April 10, 2002 - April 15, 2002
News - April 15,2002
NTL To Loose CEO (Barclay Knapp)
By:mark.j @ 3:15:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] NTLs North American co-founder and CEO, Barclay Knapp, is likely to go along with its chairman and finance director as the company continues its negotiations with bondholders:
The company is drowning in debts totalling £12bn and bondholders are keen to appoint an executive better suited to heading a company running on cash rather than aiming for growth.
The Silicon item reports that the current CEO's replacement is likely to be British, which makes sense because NTL may withdraw into its UK market. |
V21 ISP Users Help Charities (Barnardos)
By:mark.j @ 3:04:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In recent weeks there has been some heated discussion regarding V21's charity agreement with Barnardos. This was supposed to have been dealt with, however this press release may help to clear things up once and for all.
Of course Barnardos hasn't been the only charity V21 has been successful in helping..:
V21 Users Help Multiple Charities
V21 and sister Free 24-7 company would like to thank all its subscribers for their continued support, and making it possible for us to pledge charity donations of in excess of £8000.
Steve Kaye, Managing Director of V21 said 'I'm very pleased that we as a company are able to make such a donation to both very worthy causes, Barnardos and Capital Radio's Help a London Child.
Barnados was a charity deal that we pledged to pay £1 per user that signup up to our unmetered service form last May when we launched the service. We have seen a huge drive in customer support and hope that the continued new customer signups grow to be even larger numbers for next year so that we can indeed support some more worthwhile charities.
Capital Radio run a charity to help a London Child over the Easter period every year, this year we took the opportunity to extend our charity donations to include this cause.
In addition to these donations already made V21 has negotiated signed deals with 'The Andy Cole Children's Foundation' and are looking into further charities to help for the coming year.’
It’s often easy to forget V21’s early roots as a ‘Child Friendly’ provider, before their services were opened up to a wider audience; hopefully this latest donation announcement will do some good for those in need. |
Thus Trial Lease Line Quality ADSL!
By:mark.j @ 2:53:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The suppliers for several UK ISPs including Demon Internet, Thus TELECOM, have announced the trial of a new technology that could result in leased-line quality DSL by the end of the year.
The broadband 'ADSL' based product is known as 'DataStream' and should offer contention ratios as low as 1:1 (stunning for ADSL!):
Thus claims its network investment over the last two years means that prices will not be markedly different from current levels, but that quality will be much improved. It claims its backbone is capable of providing 1.9 Terabits per second.
The DSL offering has been made possible by an aggregation agreement with BT by Thus, Colt and Energis that allows the trio to move packets of data off BT's network onto their own as close as possible to the user's geographical base.
DataStream is effectively an ATM connection to the customer. So rather than using IP over Ethernet, ATM is used throughout to get data across the network. The technology allows DSL traffic to be picked up from different points in BT's network, so an operator with its own infrastructure does not need to lease infrastructure from BT.
The VNUNet item goes into a lot more detail and notes that Thus has 22 UK locations where the technology could be introduced/tested. The operator also notes that a similar method could be applied to SDSL, although typically it's too early to see any price information. |
Sky Dismiss Broadband ISP Claims
By:mark.j @ 2:44:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Speaking of Satellite, Sky (Sky Digital) has dismissed a number of reports that claimed the Satellite TV operator was poised to launch a broadband ISP for its 8 million subscribers:
A report in the Independent on Sunday newspaper said BSkyB was "close to launching" an adaptor for its set-top boxes that would give subscribers high-speed ADSL internet access via a BT phone line. It added that BSkyB chief executive Tony Ball had demonstrated the adaptor last week.
A spokeswoman for BSkyB told Web User: "There is no truth in the story. He did not demonstrate the service. We don't have any immediate plans for an ADSL product."
The Web-User item notes that the prospect of offering an ADSL service has been on the ideas list for more than a year; it’s nothing new, they don't have any immediate plans for it. |
BT Trials New Satellite ISP Service
By:mark.j @ 2:37:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Not to be confused with BTOpenworld's existing offer, BTWholesale has today announced that it is to start trials of a new satellite delivery service for high speed internet access across mainland UK. The full press release follows:
BT WHOLESALE TO TRIAL FAST INTERNET BY SATELLITE
BT Wholesale today announced that it is to start trials of a new satellite delivery service for high speed internet access across mainland UK.
It will allow always-on receipt of e-mail as well as fast download of music, photos, presentations and other documents and is aimed at small businesses and high use residential customers. If successful, the service could be made available throughout the UK including rural areas beyond the reach of DSL broadband and cable.
Paul Reynolds, chief executive of BT Wholesale, said: "This is an exciting development capable of delivering the benefits of fast, 'always-on', internet downloading right across the UK. It is not true broadband, but it will give much faster internet access to many people who could otherwise be denied.
We believe this will be a valuable, additional way of providing fast internet to areas beyond the reach of conventional broadband and shows we are pushing forward on many fronts with simple, competitive solutions for customers."
