be; for general use the packet loss and latency appears to be impacting on download speeds as well.
The problem is believed to be down to the level of CPU load on the routers, i.e. unable to cope with the loading and this in some cases is before the ISP's have reached the 1600 user design limit. The situation is complicated by the fact that the router will manage to route some users successfully for periods of time and then give poor performance for a while, hence why two users on the same gateway can see differing performance levels to the same location.
It's quite a long report and as yet there's no comment from ISPs and thus no action plan for a solution. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.. |
Oftel Backs Wires-Only Broadband
By:mark.j @ 10:34:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Ever since BTWholesale announced the R/ADSL price cuts based on Wires-Only / Self-Install methods two weeks ago, we've heard a few industry comments and yesterday one from BT, now comes Oftels turn.
Despite their two week old investigation into BTs special three month installation cost reduction of R/ADSL (to the end of the year), the regulator has managed to welcome BTs latest initiative:
The watchdog told ZDNet News that it was pleased that BT was close to launching the device, which will get users install their own high-speed Internet service without requiring a visit from a BT engineer. BT is promising a cut in the wholesale price of ADSL of £5 per month, and a £100 reduction in the standard broadband installation fee of £150.
"We're fully in favour of this product, if it succeeds in bringing down the price of broadband," said an Oftel spokeswoman. "It should be good news for everyone in the industry," she added.
Home trials of the device will begin on 3 December, and BT is hoping to begin commercial sales in January 2002. It consists of a small device that will fit directly into a phone socket to split the ADSL connection from the telephone, and a broadband modem -- which will link to a PC via its USB port.
Ultimately this should technically mean that a service such as that offered by BTOpenworld (USB Home) for £39.99 per month (PM) could go to £34.99 PM instead. In the long run the change would also save people money, although whether it'll improve the current rollout is open to debate. More @ ZDNet. |
Plus.Net Introduce Website Wizard
By:mark.j @ 10:22:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Popular unmetered and broadband ISP, Plus.Net, has today sent us their latest press release regarding 'Website Wizard'. Apparently it's a new groundbreaking website design and publishing tool that requires absolutely no technical knowledge to use:
PlusNet launch groundbreaking website publishing and design tool
PlusNet makes website design simple with easy-to-use Website Wizard
(25th October 2001, Sheffield UK) PlusNet, the popular UK Internet Service Provider, today launched 'Website Wizard', an exclusive online Website design application that removes the technical knowledge barrier from online publishing. Perfect for Internet newcomers or those intimidated by the jargon associated with web page design, Website Wizard promises to make web pages easy.
Website Wizard has been specifically designed to de-mystify the process of making a website and getting it on the Internet. Its clear, point-and-click interface guides you through the creative process of designing your own web pages. Your designs are automatically published, fully-working, to the free web space allocated to every PlusNet customer - totally removing the need
for any specialist knowledge of 'uploading', or FTP as it is known.
"Website Wizard is special because it is such a powerful web publishing tool, but it couldn't be simpler to use" said Matt Grest, Products and Services Development Manager for PlusNet. "We've made it so easy because we want everyone to be able to use it. That's why it's available to all our customers, whatever account they're on."
In the past, creating a website needed either detailed knowledge of the HTML programming language, or perhaps paying out for specialist programs which can cost hundreds of pounds. "Website Wizard is such a breakthrough because if you can use a computer and the Internet, you can now make a website too." continued Mr Grest, "We're especially proud of it because it was developed
by our own, in-house Development department."
Website Wizard complements the range of tools already available at the PlusNet portal. All PlusNet Connect unmetered and ADSL Broadband accounts already come with support for hosting tools, such as CGI and PHP, for advanced users. Now even complete newcomers can create their own website through the PlusNet portal. With Website Wizard, PlusNet can perhaps boast the most comprehensive signup package of any UK ISP.
http://www.plus.net |
Government Spouts e-Democracy
By:mark.j @ 10:17:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Wouldn't it be nice to have a say in the way the country works outside of a single vote? If you answered 'Yes' to that question then read on because the government is asking IT communities to come up with new ways of encouraging online democracy:
In a major announcement today e-commerce minister, Douglas Alexander, said he wanted technology to empower people to give them a voice other than the few seconds they have in the voting booth once every four or five years.
In a move that surely signals the coming of age of Mr Alexander and his Government team he warned that it would not be an easy task.
But he recognised that technology could be used to strengthen the democratic process in a way that could benefit the interests of the whole nation.
Much as you'd expect from a government minister, there's a whole lot of hype and very little physical substance, although hopefully that will come as time slowly passes. Hopefully it won’t spout the wrong kind of democracy, such as official state support for pets (cats, dogs etc.) married with children. More @ The Register. |
Do-Do Launch & Resolve Singleton Issue
By:mark.j @ 10:11:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] *Update*
The e-mails that are being sent out offering the £30 service appear to have the wrong names on. The database they have isn't exactly correct...
