June 8, 2001 - June 13, 2001
News - June 13,2001
ASA Clears Telewests Broadband Advert
By:mark.j @ 3:58:PM -
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The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has today cleared Telewest of claims that an advert for its broadband service was misleading. TW claimed its blueyonder service was, "Nearly 10 times faster than your current dial-up service":
Telewest dismissed the concerns saying that most of its punters were happy with the service. It supplied data which it said showed that between January 2001 and March 2001 its service was "on average 11.1 times faster than the average throughput speed available with dial-up ISPs."
The broadband cable provider argued that if some people weren't getting the performance they expected, the fault lay with the customer and not with its service.
Telewest even offered to send round an engineer to examine each of the complainants' equipment. The ASA notes that none of the complainants accepted the offer.
The Register goes into more detail and something we find interesting is the way the original advert tries to target specifics through a general phrase. What do you think, should the ASA have upheld the complaint or did Telewest have the right of way?
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Breathe & Affinity Service Update
By:mark.j @ 1:15:PM -
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Anthony, a reader of ISP Review and customer with Breathe, let us know that the new Affinity owned ISP has sent out an interesting service update:
Affinity Internet Holdings plc, a leading Internet and telecoms company have agreed to become our new parent company and completion of this agreement will take place this week. This UK Company has been the supplier of our key services since breathe began and have a great deal of expertise and experience in the provision of Internet and communications services.
But what does this mean for you?
· Be assured that all of the services you currently use will continue to be available
· We at breathe will be bringing you a whole new series of services and products over the coming days and weeks, including unmetered Internet access, mobile services and low cost telephone packages. Look out for the first of these very soon.
In short, Breathe will continue to bring you a great choice, easy to use services and useful information.
Ultimately you will breathe better than ever before!
The breathe team.
Much as predicted Breathe now looks set to benefit from Affinity's unmetered VIP system, although who will man the support lines and E-Mails now most of the staff have gone remains to be seen.
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WonkyPig Service Update
By:mark.j @ 1:12:PM -
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Some service updates going on at WonkyPig (BigBlueSky VISP) today, so if you're having some registration/connection problems then this could help explain them:
0800 Internet Customers
Morning Update : 10:35am
After the launch two days ago weve been flooded with new registrations, you may get the following message when connecting " invalid username or password" , don't worry this is only because our authorisation server is being worked on at the moment to cope with the extra demand. This will be completed by 09:00 GMT 15/6/01
Please note that due to high demand user names and passwords are being sent out within 4 hours of registration.
One of our readers, Keith, also pointed out something usual, the update had apparently previously read:
0800 Internet Customers
Please note that due to high demand user names and passwords are being sent out within 4 hours of registration.
The Charge of £5.99 per month will increase on Monday to £9.99 per month for new users wishing to join the service, this does not effect exisiting memebers of our 0800 service as the price will not change.
The line has now been removed and it would be unusual to make such a change only a day or two after launch. Whether this means they'll do it in the future we don't know, either way it's no longer present. If anybody uses WonkyPig then do let us know what it's like.
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New Article / Reviews & Update @ ISPr
By:mark.j @ 1:00:PM -
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BTInternet Sneak New Cut-Off In
By:mark.j @ 11:24:AM -
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While changing some sections of the site for a larger update later on, we came across an interesting E-Mail in our ISP complaints folder.
It claimed BTInternet had changed their Terms & Conditions again under the 7. Restrictions on use section, a quick check proved him correct:
7.5 Use of unmetered access periods under the BTinternet Anytime service, or as part of BT Surf Package, is limited to an online session of two hours. Between the peak hours of 19:00 and 22:00, we may limit the session to 90 minutes. You can re-connect back to the Internet by using your dial-up connection.
BTI have been rather unstable on the issue of Cut-off times and so it comes as little surprise that they've a lower 1Hour 30Mins cut for peak times. Such periods are also causing the service problems, as you'll see later when we update the complaints page.
Complaints against BTI have been at an all time high this last fortnight.
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BTOpenworlds Interactive Training Partnership
By:mark.j @ 10:03:AM -
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BTopenworld today announced details of a partnership with Redbus CPD
(Providers of interactive, career-based training) to offer a dedicated broadband website for professionals who are required to continue their professional development, partial PR follows:
BTopenworld announces broadband interactive training strategic partnership with Redbus CPD
London 12 June 2001
BTopenworld, BT's international mass market Internet business, today announced details of a strategic partnership with Redbus CPD (Continuing Professional Development), in which the two companies will be working together to offer a unique Broadband channel with full screen, full motion, interactive programmes on demand for professionals that will be made available via BTopenworld's broadband Internet service.