The service will download via a 65cm receive-only satellite dish, at speeds of up to 256 kbit/s and will also provide 'always-on' satellite downstream delivery of emails and selected internet pages. Higher speeds, up to 4Mbit/s, will be available on a pay-as-used basis as the trial progresses. The return path will be via a conventional phone line.
Experience in Europe shows there is a demand for this type of service, and, as an infill technology, BT Wholesale believes this will also be the case in the UK.
Currently more than 70 per cent of internet users in the UK are connected to 1010 BT exchanges which have been enabled for ADSL broadband. Work is underway to enable a further 100 exchanges and BT is continuing to explore a range of technologies to meet the broadband needs of customers outside those areas.
The satellite high speed internet access trial will start in late May, and is scheduled to last for six months. Service provider triallists will be selected on criteria to include willingness to market in non ADSL-enabled areas.
The trial wholesale price is likely to be less than £15 a month rental to service providers with a one-off connection charge, expected to be less than £400, for the equipment and installation of the dish at the end user's site.
The charge to end-users will be set by the service providers. End users will also have to build in the cost of the phone line to upload their data back to the internet. It is anticipated that download speeds of up to 256kbit/s and 'always-on' downloading of emails and selected internet pages will be inclusive in the monthly rental fee, and free of usage charge.
There would be a further usage charge for a number of speed selections up to 4Mbit/s - enabling customers to opt for faster speeds only when they require larger amounts of data.
We’re not quite sure how BT classifies broadband speeds, although despite what they say it does still appear to be a broadband technology. Perhaps it’s by comparison to their own ADSL solution.
Typically this is also a wholesale product and thus we’ll have to wait and see what ISPs take the service up and how much they charge. Given the wholesale price we’d guesstimate that it’d be competitively priced against current Wires-Only ADSL products. |
Internet Use Causes Break-Ups
By:mark.j @ 9:17:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Could using the Internet cause the collapse of a relationship? According to Britain’s biggest marriage guidance organisation, Relate, it can!:
Internet sites such as friendsreunited have enabled people to reignite old passions and revive school romances by e-mail. Internet pornography and cybersex — pseudosexual relationships conducted online — are another threat to marital harmony.
Husbands and wives complain of becoming Internet widowers or widows after being left to sit alone as a partner spends hours at the computer messaging strangers in chat rooms, downloading music and games, or looking at pornography. Angela Sibson, Relate’s chief executive, said: “Our counsellors report that, more and more, the Internet is a relationship breaker.”
One in ten of the 90,000 couples who receive relationship counselling each year from the charity now blame the Internet for their problems. But Ms Sibson said that the Internet could also play a positive role. Relate is launching an e-mail service within two months that will offer relationship advice from a trained counsellor.
The Times Online goes on to state that the problem is of particular note among those aged 25-35. |
BTs Broadband For Home-Workers
By:mark.j @ 8:59:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if BT and Microsoft are set to launch a new broadband service for home-based workers, but initially only for their respective companies, or so it seems.
BT said yesterday that the new service, which will be available from June 2002, reduces property, Intranet and web-conferencing costs for business and cuts transport costs for employees, with knock-on benefits for the environment.
According to research commissioned by BT, Britain's teleworker population is set to grow by 15-25% over the next four years and reach 8.3 million by 2005.
The firm said it had reached an agreement in principle to connect Microsoft's 1,500 UK home-workers to the service, and would also roll it out to its own 5,500 home-based employees. There should be a full/detailed announcement soon. |
Fibernet Plan Acquisitions (Energis?)
By:mark.j @ 8:54:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The networking/ISP group Fibernet is looking to the future and further acquisitions, at least while its cash reserves remain healthy:
Fibernet has a track record of acquiring network capacity at knockdown prices where it can. The company was holding £69 million at the end of November last year and has now completed its current capital expenditure programme of £24 million.
In February, it was suggested that Fibernet might make a bid for the assets of ailing Energis. Fibernet anticipated the demand for high-speed data transmission via the internet, and invested heavily in the UK.
But in January it warned that it would miss revenue targets and said it was spending more than it was earning on its Continental network.
The Ananova item goes on to report that Fibernet believes its business plan remains fully funded, we certainly hope so if they're going to bid for Energis. |
News - April 14,2002
ISP Review Weekly Update
By:mark.j @ 9:57:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if the long spell of sunny weather could soon be swept aside for the normal period of April showers, here's hoping the 'Global Warming' effect kicks in. Still, it usually manages to warm up during May, which is something nice.
Back to ISP Review and we've been busy writing five new reviews, which should be up the week after next, if we're not delayed. These may be the last static reviews (bar one or two others) we do before the new 'Reader ISP Reviews' system is completed.
We're currently busy designing the layout for the system (what you'll see) and fixing up a few of the features. It's hard to give an ETA, although we'll try to have it done before I take a holiday in July.
The next forum upgrade is also closing in; we'll begin testing a beta release in private next week. Typically we need to wait for the final version before upgrading, thus an upgrade for the public forum is likely within four weeks.