Most will be aware that we had been investigating the issues surrounding how Ex-BigBlueSky director, David Singleton, had managed to get his E-Mail set as the forwarding for official Do-Do contacts. Thankfully the owners of Do-DoISP, BloomlyUK, have finally done what we've been asking for and issued a clear statement:
My statement to you is that Mr Singleton is nothing to do with DO-DO ISP
The following explanation was also sent showing how his E-Mail became mixed into the process:
We were also given the email list and asked to send a mass mail to inform the customer base of the creation of this new ISP. Mr Singleton’s name came into it at this point. The database, which we purchased from him, was:
a) Sent from his email account
b) Had his name written within it (we received it in Access format)
Without having any communications to the contrary we, myself included, assumed we were building a site for him. Accordingly the ‘Contact’ was set to his email address, as was all Web forwarding in our catchall account for do-doisp.com. It wasn’t until your article appeared that I realized a problem existed.
Hopefully that should be enough for those of you still begging us to know more, they've issued a categorical statement and an explanation. On a lighter note and Ex-BigBlueSky customers will have also started to see the ISPs official launch E-Mail, as follows:
Limited offer: 3 months flat rate access to do-do for £30 only.
Register with us today and save £15.off the regular subscription price of £14.99. With more and more ISPs going down isnt it time to change!!!
Here's what you get for £30.00:
1) 7 E-mail Addresses
2) 10Mb Free Web Space
3) NO Call charges for 24/7 Internet access.
4) Quick connection
5) 3 Months total connection.
This is a limited offer and only available for a short time. So come to do-do isp today and experience Internet the way it should be.
To register for this limited offer go to: http://www.do-doisp.com
For technical help at any point during or after you sign up, please call our technical support line on: 08700 40 60 80 (open 8am-10pm 7 days a week). |
Gov Delay ISP Snooping Regulation
By:mark.j @ 9:55:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] No doubt somewhat related to recent surveys showing problems with the cost burden faced by ISPs for adding the new cyber-terrorism snooping systems, the government has opted to delay its introduction. The proposals will now be opened up to consultation with the industry:
The government earlier this month proposed that ISPs retain details of its employees email and online activities for 12 months, after it emerged that much of the planning for the 11 September attacks were carried out electronically.
However, the Home Office and the DTI this week said that the government was prepared to discuss the costs concerns over implementing any anti-terrorism safeguards with the ISP industry.
The government added that the monitoring proposals will also be implemented on a voluntary code of practice.
Typically those in the ISP industry might find it a worth while thing to contact the DTI or Home Office and join in the discussions. More @ Silicon. |
Fibernets Unbundled Broadband - Update
By:mark.j @ 9:51:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In a follow up to an item posted earlier in the week, Fibernet has now announced the official launch of its unbundled broadband services along with some further details:
Initially, unbundled wholesale services will be available in Bristol, Warrington and Leeds with a further 27 exchanges being deployed between now and the beginning of next year.
Fibernet has also highlighted a further 191 exchanges up and down the country which it will roll-out depending on demand.
The 2Mbit/second symmetric DSL broadband Internet service - geared towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with between 10 and 250 employees - is said to be highly competitive. According to Fibernet it costs less than a 64Kbps leased line from BT.
No doubt there will be a fair few operators and ISPs keeping an eye on Fibernets progress for all the obvious reasons, pity there's no residential broadband =(. More @ The Register. |
News - October 25,2001
CloudNine Suspend 29 Customers
By:mark.j @ 5:10:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The latest unmetered dialup ISP to enforce usage guidelines is CloudNine, whom unlike some other ISPs, actually told us about the suspension of customer accounts before the users themselves. Full press release follows:
Cloud Nine have regretably had to take enforcement action with regard to 29 EconomySurf customers under the terms of our Acceptable Use Policy sections 6.2, 6.3 and 6.6. All these users usage patterns indicated a usage ratio of 3:1 or less, far and above what we would expect for a 10:1 contention package and a small number exceeded 16 hours a day, a level that is generally being considered as "permanently connected"!!
These users unmetered accounts have been suspended but their 0845 account and email (and where applicable, web services) will continue for the next 5 days until they contact us about their accounts. We have attempted to contact these users by telephone, email prior to suspension and have also sent notices via regular mail. Interestingly a number of customers with currently active connections could not be contacted on their supplied phone number, possibly indicating unattended operation!
Because Cloud Nine offer a range of packages from unlimited access (1:1 non-contention) to 10:1 contention, as well as ADSL, all users have been offered an appropriate upgrade path that they can exercise if they choose. Unlike many other providers we are able to cater for all usage patterns but we must do so at a price that ensures we can economically provide their service. Early indications are that several of these users are upgrading to more appropriate packages.