Redbus CPD has developed 'Keep-up-to-date.tv', a dedicated, subscription-based broadband channel for CPD offering an interactive video on demand (VOD) service that will deliver a full range of educational programmes for professionals in a number of sectors in the UK using BTopenworld's broadband technology. Initially the application is being developed for the dental profession (planned to launch in October 2001), but will be rolled out across a number of additional sectors where CPD is mandatory and accountability is key to career development, such as medicine, finance, optometry and surveying.
Redbus CPD believes that its offering is unique to broadband in the UK and has been developed to capitalise on government and governing body mandates requiring a growing number of professions to fulfill a prescribed number of hours of Continuing Professional Development every year in order to be revalidated and remain on their professional registers. These hours of study often mean taking time out to travel to lectures and so on, which can be time consuming and inconvenient. By contrast interactive online training allows users to save time and money and complete their CPD at their convenience.
There is also measurability. Traditionally this is a paper-based system, similar to a time sheet - however, with interactive online training, each individual's activities are logged in a secure database, proving that they have completed the mandated number of hours required to meet their CPD requirements. This can then be transmitted electronically to their governing body, eliminating the need to archive paper certificates, fill in and file forms or complete record cards and has the potential to remove the institution's administrative burden.
……………
The full press release was far too big to publish and so if you find this interesting then please contact BTOpenworld.
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MS Calls On Government To Act (Broadband)
By:mark.j @ 9:57:AM -
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Microsoft has called on the government to sort out the broadband mess in the UK, claiming that they have a social responsibility to get high-speed access to citizens, yet doesn't blame BT for any of it.
Typical, the only time Microsoft ever cares about the little people is when one of their future products will be a failure (.NET) because that country doesn't offer its residents proper broadband:
The software giant does believe that the government has got to put resources into the high-speed technology. "It is very clear that broadband has non-financial benefits and government needs to be the leader on that," Lynn said. "It needs social resources to make it happen and the government has to look at that."
While operators and ISPs have identified BT as the bottleneck to broadband rollout in the UK due to the cost of both consumer and wholesale ADSL, Lynn believes it would be wrong to blame one company. "To pinpoint one company as the fall guy would be erroneous," he said.
Microsoft may be uncomfortably close to the Labour government; although it's unlikely their latest outburst will affect any real change. Debt laden BT isn't in any position to push things through faster and the government can't be seen to fund a commercial operation, more @ ZDNet.
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Technology Makes People Unsociable?
By:mark.j @ 9:47:AM -
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Apparently we'd all go out to the pub 160 times a year on average and that was two years ago. Telewests latest survey states that this figure has dropped by 60 to 100 times, but why?
Well, it seems the reason people are staying more is because they want to watch TV or use their PC.
"Over half now say a big night in might mean using their PC or TV to enjoy a hobby, like cooking, gardening or games, and then watching the latest top film with friends," says a Telewest press release.
The Register's item is short and perhaps unwittingly suggests that you could be rather sad if you stay in and watch TV or use the net now and then rather than getting p*** drunk in the pub EVERY night.
Considering anybody reading this would have to be using the Internet, what do you think? Can you really only be interesting if you're in the pub every night or does the Internet/TV entertain you and enhance your communications for just as much enjoyment? All sounds a bit like a contradiction in terms.
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430Million Online Globally
By:mark.j @ 9:37:AM -
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The latest stats from Nielsen/NetRatings claim that 430Million people are now online around the world and using the Internet, with the US and Canada taking 41% of the total:
Richard Goosey, an analysts with AC Nielsen said: "In terms of penetration levels, just over a quarter of European households have Internet access via a home PC, compared to one third of the households in Asia Pacific and nearly half of American households."
"Don't expect this American domination to last long, though," he said.
"Compared to a year ago, significantly more households in Europe and Asia Pacific now have a PC in the home and a greater proportion of homes are making use of that PC to connect to the Internet."
The Register also mentions that Germany and the UK take the majority of Internet access in Europe, with France following in third place. We may not have the best broadband, but we sure know how to get online without it.