I’m now off to petition BT to upgrade my local exchange with ADSL by standing outside their office in protest, alone. If all else fails then I’ll threaten to release a horde of lemmings from the roof unless they do thy bidding, with any luck their compassion for the suicidal creatures will win me favour.. oh yes.. and ADSL.
Of course I’m not sure whether making such a threat without any lemmings and while standing on the ground floor is helpful? |
News - April 13,2002
Yet Another New MyLife Variant
By:mark.j @ 8:30:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] An 8th variation on the MyLife E-Mail Virus (Worm) now appears to have surfaced in the shape of MyLife.H, which doesn't have a destructive payload:
they say its appearance shows many email users are still being careless about opening unsolicited mail.
The email arrives with an attachment purporting to contain a humorous screensaver. The file to avoid is called peeeeeep.mpeg.scr.
More @ Ananova. |
nthell:world Sells Out To NTL?
By:mark.j @ 8:21:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In a strange twist the NTL customer run site nthell:world has been brought out by the NTL, the very same cable operator the site was setup to discuss - independently, or so people thought. The full announcement from the site is as follows:
The future of NTHW is secure. NTHW remains a forum for the good and the not so good parts of being an NTL customer. But NTHW has a new owner. NTHW is now owned by NTL. So why is this good news?
1. The editorial policy remains unchanged. If it’s legal, it appears.
2. Being embraced by the company, NTHW will now make a genuine difference to improving NTL’s products and customer service. To date it has played an important role as a customer forum. Going forward, it can be an actual driving force.
3. The new relationship will allow issues and questions raised on NTHW to be addressed online. It will become a place to get problems solved, not just raised.
4. The company’s motivation is simple: to add further momentum to its overall drive for better customer service. Rather than setting up its own online forum, it embraces a forum customers already enjoy using.
5. The person who established NTHW remains central to the forum, but going forward is able to work from within NTL on your behalf. Working on ways to help NTHW users will be his number one priority. Improving customer service is the company’s.
6. The company’s future vision is to earn the right to rename this site http://www.nthelpworld.com
---
I would also like to add that all personal information contained in the forum database is 100% private - ntl do not own this information, nor will it be disclosed.
Cough.. nthelpworld? The man behind the site, Mr Whitestone, has also taken a job with NTL directly, further adding to the growing controversy. Note that he's supposedly been in the job for two weeks and only just now said so, although we're unsure of his exact role.
Typically nthell.. cough.. helpworld's own forums have already begun to buzz with accusations of a sell out to the cable operator. |
News - April 12,2002
Gov Backs Controversial 'Data-Sharing'
By:mark.j @ 2:57:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] One step forward and another step back; that seems to be the theme for privacy related topics today. Now the privacy of everybody in the UK could be under threat after a new report showed plans for how the government could share personal information without people's consent:
Details were published yesterday by the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) in its report Privacy and Data-Sharing: The Way Forward for Public and backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The report claims people would benefit from more "customer-focused public services" through the "better use of personal information".
Typically this relates to such things as linking up the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) with the Passport Service, thus saving time when you need to get a license. Sounds good on the surface, but..:
..the Government's proposals have already come under fire from people concerned that it would hand too much power to bureaucrats. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - a centre left think tank - claims the Government has not gone far enough to protect people's privacy.
Said Ian Kearns of the IPPR: "The policy recommendations will be far more effective at improving data-sharing than they ever will be at building trust."
The Register has a full report on the matter, unfortunately the little people (that's us =]) typically don't get much of a say when it comes to our own privacy. |
Easynet Officially Launch 8Mbps ADSL
By:mark.j @ 2:48:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We've already reported on Easynet's LLU based broadband products and their 8Mbps 'bonded' ADSL plans, today this has finally been made official along with their SHDSL broadband service:
Costing £3,588 per year -- the equivalent of £299 a month -- the service is available to most of Easynet's metropolitan customers within 2km of the equipped exchanges. Easynet is also offering a slower variant at £2,388 a year for 4mbps.
A second service gives businesses a symmetrical connection, with the same bandwidth sending as receiving it. This SHDSL service will be available at a variety of speeds from 512kbps to 2mbps, said the company in a statement. One of the main benefits of SHDSL is that with the addition of a fixed IP address, companies can host Web servers from their premises.
Both services have been enabled by Easynet installing its own DSL equipment -- DSLAMs, or DSL Access Multiplexer -- in BT's exchanges.
Note that the real plus of SHDSL comes from the sustainable/faster Upstream (upload) speeds, which is something that even their 8Mbps ADSL service can't match. You can get all the extra details @ ZDNet. |
Kingston Comms Business ADSL
By:mark.j @ 2:41:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide is reporting on some 'expensive' new pricing for Kingston Communications broadband business ADSL products:
Solo Rapid Biz 512kbps
Single Dynamic IP address service.
Installation including modem £149
Monthly Fee £39 with 1GB/day limit.
Monthly Fee £69 with no limits.