It is always regretable to lose any customers but we strive to provide the very best in ISP provision and to effectively service those customers that use their product on the basis that is outlined in our acceptable use policy. This is the only way we can ensure the excellent performance customers expect from our service.
Typically 29 customers isn't really anything BIG and sadly there was no mention of exactly which EconomySurf packages were involved, so it’s difficult to form an opinion; C9 has five such packages. |
V21 Launch Information Portal
By:mark.j @ 3:47:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Ever keen to stay in the news, the 'child-friendly' unmetered dialup ISP, V21, has today launched its information portal. What's an information portal we hear you ask? Well..:
Users can now find virtually everything they could need on the net in one place.
Steve Kaye of V21 said 'We have now successfully launched our new information portal and are very pleased with its content. We now have everything from News, Shopping, Music, Games, Finance and People and Business Finder services.'
'Our service is growing at such a rate that our valued subscribers were asking for more interactive content to be added. The content has been long awaited but we think that the users will enjoy every minute of it.' |
Broadband Beyond The PC
By:mark.j @ 3:43:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Kunitake Ando, Sony Corp's president, has been speaking to Reuters from his Tokyo office about the future of broadband technologies and he had some very interesting things to say.
He believes that America's obsession with the personal computer has blinded it to the emergence of many non-PC alternatives, Kunitake Ando, Sony Corp's president and chief operating officer, said in an interview.
"We feel not just the PC, but the non-PCs like the digital (audio video), the PlayStations (and the mobile products) may come centre-stage," the Sony executive said.
"Some people are allergic to the use of PCs." the blunt-speaking Ando told Reuters. The No. 2 man at the world's largest maker of audio-visual electronics sees Internet-connected handheld audio and video devices, mobile phones and televisions as increasingly leading the move to the fast Internet era.
Of course it's fair to say that this comes from a land that's technologically ahead of Europe. Clearly broadband as a whole will indeed expand, but how about we get those R/ADSL and Cable Modem lines installed first? |
BT LLU Bidder Found Dead
By:mark.j @ 3:34:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] One of the leaders behind Earthlease's bid for 'part' of BTs Local Loop (£8Billion) has been found dead in his Long Island home:
According to police reports Ammon died as a result of injuries received from being struck with a blunt object - no motive has been given for the fatal attack.
It’s not a joke and we'd hope it's not taken as such; the Silicon story is actually quite shocking. Hopefully Earthlease won't be forced to abandon their attempts to gain a piece of BTs loop. |
New Article @ ISP Review
By:mark.j @ 1:03:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Today we took a brief moment out from real-life work and enhancing the upgraded forums to pop in a new article. Our latest feature 'The Unmetered Chaos' looks at the growing change of opinion toward unmetered ISPs:
Quote:
Over the last month (October 2001) alone, more so than any month before, these providers and others like them have physically started to erode trust in the industry itself. People have become sick and tired of hearing that 'services will be fine and back up again soon', only to find the ISP closing its doors a day or two later.
We hope you enjoy it; we'll also have another one soon that goes into the details of forthcoming market saturation.
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/articles/chaos
PS “Most people didn’t notice it, but we recently slid past 5,000,000 unique visitors =).” |
Corporate Customers Unhappy With ISPs
By:mark.j @ 10:15:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Following on from their recent survey of Telco's, the Communications Managers Association (CMA) has now conducted a similar one for the quality of service from the UK's largest ISPs.
Apparently the survey concluded that 'corporate' customers are especially unhappy with the quality they receive, or lack of:
Analysis of a survey of the 592 member organisations of the CMA, carried out by research group Total Romtec, indicated that satisfaction with services had declined since last year. The service providers with the most satisfied customers were UUNet and Demon Internet.
"The message from Internet services customers is that the providers must try harder," commented Mark Smith, director general of the CMA. "With tough economic times ahead, customers have put quality of service at the head of their priorities, above even price, and the providers must respond," he advised.
Despite UUNet's relatively high satisfaction score, the company fell behind BT as the leading provider in terms of numbers of subscribers. Ironically, the level of customer satisfaction awarded to BT was its lowest recorded by the CMA since 1996.
Not a good result for BT then =), more @ ZDNet. |
Oftel Sell-Off Unused Radio Spectrum
By:mark.j @ 10:03:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Oftel is set to start selling off unused parts of the radio spectrum in order to help deliver broadband data/Internet services:
Speaking at an Institute of Public Policy research seminar, Oftel director general David Edmonds said, "An important component of increased network competition is ready access to radio spectrum. Freeing up access to radio spectrum has the potential to allow both greater usage of existing infrastructure, and expansion and development of other networks and delivery systems."