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Madasafish Reintroduce Newsgroups
By:mark.j @ 9:29:AM -
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Thanks to all who pointed us towards the newly updated service status page at Madasafish today, which seems to have had a change of tune:
13 / 6 / 2001
Due to an oversight on our behalf, the Newsgroup services were temporarily removed from Madasafish. These services are to continue and will be resumed as soon as possible. Madasafish apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Looks like they took notice of the anger among some consumers and agreed to reintroduce the newsgroup service. On a side note they've also upgraded their network and you may need to go HERE for details on that.
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News - June 12,2001
WonkyPig Unmetered Update
By:mark.j @ 4:10:PM -
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One of our readers, Keith, today noticed that WonkyPig (aka 0800Pig, a BigBlueSky VISP) have updated their site with word on their unmetered ISPs launch and pricing details:
Great News!, After months of planning our Internet service is now available to new and existing customers of Wonkypig. Our 0800 internet services works like any other ISP but you have NO call charges what so ever ! - Our simple £5.99 per month package allows you to surf the internet when ever you like - there's no memory hungry software and there's no need to change your phone number or phone line supplier we give you your user details and our 0800 dial up number.
£5.99 per month gets you:
0800 Internet Access No Call Charges
Your Own email address
Fast Speeds upto 64k ISDN
PC & Mac Supported
Technical Support Via Email
& more services when there launched
The low price shouldn't come as a surprise considering the ISPs links with BBS and you can register for it HERE. Generally if you want to discuss them then it's probably better to do it in the BBS forum for now, although we'll add a special one for WonkyPig soon.
Another thing to note is that in the T&C's it states:
1). (a) The Company will provide the User with a free of charge internet access service for one year, for a one off connection payment of £71.11, (subject to change) for Wonkypig Internet Web.
Now £5.99 * 12 Months = £71.88 and not £71.11? Why the tiny difference? Well who cares, our question is why it's offering a monthly payment plan and yet the T&Cs state it's an annual one, which is true? Either way we wish this new ISP the best of luck and hope that its name doesn't dictate the quality, or cause offence to farmers =).
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Official Word On NTL & 0808 Numbers
By:mark.j @ 3:57:PM -
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Several of our readers have been trying to get to the bottom of the NTL and 0808 freecall number charging issue. As many may remember both Vispa and Logicsurf (semi-linked providers) announced that their 0808 unmetered service would be free under NTL lines.
However confusion arose in one of the press releases and later from official NTL sources that claimed this was incorrect. Adding that free calls for such systems would only come from BT lines or NTL converted BT lines, not fibre optic packages.
This would seem to ring true primarily because FRIACO and its BTSurfPort24 variant are designed for BTs exchanges, not Cable Co's. Thankfully one of our readers, Craig, may have finally got some solid answers!:
I have just spoken to NTL Customer Services and they have logged my call on their system.
They have told me and double-checked - all calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers do not incur a charge or connection fee (normally 4.5p) on their packages.
That is thru either a BT line (short code) or cable customers using their NTL Lines and therefore those who have NTL wired into their house. Therefore there are no exceptions to this rule - fibre optic customers are included!
If anyone experiences a problem with being charged they should call their local NTL office direct and have the charged removed.
She had originally told me that although the call is free, I may get charged a connection fee, when I said I had not been previously, she double checked and came back with the above.
So there you have it, whether NTL fully supports FRIACO or BTSurfPort24 doesn't matter, what matters is that 0808 numbers are freecall for their service. There's still a chance the related systems may default the connect to a paid one, if this happens then do as Craig suggests, give them a bell.
As for Telewest? We’re still waiting for a reply.
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McAfee & Boadjump To Make Broadband Safe
By:mark.j @ 3:45:PM -
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Anybody would think that using broadband could be akin to using pads on your arms before trying out the local skate park. Despite this the Always-On broadband revolution does increase the likelihood of hacker and virus infiltration into your system, but not for long:
Users of broadband services will soon have new options for security, including personal firewalls and antivirus protection, thanks to a partnership between broadband solutions provider Broadjump and online security tools firm McAfee.com.
"McAfee.com software can be downloaded in three steps with Broadjump, but at a portal site this would be more like 12," said Matt Tormollen, vice president of marketing and strategy at Broadjump.
The ZDNet item doesn't really go into detail, although no doubt Firewalls and online compatible anti-virus software are a growth sector with such technologies.
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TheDogmaGroup Launch 0800ONLINE
By:mark.j @ 10:03:AM -
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Today yet another unmetered ISP has joined the fray, this time from TheDogmaGroup, who run the OnlineServe ISP:
0800ONLINE.CO.UK
thedogmagroup.com finally unveil their friaco based unmetered option! 0800online is a subscription based unmetered ISP providing 24-7 0808 Internet access. For £14.99 a month you receive unmetered access to the Internet via our own dedicated Internet DataCentre based in Manchester.