Static IP service, upto 5 IP's
Installation Fee £750
Router £1400 - must use the supplied device, believed to be a Cisco device.
Monthly Fee £99.
Kingston has typically been able to hold a small monopoly over its area, which is one of the few places where BTs influence is less than prominent; this may help explain the higher prices. The bandwidth limit is also a first for such a business package. |
Breathe Pro ISP - Official Press Release
By:mark.j @ 2:34:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The people behind the Breathe Pro ISP (Breathe off-shoot) have been kind enough to send us an official press release on their new services. Unfortunately it doesn't clarify PlusNet's involvement, although it does give some helpful information:
Fast, fixed-cost and hassle-free...
Spend less time doing more online with breathepro
breathepro, the new Internet and communications service provider for the more serious Internet user, launches today.
Created to meet the needs of a new breed of Internet user, breathepro is specifically designed for clued-up frequent users who demand more from their ISP and their online experience - both at work and at home. The platform provides a professional service at domestic prices, plugging the gap in the market between the consumer and SME sectors.
breathepro initially launches with high-quality self-install ADSL. With speeds up to 10 times faster than with a normal modem, breathepro ADSL makes the most of time spent online - whether you're at work or at play.
Waiting ages for downloads becomes a thing of the past as the transfer of everything from large data files to music and games is quick and easy. It's always on, so there is no need to dial-up every time to access email or the web. And even better, you can use your telephone landline whilst online - ensuring that you don't miss any essential personal and business calls.
breathepro ADSL is priced at £25.99 (inc VAT) per month with a one-off activation charge of £65. Added extras included in the breathepro ADSL service include free bulk mail facility, website creator, web space and a range of office applications.
An engineer is not needed to install the service as it works with an ADSL modem, readily available from the high street. Self install and set up is quick and user friendly.
And as an added reassurance if problems do occur, breathepro offers 24/7 three-tier customer service, with the advantage of an online tracking service for technical issues - keeping you informed every step of the way.
Other Internet services offered by breathepro at launch include 'connect', high performance 24/7 fixed cost Internet access at £15.99 (inc VAT) per month, and 'easy connect', local call pay-as-you-go Internet access. Additional communications services will roll out over the next few months. |
Clara.net Fail To Pass DSL Savings On
By:mark.j @ 9:39:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Apparently Clara.net's 'ADSL Solo Product' will remain priced @ £49.99 because the ISP has decided not to pass the savings on to 'existing' customers. Certainly an unusual step considering that every other 'credible' provider has already done so.
We're not entirely clear on what the situation is since Clara.net haven't got back to us (last E-Mail three weeks ago), although this weeks complaints may help, here's a few quotes:
"Following the recent reduction in the wholesale cost of ADSL by BT, Claranet followed suit, but ONLY for new customers or customers coming to the end of their contracts. They now have the dubious distinction of being the only ISP not to pass the savings on to their existing customers who will still be charged £49.99pcm for the engineer installed USB product until the end of their contracts. Naturally this has angered many customers including myself. I am lucky as I have only three months left. I have to feel for those who signed up just recently."
Another one..
"Recent BT price drop NOT passed onto existing ADSL Solo customers - a disgrace!"
We've been seeing a lot of complaints on the matter and think that it's about time Clara.net issued a statement to explain their situation. |
Breathe ISP Introduce Breathe Pro
By:mark.j @ 9:19:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The 'Affinity' owned 0845 and unmetered ISP, Breathe, appears to have introduced a second service under a different domain called Breathe Pro. One of our readers (Alex) has been quick to note that, "The IP address of the site is actually on the PlusNET network."
The website itself is of a very familiar PlusNet style and notes its difference to the primary Breathe service as follows:
breathepro serves a new breed of internet user: demanding more speed, more time to use the internet and less time wasted on downloads.
The two offers seem to consist of a £25.99 Self-Install broadband ADSL package and £15.99 unmetered dialup offer, both of which are above that (cost / services) supplied by the original site.
Note that the unmetered dialup package comes with a minimum 3 month contract and the subscription must be paid quarterly in advance, we assume that's just for the first payment? It's not clear.
Breathe Pro wouldn't be the first ISP to be aided by PlusNet, although it really does get frustrating when so many services start using the same web design. We're also confused as to how this affects Breathe's relationship with Affinity, all very strange. |
Jolts New Unmetered ISP Package
By:mark.j @ 9:00:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Jolt, a semi-popular gaming ISP, appears to have introduced a second unmetered package after its existing £11.75 per month (2 hour cut off) offer.
One of our forum moderators (Keith) spotted the new 'AnyTime' offer, which costs £24.99 and comes with a 4 hour cut off and the usual E-Mail and web space services (few details).
Signup / Details: https://secure.joltanytime.co.uk |
EU Rules Out Internet Censorship
By:mark.j @ 8:48:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The European Union (EU) has agreed that censoring the Internet is not an effective way of tackling illegal/harmful content:
The European Parliament voted today in favour of a specially commissioned report, which says that the cooperation and partnership between the internet industry and governments, national and regional authorities is the most effective way to tackle harmful and illegal content on the internet.