Edmonds said organisations that own more spectrum than they need or use should be able to sell surplus capacity to the highest bidder. "Spectrum used flexibly and rapidly by carriers, broadcasters, and service providers to meet ever-changing consumer demands is the key enabler of convergence of services," he said.
Edmonds stressed the importance of striking the right balance in regulation ahead of Ofcom's proposed launch by the end of 2003.
Whether the sale of such spare radio spectrum capacity would actually improve anything is subject to speculation, the government has yet sell all its broadband wireless licenses. |
BTs Self-Installable R/ADSL Clarification
By:mark.j @ 9:56:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We've already reported on the early list of prices for BTs DIY Self-Install / Wires-Only broadband packages, where the customer buys the modem/Ethernet adaptor and installs the rest, BT just add the line.
Today the troubled Telco has also made a comment on the forthcoming changes, although it's nothing we haven't seen before, it’s worth posting just to help clarify the ‘future’ (early 2002) changes:
Provisionally, BT reckons the wholesale installation cost (the bit at the exchange end) would fall from the current £150 to just £50.
The monthly wholesale cost for the single user service would also fall from £30 to £25 since the current fee includes the rental of a modem.
Said Bruce Stanford, BT's director of broadband: "By cutting out the need to send an engineer round to each customer's premises, we remove a large part of the installation process and so cut our costs. We will pass these savings on to our wholesale customers giving them scope to reduce their prices to the end customer," he said
More @ The Register. |
Lattice Enters Broadband Race
By:mark.j @ 9:34:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The owners of utilities firm Transco, Lattice, have become the latest operator to join the broadband race:
The company's wholly-owned telecoms division, named 186k after the speed of light, yesterday unveiled its national fibre optic network. The majority of the 2000km network is laid alongside the company's gas network.
According to the Financial Times the company remains confident that it can survive in a broadband market that has already seen many companies go to the wall. The paper quotes Lawrie Haynes, CEO of 186k, saying he believes broadband will "take off" in the UK and he appears undeterred by competitors cutting back on broadband ventures.
Sadly the VNUNet item makes no mention of exactly what products the company hopes to offer and how much they'll cost or who they'll be available to. That's life. |
News - October 24,2001
Freedom2Surf Finish Linux xDSL Upgrade
By:mark.j @ 4:05:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Customers of Freedom2Surf's broadband R/ADSL services should apparently be happy as the ISP has become one of the first ISPs in the UK to upgrade its network to a completely Linux-based system. Full press release follows:
Freedom2Surf Completes Linux Upgrade of its Broadband Network Infrastructure
New ADSL network to provide enhanced delivery of streaming media
24 October 2001, London - Freedom2Surf, (www.freedom2surf.net) has today announced that it has become one of the first ISPs in the UK to upgrade its ADSL network to a completely Linux-based system. The new network has been designed to improve ADSL speed and quality, especially when it comes to the transfer of multimedia content, such as audio and video streaming and real-time applications.
Freedom2Surf has replaced its standard Cisco routers with a new system that intelligently routes packet data from high-speed broadband flows, using a customised Linux-based infrastructure. Freedom2Surf's own testing indicates that this has increased data flow by over 10%. In terms of the end user experience, this has significantly reduced the irritating stop-start phenomena with streamed content, which is often the case with ordinary packet-based routing. The upgrade also offers greatly increased response rates when used by real time applications, in activities like online trading and gaming.
Chris Panayis, Managing Director of Freedom2Surf commented, "We believe that ISPs should continually invest in the latest technology to improve the speed and quality of their networks. Broadband users now have the choice between run-of-the-mill ADSL or an enhanced service that has been designed with their needs in mind. Our latest upgrade will have considerable benefits for users who want to get the most out of their broadband connection."
Freedom2Surf's upgrade covers both its ADSL Home and ADSL Professional packages, which are available for £39.99, a month and £85 per month respectively. ADSL Professional is available in speeds of 512Kbit, 1Mbit or 2Mbit. It includes a 4-port Ethernet router with built in NAT/firewall or a globally assigned static IP address range.
Linux is widely believed to be one of the best options for ISP networking, especially when compared to the widely used Microsoft infrastructure, which seems especially prone to Internet Worms and viruses (always has been) etc.
It’s worth pointing out that this has nothing to do with the operating system required to connect at the clients end, it only helps enhance the ISPs own networking and thus improve flow to customers. |
European Broadband Takes Off
By:mark.j @ 3:56:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It's almost as if somebody were trying to rub our heads in the sand as a new report from Reuters highlights how Internet broadband access is starting to take off in 'most' member states (cough.. UK?). Of course it's not without problems..:
In seven of 15 EU countries the number of fast Internet connections offered over phone lines upgraded with DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology has roughly doubled in the last six months. In three other states, there was a marked increase.