What you get is simple but concise:
0808 Internet access
Support for ISDN V90, K56Flex and 56K
10Mb Webspace
Free unlimited email addresses
Free News Group access
Free software downloads
Subscription to Business News Letter
All website requests routed through dedicated access Servers
0800 FREE technical Support.
BT line required, although NTL and other cable customers will be fully accommodated with an unmetered option that will be announced later this month.
To order your setup disk, please visit http://www.0800online.co.uk
Their offer appears to be pretty much the norm for modern unmetered ISPs to introduce and doesn't stand out from the crowd in any way. Another one to add to the list of ISPs to review once it's been in service for a couple of months, we'll keep you posted on any developments.
We did like the mention of an unmetered package specially designed for those with Cable Companies, we hope they mean Fibre Optic customers.
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BTIgnite Relaunch Datastream / Cheaper DSL
By:mark.j @ 9:57:AM -
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According to THIS forum page over @ ADSLGuide, BTIgnite will soon reintroduce BTDataStream.
Most ISPs currently offering broadband xDSL (ADSL, RADSL, SDSL etc.) services presently use IPstream as DataStream was previously considered too expensive. However BT will soon be selling DataStream once again, but at a price cheaper than IPstream.
So what is the difference between DataStream and IPStream. With DataStream BT just provides an ATM end to end connection, this leaves the ISP to provide the TCP/IP or other network layer. The ISP therefore has better control of the service and the ability to offer different contention ratios - plus a major advantage is that this service is 'wires-only', i.e. the ISP or end-user can supply the DSL modem.
DataStream will come in two variants a 'Home' version, which will be RADSL based, and an 'Office' version that will be ADSL based, i.e. fixed upstream but downstreams options of 512kbps, 1Mbps and 2Mbps available. A symmetric SDSL version is pencilled in for later in the year.
Pricing wise it is a lot more attractive now (all prices are per year and exclude VAT).
500kbps downstream product is £280, Install £100.
4Mbps Virtual channel to connect to Access Link £2500-£3100. Supports either 32 or 150 users.
Customer Access Link 155Mbps - £50000 installation, then £30000 p/a.
There's no real reason why BT are suddenly now able to offer DataStream at a reduced price over IPStream, where they couldn't before. Not only that but the prices seem to reflect wholesale costs and not ISP To Consumer costs.
After all, £280 PA works out at £23.33 Per Month for a 500Kbps broadband product, which is cheaper than IPStream and slightly unrealistic. ISPs tend to add an extra 40% to 45% on top due to the extreme bandwidth consumption from their networks.
Yet even given this rise it should now be more realistic for lower end broadband packages that cost around £35 to £40 per month, cheaper than the current ADSL alternatives. If correct (we could be wrong here, quite confusing) then the rumours of cheaper RA/ADSL after the summer from BT insiders may be true.
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New Government E-Minister Named
By:mark.j @ 9:41:AM -
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It shouldn't come as any surprise, given the government’s cabinet reshuffle, that a new E-Minister has been named to replace Patricia Hewitt.
Replacing her is the MP for Paisley South, Douglas Alexander. The MP doesn't appear to have any real background with modern technology, although there isn't much detail to go on.
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BT Join Forces With Deutsche Telekom On 3G
By:mark.j @ 9:34:AM -
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In an effort to cut costs and improve services for future 3G (3rd Generation Broadband Wireless [Mobile Phones]) services in both the UK and Germany, BT has formed an alliance with Deutsche Telekom.
BT said in a statement today that under preliminary agreements signed with Deutsche, the debt-laden UK company could save up to 30% on the capital cost of building 3G networks and estimated further substantial savings on operations costs.
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BTs Dreaded Sir.Bonfield To Go?
By:mark.j @ 9:29:AM -
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The Evening Standard newspaper has been reporting that BTs chief executive Peter Bonfield could loose his job soon after BT Wireless (BT Cellnet) is demerged:
However, the BT spokeswoman said the company had only recently restructured Bonfield's contract to encourage him to stay. She said the changes had been made around the time of Sir Iain Vallance's departure as chairman to ensure the company would have some continuity.
Previously, Bonfield had been on a 12-month rolling contract.
"It's a very strange story. As far as we're concerned, there's no truth in it," she said.