According to the report: "Recent decisions or strategies to block access to certain websites may result in the fragmentation of internet access or the denial of access to legitimate content."
Louisa Gosling, president of the European Internet Services Providers Association (EuroISPA) said: "We are pleased that the Parliament has come out strongly against blocking, which is not only a technically disastrous solution, but also raises significant free speech and democratic concerns."
More @ Ananova. |
Do UK ISPs & Businesses Know R.I.P?
By:mark.j @ 8:43:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] A new survey has found that most UK ISPs and businesses are unaware of the new Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIP):
A survey of 100 senior managers in UK companies and 100 ISPs by law firm Nabarro Nathanson found 86 per cent of businesses and an even more surprising 61 per cent of ISPs were unaware of RIPA. The survey also reveals uncertainty among ISPs about how much they will have to spend to comply with the legislation, and highlights that many ISPs are considering moving at least part of their operations abroad because of RIPA.
Of those businesses aware of the Act, which became law in November 2000, half were not aware that it contained provisions that would permit government agencies to compel organisations to reveal private keys which would unlock encrypted information in their possession.
A code of practice for the seizure of keys has been repeatedly delayed, however Nabarro Nathanson advises its high time that firms begin formulating plans about how they will deal with the Act. RIPA means firms need to review their policies and review contracts of employment deal with the legislation.
Hardly surprising, you'd need to read the news in detail and on a daily basis to even know of its existence, how can the government expect ISPs to act if they don't know how, what it is or even why? More @ The Register. |
News - April 11,2002
Long Fast24 ISP Service Update
By:mark.j @ 2:48:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Just a note to say that the unmetered dialup ISP Fast24 has posted a long service / status update on our forums HERE. Here's a small quote:
1. Is Fast24 moving all its customers over to BT FRIACO, or is this what they are planning?
Answer: No we are not currently moving customers across to the BT FRIACO service enmass. Nor is it our intention in the forseeable future to do so. |
Broadband Satellite ISP Prices To Fall
By:mark.j @ 2:44:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We didn't see this one coming; the government's e-Envoy Andrew Pinder has reportedly said that broadband Satellite ISP charges will need to be slashed by next year, specifically to help rural areas:
Andrew Pinder told vnunet.com: "There's a lot of scope for new technology. We ought to be seeing more satellite than we are because it's the answer for the 40 per cent of the population that aren't in reach of [DSL and cable modems].
I want to see these products because they will do away with the biggest issue, which is getting broadband to rural communities to preserve jobs." A BTopenworld spokeswoman said that, while prices are regularly reviewed, there are no current plans for any cuts.
The telco indicated that it is working on a new wholesale satellite offering, which would be slower than broadband speeds. A spokesman described the product as delivering "fast internet" speeds, and said it could be available later this year.
No matter what happens the technical issues behind Satellite ISP access mean that 'cheaper' options will always be difficult to provide.
Either way we're still waiting to see TiscaliSat (comparatively affordable) go live (national) and it'll be interesting to see what comes of the new package BTOpenworld has planned. More @ VNUNet. |
CharityDAYS Tout Charity ISP Success
By:mark.j @ 9:25:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The unmetered and broadband ISP for charity, CharityDAYS, has today issued a new press release regarding their 'positive' impact with various charity organisations:
CharityDAYS PASSES THE FIVE MILLION MARK
In just five months since its official launch, CharityDAYS, the charity fundraising Internet service provider (ISP), has secured formal contracts with more than 40 national and regional charities which, between them, represent more than five million members and supporters.
Commenting on the news, CharityDAYS spokesman Nick Aldrich, said: "The rate of take-up for our fundraising model and for the ISP service which we offer has surpassed our most optimistic expectations. We believe that the quality of the product, pricing point and service we're able to offer all Internet users, business or domestic, is a major contributing factor to this success.
Already this year our ISP service has been rated as one of the UK's top ten ISP's on many Internet portals and Internet magazines"
"What's more, the charities with which we are now working represent the cream of the crop and include many of the UK's biggest and well known. Their membership is now beginning to migrate to the CharityDAYS service in increasing numbers which will result in significant additional funds being raised for them".
CharityDAYS is the brand name of Donate As You Surf Limited which launched in October 2001. The company has established CharityDAYS as a responsible fundraising alternative to traditional Internet service providers. Around 10 pence in every pound spent by CharityDAYS users is donated to nominated charities. Over 15 products are available to home and business users including pay as you go, fixed access and broadband accounts. With fixed access starting at £8.99 and ADSL starting at £27.99 per month, CharityDays are also one of the most cost effective providers in the UK.
It's estimated that some 14 million people use the Internet in the UK. If only one in every hundred Internet user were to use CharityDAYS, more than £2,000,000, would be donated to charitable causes at no extra cost to the user. |
Streaming Doubles Broadband Speed
By:mark.j @ 9:20:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The new media start-up, EdgeStream, has plans to use the 'middle mile' (note: not 'last mile') of data delivery to improve Internet streaming rates:
The company has operated in stealth mode for the past two years as it works out what it calls a new method for improving data delivery on the public Internet.