But such progress could mask anticompetitive behaviour by former state telecoms operators, which have installed far more DSL lines for their own clients than new operators have leased.
The report says incumbent operators may have infringed EU laws, as in all but three EU states -- Germany, France and the Netherlands -- they started distributing DSL lines well before they allowed new entrants to do so.
While it's good to see the EU propelling forward into the broadband age, we can't help but feel an element of jealousy with our steam powered progress as opposed to nuclear. Never the less ZDNet does a good job of rubbing our noses in unconnected wiring.
Most people in the UK still seem more concerned with coverage rather than competition and price. Still.. at least we've got the Millennium Dome! No wait, we don't even have that anymore. |
Gov Should Back Off From ISPs
By:mark.j @ 3:34:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] According to analysts @ The Yankee Group, the government should water down anti-terrorist proposals designed to track customers' habits for a period of no more than 12 months.
Not only does the group believe that it'll be awhile before such measures come into force, they also put a key issue of COST down as an obvious hindrance:
Campaigners are concerned at plans to introduce emergency measures which include forcing ISPs to keep records for a year on the websites their customers visit, the newsgroups they use and with whom they send and receive emails.
But Andy Greenman, internet strategies analyst with the Yankee Group, doesn't believe they will go through with the proposals because of the cost implications for ISPs and opposition from privacy campaigners.
In a research note, he said: "We expect the proposed changes to be watered down in light of the current weak state of the ISP market, and the UK Government's announced commitment to a wired Britain."
The VNUNet item clearly shows how at least one group is aware of the difficulties involved with running an ISP, especially broadband or unmetered services, which leave little room for profit.
The cost of implementing a whole new security system shouldn't be left to the ISP alone, the market simply isn't ready. |
CharityDAYS Officially Launch ISP
By:mark.j @ 10:14:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The new broadband and unmetered 'charity' ISP we had recently been reporting on, CharityDAYS, has finally gone LIVE:
Lord Mayor of Sheffield officially switches on the CharityDays Internet Service
CharityDAYS.net, which stands for Donate As You Surf, was yesterday launched officially by The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor David Baker.
CharityDays, which aims to raise over £1million for UK charities in its first year, was officially turned on at 4.30pm Monday 23rd October by the lord mayor and closely watched by two local charity representatives, Heather Burrell and David Simons of the Cavendish Centre for Cancer, Sheffield.
The service, which can be used by anyone in the UK for Internet access and is designed as a fund raising tool for UK charities, donates 60 pence in every pound it receives. CharityDays aims to be one of the UK’s largest Internet Service Providers and commenced its launch with four of its fifteen imminent products.
Councillor Baker commented ”Normally when I am asked to officially turn something on it has to be pre booked into the Lord Mayor’s official diary weeks in advance. I was so taken aback by the charity proposition of charitydays that I insisted I would be there. The service and quality of the products are excellent and the real benefit is that anyone can donate money to charity without it costing them an extra penny. I will be telling my official charity, St Luke’s Hospice, to get in touch with the CharityDays team straight away”
Heather Burrell form the Cavendish Centre for Cancer, Sheffield said, ”We are so thrilled to be involved with CharityDays right from the start. For us as a small charity, the whole proposition is simply brilliant. Most people are close to some form of charity, be it small or large and they probably use the Internet in some way, whether at home or at work. To be able to donate money to something that is close to them while surfing the net at no extra cost is wonderful. The service costs us nothing to join and the quality of their accounts are leading edge. Everyone’s a winner!”
More information regarding the service and to register for an account visit http://www.charitydays.net or telephone 0845 1400024.
The ISP offers a hefty mix of unmetered and broadband options in a style similar to the popular Plus.NET ISP, although whether it can succeed where other 'unmetered' charity providers have failed remains to be seen. We'll have a review once the service has had a chance to settle. |
X-Mas Shopping Gets Online Boost
By:mark.j @ 10:07:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It's beginning to look as if Christmas shopping in Europe will overtake that of North America through use of online services, which would be a first:
The technology downturn will not stop Europe's Internet users from shopping online in the run up to Christmas 2001, with analysts predicting a significant increase in spending compared to a year ago.
Europe's Internet users will spend over £6bn shopping online in the run-up to Christmas 2001, according to latest predictions from GartnerG2, part of analyst firm Gartner. This is a 40 percent rise on the same period last year, when around £4.32bn was spent online by European surfers.
These figures -- which exclude spending on travel, and on tickets for films and concerts -- indicate that the Web is becoming an increasingly important shopping channel, at a time when some economists fear that a drop in consumer spending could push countries such as the UK into recession.
More @ The Register. |
EU Approves SPAM?
By:mark.j @ 10:03:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ..well not exactly. Never the less the European Union (EU) responsible for such intelligent laws as the 'No flashing lights on ANY vehicles act' (Doh!) has given the thumbs up to SPAM:
Anti-spam campaigners had hoped that the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs would approve an "opt-in" method, which would mean that punters would receive commercial email only if they requested it first.
Instead, they went for spam-friendly "opt-out".
One insider described the report - which also includes a ruling on text messaging - as a "dog's breakfast".
So it looks as if all our E-Mails will continue to be besieged by the usual combination of PORN and marketing from around the world - WONDERFUL! What could be better than that? Sarcasm mode off. |
Official - BT WILL Demerge
By:mark.j @ 9:57:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] As predicted in yesterday’s news item, BT shareholders have overwhelmingly backed the Telco's plan to demerge its wireless unit:
Despite lobbying from unions and staff opposed to the spin-off, totals of proxy votes indicate that the matter is all but decided, with voting rights to 4.3 billion shares cast in favour of the split, with only 670 million against.
Final vote totals are expected to be calculated later today or overnight.
More @ VNUNet. |
News - October 23,2001
Iomart Reduce R/ADSL Price - 25%
By:mark.j @ 4:30:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Getting in just moments before we leave to finish up real-life jobs for the day, Iomart has jumped in a press release regarding a price reduction to their broadband services:
iomart reduces ADSL prices by 25%
25% Price Reduction for 1st 6 months subscription on all Ethernet Broadband Connections ordered before 31st December 2001
E-mail, Messaging & Internet Security specialists, iomart Group plc, today announced that it is incentivising businesses to convert to an ADSL broadband internet connection by offering a 25% price reduction on it’s CopperBurst Ethernet ADSL product range.
The 25% reduction will apply for the first 6 months subscription (minimum 12 month contract) and is available on any Ethernet connection order placed, from iomart, between November 1st and midnight on 31st December 2001.
By taking advantage of the offer, a business can save up to £47 per month for a 2 Mb connection against iomart’s current tariff structure.
(PM = Per Month)
CopperBurst 500 - £110.00PM - SAVE £27.50(£82.50)
CopperBurst 1000- £149.00PM - SAVE £37.00(£112.00)
CopperBurst 2000- £190.00PM - SAVE £47.00(£143.00)
The price reductions will be supported by a major marketing programme, which will run throughout November, including a high volume targeted direct mail campaign to small businesses and the placement of 4000 in-car tube panels throughout the London Underground network.
Commenting on the promotion, Phil Worms, Director Products & Services, stated, “It has been well documented that the take up of ADSL within the UK has been painfully slow, and yet the potential benefits that a business can derive from a broadband connection are great. Unfortunately, these benefits have tended to be somewhat lost amidst the plethora of negative press and publicity. We have calculated, for example, that a business connecting to the Internet for 6 hours per day, using an ISDN line could potentially save in the region of £1900 per year by switching to ADSL and that’s without factoring in the other benefits of download speed, fixed monthly fee etc".
iomart is currently one of the UK’s largest providers of ADSL and has been involved with it’s deployment since April 2000. Phil Worms, commented "There will be some exciting developments in the ADSL arena in the next few months, the introduction of Service Level Guarantees, self install ADSL, SDSL and rate adaptive Ethernet products – all of which will stimulate the marketplace. There is no doubt that Broadband will become a widely used Internet access technology – it is simply a case of generating public awareness and offering a compelling product set. We believe that this promotion delivers on both counts”. |
It's BTs Fault - Claim Unmetered V21
By:mark.j @ 4:10:PM - Comments (50) - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The 'child-friendly' unmetered dialup ISP, V21, has sent us a copy of the same message that's now posted on their service status page. It regards some very serious problems, which BT is taking responsibility for:
Dear Customers,
BT have contacted us again. There has been a major IP platform failure due to a BT core network fault. This has nationwide impact. All customers using a BT dial IP service (eg, our Connect service) may be affected. This will be affecting EVERY ISP using this system.
End-users will experience either:
- Slow throughput;
- Call failure after the connection is made to a modem;
- Session drop-outs once connected.
BT advise that should you get these symptoms please try again later. There is currently no ETA for when this will be resolved however we will keep you updated as soon as we get any more news.
We apologise for the inconvenience.
Kind Regards,
Customer Support
Following last weeks massive problems @ LINX, we can't help but feel that major network wide issues such as this are becoming eerily common. It’s probably just Santa Clause hogging all the bandwidth again, you know what he’s like around this time of year, especially with all the cruise missiles he has to deliver North America. |
BTOpenworld Choose 'Windows Media'
By:mark.j @ 4:02:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Perhaps BTOpenworld aren't completely out of the portal game after all, they've just chosen Microsoft's Windows Media format for their secure subscription music service. Full press release follows:
BTopenworld Embraces Windows Media
For Music Subscription Service
BTopenworld and Microsoft Corp. today announced that BTopenworld has chosen
Windows Media to deliver the UK's first secure music subscription service and is building a customised player based on Windows Media Player 7 to ensure the best possible online music experience for its users.