Whereas broadband providers aim to bridge the gap between the home and the high-speed Internet backbone, EdgeStream's turf is the open field that connects broadband users to the content they want to consume. The company plans to make its technology public on Wednesday, when it hopes to prove that it can guarantee streaming throughput at rates that exceed 1mbps -- up to twice the speeds normally achieved on most high-speed connections.
"We are able to harness more bandwidth than is usually available over the public Internet," said Rajeev Sehgal, EdgeStream's vice president of business development. "We use client-controlled continuous route optimisation to find the best routes that can carry the needed bandwidth to the client."
More @ ZDNet. |
BTs Wireless Plan Good For Laptops
By:mark.j @ 9:16:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if BTs recently announce ‘wireless’ initiative could be good for Laptop users as well, allowing them to access the Internet from a wide range of public places:
The scheme will be rolled out to hundreds of sites, which may include Costa Coffee and Welcome Break outlets. BT hopes its wireless local area network will rake in £30 million a year.
Laptop users will gain access to high-speed links to the internet and their company computer networks. Users will need to be about 100 metres from a wireless local area network hotspot.
They will also need a wireless LAN card - which currently cost about £100 each - and the right software on their laptop or mobile. Payments can be made on a monthly subscription basis, by credit card, or by buying a scratch card from the hotspot host retailer.
While it's a good idea, we can't help but wonder about the security issues, which is already a serious concern for wireless networks. Business users could be particularly prone to hi-tech industrial espionage, more @ Ananova. |
Pay To Play Tetris? NTL & Telewest
By:mark.j @ 9:10:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] While it's not strictly ISP news, NTL and Telewest are set to offer a highly controversial 'Pay-Per-Play' system for none other than Tetris, the little block building game that's free almost everywhere:
YooMedia plc - formerly e-district.net - has signed a deal with The Tetris Company to market the pay-per-play interactive game to customers of cablecos Telewest and NTL.
Apparently, the "addictive nature and simple controls make Tetris a perfect fit for interactive TV".
Revenues will be split between YooMedia and The Tetris Company. Price per play for a game which has been widely cloned and is widely available for free has not as yet been disclosed.
Tetris may be a fun and addictive game, yet outside of a handheld games console we doubt many would actually pay to play it! Not to mention that some other Digital TV providers offer it for free, would you pay? More @ The Register. |
Oftels March 2002 ADSL Fact Sheet
By:mark.j @ 9:01:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide has been the first to spot that Oftel has once again updated its 'monthly' broadband ADSL Fact Sheet (March), which can be read in full HERE.
We'll only quote the 'progress update' since the rest is similar every month and rarely changes. Note that No.1 (Rollout) was removed due to being an HTML table; however it states that 1,014 exchanges were enabled at the end of March 2002:
<>Progress update - March 2002
This update focuses on progress made in the last month and is not intended as a complete overview of ADSL roll-out.
2. Take up (as at end of March):
BT: ~165,000
Kingston: ~11,000
3. Developments
Increased exchange roll-out: BT announced plans on 8 April to enable a further 100 exchanges to deliver broadband services by the end of May. This should increase BT’s broadband coverage to around two thirds of UK households. BT is also reviewing a further 500 exchanges, which may be next to be upgraded.
Introduction of self-install for BT DataStream Home & Office and BT VideoStream Plus: Self-install versions of BT’s DataStream Home & Office and VideoStream Plus wholesale products will become available from 29 April. This will lead to a reduction in the rental and connection charges for the products (see below) as it will no longer be necessary for an engineer to install the services. End users will be responsible for the purchase and installation of their own modems and microfilters.
Central Plus Trial: BT started trialling BT Central Plus from 11 March 2002. BT Central Plus is an enhancement to the BT IPStream portfolio, that will allow Service Providers to connect their End Users directly to the Internet. A full launch of the product is targeted for May 2002. The product will be sold in blocks of 5,000 ports and BT has proposed pricing of £50,000 for connection and £165,000 for annual rental.
BT IP Stream Service Provider transfer pilot: BT is developing a new process to allow consumers to transfer between service providers without the need for their service to be ceased and re-provided, as is required at present. BT is currently piloting this process and a full launch of the service is due to follow if the pilot is successful. For the period of the pilot, BT will not be levying a charge for transferring consumers between service providers.
BT IPStream 500 withdrawal: BT has announced that it plans to withdraw its IPStream 500 product from new supply in August 2002. BT plans to support existing IPStream 500 users for at least a year, though plans to migrate them to IPStream Home thereafter. |
News - April 10,2002
Inmarsat’s Flying Satellite ISP Service
By:mark.j @ 2:49:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The British satellite communications firm, Inmarsat, has announced plans to provide airline passengers with high-speed internet access by the end of 2002:
Its Swift64 package will enable passengers to surf the web, send emails and, eventually, watch television in the air.
Inmarsat marketing manager Simon Tudge says the system will be offered to corporate jet owners in June and to commercial airlines by the end of the year.
Swift64 will offer data speeds equivalent to an earth-bound digital subscriber line, or DSL, connection. The service will be resold by four separate providers.
This certainly wouldn't be the first such service that we've heard of, although knowing airlines you'd probably need to be in 1st Class to use it (costly). More @ Web-User. |
NTL 1Mbps Service & New Modem
By:mark.j @ 2:44:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Following on from the Telewest item below, NTL has also made a couple of new announcements today. Firstly their 1Mbps service is due to go live in 'original' franchises from next week:
ntl:home's broadband team has confirmed to Digital Spy that all "original" franchises will be able to receive 1mbps broadband access from Monday, 15th April.
This means that customers with standalone cable modems, such as the 3Com CMX, 3Com HomeConnect, Motorola SurfBoard, and Terayon Terajet, will now be able to receive the service. It has already launched in ex-CWC areas, where broadband service is provisioned through the digital TV set-top-box.
All existing models will work with the new speed, and it will rollout immediately across the entire "original" network.
The DigitalSpy item also notes an improved 256Kbps upload speed, which is another measure that should help the operator compete with BT.
There's even an update to the previous report of a new ntl:home-branded cable modem, which is still due to launch by the end of April:
the new modem will have an internal web diagnostics page similar to that of the 3Com HomeConnect "tailfin" and the Motorola Surfboard. This feature was not available on the 3Com CMX or Terayon, but it has been shown to significantly assist the company's technical support agents in diagnosing faults.
The modem will also be fully supported by ntl's Broadband Installer and Correct Connect software; two items which again have apparently improved the turnaround time on fault resolution; often a harshly criticised area in the past of ntl's customer support. |
TW blueyonder Cuts Broadband Price!
By:mark.j @ 2:37:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Who'd have thought that Telewest's blueyonder would be the ISP forced to make a price cut in the face of competition from BT? Either way that's the big news today because Telewest have done just that:
The monthly fee for the high-speed cable modem service has been reduced from £33 to £29.99 for customers who don't subscribe to Telewest's phone and TV service. For those who do, the price remains at £25 a month.
Cutting the price brings Telewest in line with the major ADSL providers. "We weren't going to have them say they were cheaper than us," said a Telewest source.
Telewest is also offering to waive the £50 set-up fee for existing users of its dial-up internet service who want to install broadband before the end of April 2002. Non-customers might even find it cheaper to join the dial-up service, then switch to broadband for free.
We can't help but note Telewest's quote above, they seem to have neglected the fact that ISPs such as Pipex, among many others, still undercut them? BTO isn't the only market player.
The Web-User item also reminds us that a 1Mbps service is expected to move into trial within a few weeks. |
NTL & AOL In Unmetered Pact
By:mark.j @ 9:52:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Daily Telegraph is reporting that NTL and AOL have signed a 'wholesale' deal, which is apparently designed to give AOL direct access to customers on NTLs UK network:
This is the first time NTL has sold wholesale flat rate access directly to an internet service provider (ISP), marking a change in strategy thought to be brought on by its need to boost total income. The deal could hurt its own ISP, NTLWorld, which currently has 700,000 users.
An NTL spokesman said: "We have agreed to offer AOL-managed flat-rate network capability. We are in favour of any measure that increases customer choice."
The deal means that anyone with an NTL phone line can connect directly to AOL and will not have to go via BT's network or other telecoms companies. In theory, this should improve reliability and speed.
The deal also means that NTL customers can sign up for AOL's unmetered services for the first time. Previously they could only get pay-as-you-go access. Although the deal only covers standard internet access for now, it is thought it will eventually be extended to broadband.
Existing AOL UK ISP customers will already be aware of the long standard relationship with NTL; this simply takes that one step further. It's always possible that the offer could be extended in some way to other ISPs, we know of a number that would be pleased to see it. |
Nildram's ADSL ISP Migration Trial
By:mark.j @ 9:42:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In yet another press release, Nildram have announced their involvement with BTs Service Provider (ISP) Migration Trial. Typically this relates to when customers wish to transfer between ISPs without too much trouble:
Nildram take part in ISP Migration Trial
Nildram, one of the leading providers of Broadband Access services in the UK, have today announced their participation in the new BT Service Provider Migration Trial.
Following requests from customers, BT Wholesale are developing a new process for End Users wishing to transfer between consenting Service Providers, without the need for their service to be ceased and re-provided, with the resulting fresh Connection Fee. The Trial has been launched in order to test the process and is expected to last for 4-8 weeks, with a launch to follow immediately after the successful pilot.
The trial includes all existing BT IPStream Home & Office, BT IPStream 500 and BT IPStream S Series customers and the trial covers all Broadband enabled areas. Any customers wishing to transfer to Nildram, will need to check that their existing provider is also on the trial.