With its Windows Media underpinnings, BTopenworld can ensure customers high-quality audio and seamless access to content secured with Windows Media Digital Rights Management. In addition, BTopenworld announced today that it is building a customised player based on Microsoft's industry-leading Windows Media Player 7. The specially designed player will provide BTopenworld's customer base of 1.5 million with a leading player optimised for playback of Windows Media Audio, MP3 and CDs.
BTopenworld Music (http://music.btopenworld.com) is currently trialing the UK's first secure music subscription service. This trial is also being supplemented by an ongoing research programme to ensure the development of a service which will deliver the richest possible experience to music fans in the UK by providing an unprecedented level of choice, convenience and the highest quality music from top artists.
BTopenworld is working with On Demand Distribution (OD2) to provide music from many of the UK's leading record companies, including BMG Entertainment, V2 and Warner Music UK, home to such artists as Dido, Stereophonics and David Gray, respectively.
"We are delighted to be working closely with Microsoft at the cutting edge of online music delivery," said Ben Andradi, president and chief operating officer of BTopenworld. "The powerful and easy-to-use Windows Media Player is an important component in our delivery of the UK's first secure music subscription service offering the best possible music experience to our customers."
"BTopenworld is putting together the right combination of great music and great technology to deliver a powerful service for music fans," said Will Poole, vice president of the Windows Digital Media Division for Microsoft. "The last year has shown that people are increasingly turning to the Internet for music, and this is the kind of service that can take digital music even further into the mainstream in the UK."
BTopenworld Music can be accessed at http://music.btopenworld.com |
Unions Headed For mmO2 Defeat
By:mark.j @ 3:57:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Unions and some shareholders had planned to vote 'No' during a meeting today in which BT put forward its BTWireless (Cellnet) demerger plans.
It now looks as if the 'Yes' votes are likely to win, which isn't too surprising:
So far, only 65,339,150 votes have rejected the demerger, compared with 3,642,710,597 proxy votes for the proposal, which will see BT’s entire wireless business spun off as a separate entity. Proxy votes are cast in blocks, rather than individually, and default as votes for the proposal. The small number of votes against suggests the unions failed to win over institutional investors.
Although it's not stated in the nerimperative.com article when the final judgement will be known, we'd suspect it to be fairly soon. |
Super Fast Broadband Wireless!
By:mark.j @ 10:40:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Most of us would revel at the chance to own a cost effective 2MBits/PS broadband R/ADSL, Cable Modem or leased line connection, so how about 100MBits/PS for even less (scale)?
Although mainly targeted at businesses, Caly Networks claims to be able to transmit data at high speeds over long distances (7Km) for less (money):
Caly Networks has developed a mesh radio antenna that it says is able to transmit data at speeds of up to 100Mbit/s over maximum distances of 7km. The Calynet system operates in the 20GHz to 40GHz radio frequency waveband, which makes it suitable for use by UK carriers who have bought licences in the 28GHz waveband, the remainder of which are being auctioned by the Radiocommunications Agency. The system is being tested by UK carrier Energis, which purchased a number of regional 28GHz licences, including one covering London, last year.
"Deploying the Calynet system should enable carriers to offer 100Mbit/s wireless leased lines for the same price they charge for an E1 leased line, currently around £500 to £800 per month," said Christian Guitton, Caly's director of European operations.
The 28GHz waveband has been earmarked by the government for the provision of broadband services in the so-called wireless local loop (WLL), which defines areas of the UK where technologies such as DSL and cable are likely to remain unavailable. Caly predicts that Calynet will actually compete with DSL and cable in urban areas.
The unspoken advantage and potential of this new technology would be the ability to expand it into residential locations and homes (Tele2 style). Not to mention that if you compare a £200 per month 2Mbit ADSL line to a £500-£800 100Mbit line, the potential savings are obvious. |
1.09Billion UK Text Messages
By:mark.j @ 10:29:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It's beginning to seem as if people prefer to send text and E-Mail through mobile phones rather than talk or see each other directly. The Mobile Data Association has now confirmed that 1.09Billion text messages were sent during the month of September 2001!
The figure compares with only 580Million sent across the UK's four networks this time last year. The billion messages (per month) landmark was reached for the first time during August.