During the trail period the administration fee will be waived, but an appropriate charge will be implemented when the service is formally released.
Iain Ogilvie, Nildram's marketing manager comments: "Simplified migration between ISPs has been something we have been keen to see ever since the initial launch of ADSL in the UK." He goes on to add: "Potential Broadband users concerned that they may become trapped with a poor service will now be able to go ahead and place an order, safe in the knowledge that they can change ISPs in a simple and cost effective manner should the need arise." "We have had a large number of successful migrations to Nildram since the launch of our MoveDSL initiative - we believe this new migration process will swell these numbers significantly!" About Nildram
http://www.nildram.net
Sounds like good news, the more the merrier. |
Energis Encircled By Buyers
By:mark.j @ 9:38:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The telecoms and networking group behind several UK ISPs, Energis, is reported to be encircled by up to half a dozen potential buyers:
Reuters claims that Energis wants to receive the bids for its business by next week in a move that could net the company more than £700 million, although previous reports claim the figure could even be as high as £1 billion.
Speculation surfaced a couple of months ago that Energis was on the hunt for a buyer after it warned that it faced a difficult financial future amid a slump in the telecoms market.
Financial institutions including Carlye Group, Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts and Apax Partners, among others, have all been link with a possible bid.
The Register's item notes that Energis has been unwilling to comment on the matter, which is common for such a situation. |
Employer Staff Surveillance = Illegal
By:mark.j @ 9:35:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] New draft guidelines from the ‘Information Commission’ have shown that covert monitoring of staff email and Internet use could, in many cases, be illegal:
In a draft of its guide on employee monitoring, The use of personal data in employer/employee relationships, the Commission says it is difficult to see how covert monitoring of performance can ever be justified. "Covert monitoring of behaviour can only be justified in very limited circumstances, such as where being open with employees would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders," says the Commission.
Furthermore, covert monitoring of staff is only likely to be legal if a specific criminal activity has been identified and covert monitoring has to be used to obtain evidence, but explaining this to the staff might make that difficult. In addition, employers must assess for how long the monitoring should last; it should not be indefinite.
Although many of the issues relate to the Data Protection Act, monitoring of communications is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which makes it unlawful for employers and others to intercept communications in the course of their transmission on a private telecommunications system unless certain conditions are met. "The monitoring by an employer of the content of telephone calls, email messages and Internet access involving employees is potentially against the law," say the draft guidelines.
Employers take note - More @ ZDNet. |
Zen Internet Launch Dedicated Servers
By:mark.j @ 9:31:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Zen Internet has today issued a new press release in which they state that for as low as £95 per month you could now own one of their Cobalt RaQ based Dedicated Server Hosting packages:
Zen launch Dedicated Servers at ground-breaking prices
Zen Internet plan to take the world of Dedicated Server Hosting by storm with a new range of Cobalt RaQ packages starting at only £95 per month.
Offering probably the most competitive prices in the UK today, Zen's range of dedicated Cobalt RaQ servers provides ultra-reliable Web hosting and FTP service with capacity for 200 or more complete Web sites, and full e-mail services, including autoresponders and mail forwarding with unlimited POP3 accounts that allow service provision for even more clients.
Zen offers much higher value and more bandwidth compared to other providers - from 10GB monthly with the basic £95 per month (ex. Vat) service - and up to 40GB at the top of the five-product range launched today (9th April).
Zen Internet's range of dedicated Cobalt RaQ servers offers an ultra-reliable Web presence and FTP service with enough capacity for around 200 complete Web sites. Standard features include fully functional Apache Web server, ASP, PHP, Interbase 6 SQL database, and complete e-mail service with unlimited forwarding, autoresponders and POP3 accounts. A simple Web control interface provides clients with easy configuration of virtual servers for multiple users, DNS services, FrontPage extensions, and e-mail.
Optional extras include additional bandwidth, SSL Certificates and the Advanced Server Control service, which allows customers to reboot their server remotely via the Web based interface and to receive SMS or e-mail notifications in the unlikely event of any machine downtime.
Unlike shared hosting servers, Zen's new Cobalt RaQ packages offer every client and their site visitors the exclusive use of a dedicated machine. For Web developers, a dedicated server is the ultimate Web hosting solution, with all the assured security and total control of client Web sites needed for full Virtual ISP (VISP) capabilities. A dedicated server can act as a powerful dedicated machine for a single big-hitting portal, or accommodate around 200 individual customer Web sites.
Network location and position on the Internet can be vital to the success of any Web site, often turning the choice of hosting provider into a business-critical decision. Long established as a leading business ISP, with an unrivalled reputation for customer service and technical support, Zen Internet offers security, reliability and scalability based on one of the UK's highest performing IP networks.
Zen Internet's Web Hosting information site has been completely redesigned to showcase the new range of price-beating dedicated services, launched today alongside the company's established collection of classic shared hosting solutions.
More information on Zen's Dedicated Servers range and 24/7 secure online ordering is available at http://www.zenwebhosting.com/dedicated |
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