Apparent we Brits now send 36Million texts each day - over double that sent during 2000. The annual total (so far) this year stands at 8.5 billion. |
Government Debates OFCOM Flexibility
By:mark.j @ 10:14:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Oftels future replacement - OFCOM, which will also set some standards for ISPs, has come under fire following a debate in the Lords last week.
Apparently there was some level of disagreement regarding the new regulations and fear that the new watchdog's role could undermine the body and jeopardise the future of telecoms provision in the UK:
The new body will incorporate several existing regulators, including Oftel. Industry watchers suggest the new regulator will have problems carrying out its joint duties of regulating communications infrastructure as well as content. There are fears that technology issues will be swamped by media regulation. "The Office of Communication (Ofcom) will have to undertake both content and economic regulation. These are clearly very separate roles," said John Hin, senior analyst at Ovum.
Oftel spokesman Duncan Stroud said the IT industry was justified in its concerns that issues such as the creation of a decent broadband infrastructure might play second fiddle to more high-profile matters surrounding TV and radio. However, he added: "Ofcom's role will be to ensure a consistent approach across all communications networks whether they are satellite broadcasters or broadband service suppliers."
We can't help but think of a famous phrase about putting all your eggs in one basket, although whether this holds true with OFCOM is another matter entirely. As the ZDNet item points out, a regulator must be flexible and able to cope with the demand placed upon it. |
The Free Wireless Internet
By:mark.j @ 10:07:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Although it sounds unlikely given the current cost of using the Internet wirelessly, new unlicensed radio bands could pave the way to a free community wireless Internet:
Douglas Alexander, minister for e-Commerce, has launched a consultation on the freeing-up of radio bands to unlicensed commercial services. One possible outcome could be the legalisation of free community Internet access over 802.11b. Currently forbidden by UK law, such projects have proved popular abroad and have even proved valuable in disasters -- one system was used in Manhattan after the 11 September attacks.
The DTI says that the consultation will discuss whether current regulations should remain unchanged, whether specific and limited use of unlicensed spectrum should be allowed or whether public telecommunications should be allowed with no licence but with base station registration. As well as the wishes of potential users, the consultation is concerned with being fair to existing licence holders and the potential for interference or band congestion.
Free wireless networks take a fixed Internet access link such as a cable, DSL or corporate leased line, and make it available to all through a radio gateway and common transmission standards. There are several pilot projects already running in the UK, such as Consume the Net and free2air.org, although the legal status theoretically precludes them establishing networks. In the US the New York organisation NYCWireless, which runs a small number of free-access cells in the city, has been using 802.11b and directional antenna to provide connectivity to firms who've lost access due to attack damage.
The prospect of being able to connect with a wireless network in much the same way as you might use an 0845 (Local Call Rate) ISP is enticing. Whether it'll ever work out that way remains to be seen, more @ ZDNet. |
Ex-C&W Broadband - Next Six Months
By:mark.j @ 9:35:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] DigitalSpy has managed to get some exclusive details regarding the rollout for NTLs broadband cable modem service (512Kbps & 128Kbps options) over the next six months:
At the end of October, Waltham Forest will be broadband-enabled. Over the next six months, a rolling programme will bring broadbnad internet to the following ex-CWC franchises:
Bromley
Bexley
Dartford
Swanleigh
Sussex
Surrey
Solent
Peterborough
South-eastern Kent
South Hertfordshire
Watford
Aylesbury
Chiltern
Kensington and Chelsea (localised areas only)
Westminster (localised areas only) |
News - October 22,2001
Vispa Partners With Komputers4Kids
By:mark.j @ 4:21:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Dedicated to helping provide IT equipment for those in education, Komputers4Kids has today announced a partnership with popular UK ISP, Vispa Internet. Full press release follows:
VISPA PARTNERS WITH KOMPUTERS4KIDS
October 22nd 2001
Vispa Internet Limited today announced a partnership with Komputers4Kids (K4K), an unique organisation dedicated to helping provide IT equipment for those in education who for whatever reason are unable to get their own (ie low income, single parent family etc) We accept donations of older machines (486 and above), refurbish them and pass them on to eligible recipients.
Dave Burns of K4K said "Vispa, wishing to support the work of K4K have set up the K4K subscription free internet accounts available not only to our recipients, but also to anyone, or even any company that supports and agrees with what we do. Every minute someone is online using our Internet service, K4K gain some much needed revenue in push back into purchasing and upgrading computers".
The user has a fast, reliable Internet access, email, webspace, newsgroups and lots more all powered by Vispa's network, which is only costing them the price of a standard local rate call while they are connected. It is a win-win situation for everyone.
With so many Internet users not actually requiring any form of freecall service this would be ideal, while at the same time revenue is going to good course.
To find out more what K4K is all about visit http://www.komputers4kids.co.uk
or to support their efforts, signup for an
http://www.komputers4kids.co.uk/visp.htm |
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