The VNUNet item doesn't give much in the way of detail, although a lot of people would be happy to see Bonfield go. Having said that BT has gone on record as saying that they'd like him to stay, we doubt they'd do a U-Turn on such a clear statement.
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Affinity Discuss Breathe Purchase
By:mark.j @ 9:21:AM -
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Only a few days after Affinity purchased Breathe from GUS and they've already begun to re-shape the company, revealing more details about their plans.
Breathe is currently making a loss of roughly £600,000 per month and as such Affinity's first action is to expire some 70 jobs from the ISP! Breathe still retains 600,000 to 650,000 customers on its Local Call Rate (0845) service and Affinity intends to build on that.
Affinity claims it will operate the Breathe service on a significantly lower cost than previously, and will offer Breathe customers an enhanced service with personalised content. Affinity's own unmetered offerings and an improved portal are already on the cards to help reform the loss making ISP.
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BBS Suffer BT Line Errors
By:mark.j @ 9:08:AM -
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We've heard a lot of reports over the last couple of days from customers finding it harder than usual to connect to the unmetered ISP, BigBlueSky. Many of those have now reported the following service status update:
URGENT UPDATE
In the last hour the Support Centre has received numerous phone calls from users who are trying to go on-line, but when dialling in, receiving the message "This number is not accepting calls at present. Please try later". However, it appears that some users are still able to get on-line, without the 'helpful' message.
This is a problem at BT's end, and they doing their utmost to locate the problem, and may well be rectified later today.
Bigbluesky apologises to our customers and would also like to apologise on behalf of BT.
Hopefully things should be back to normal soon.
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News - June 11,2001
LogicSurf On Unmetered Launch
By:mark.j @ 4:08:PM -
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The MD @ LogicSurf Internet sent us another small update regarding the launch of their unmetered package. Please note that we had to make some minor grammatical changes to this message as words were missing in the original E-Mail:
Due to the recent newsletter reminding users to sign up for our 0808 access (to launch the first week in July), you will need to sign up before 18th June 2001 as we have to buy ports from our supplier as they come. If not signed up before 18th June 2001 they may have to wait 2 weeks after launch date for new ports.
We are urging that all users wishing to be a part of Logicsurf Internet’s freecall package please signup for an 0845 username. Then pre-signup for unmetered on the website, this will Guarantee that the user will have access to the freecall package on launch date and at the low price of £13 (Per Month).
We would like to advise that NTL and BT line users WILL be able to use this system.
It's important to remember that the NTL issue doesn't cover those with Fibre Optic lines; LogicSurf could do with making this clear, it could be misleading.
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One.Tel Sack 1,000 Staff
By:mark.j @ 3:55:PM -
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Given the current state of the Sydney based end of Telco One.Tel, it comes as no surprise that a heavy spate of redundancies would follow their recent creditors meeting. The UK end will hopefully remain largely unaffected, although even that part will be affected to some degree:
After the initial creditors' meeting earlier this week, joint administrator Steve Sherman said staff could expect employment to cease "as early as the end of the week".
The CPSU is calling on industry big wigs Telstra and Optus to do the right thing and provide employment to redundant One.Tel workers.
"If they're taking over sections of One.Tel's business they should give staff the option to move with that work into the new organisation," Rahui said in an earlier interview with ZDNet.
More @ ZDNet.
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SniffOut Announce FRIACO Packages
By:mark.j @ 3:48:PM -
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It's been awhile (April) since we last heard anything from SniffOut, the once troubled unmetered ISP. However one of our readers, Mark (not me =]), has today informed us that the site was updated with word on their new FRIACO based packages:
TimeOut Package
£8.99 per month
Inclusive unmetered Internet access 4pm to 8am weekdays and all weekend. Reconnection required every 2 hours
(Calls Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm charged at only 2p per min.)
SERVICES: Access Speeds Up To 64Kbps ISDN, Email - Unlimited POP3 mailboxes, Web Mail, Newsgroups, Portal Site, 24x7 Telephone Support (calls charged at 50p per min), Free Email Support, Unlimited web space.
PeakTime Package
£11.99 per month
Inclusive unmetered Internet access 8am to 6pm Mon - Fri for business.
(Calls at other times only 1p per min.)
SERVICES: Access Speeds Up To 64Kbps ISDN, Email - Unlimited POP3 mailboxes, Web Mail, Newsgroups, Portal Site, 24x7 Telephone Support (calls charged at 50p per min), Free Email Support, Unlimited web space, Microsoft FrontPage extensions supported.
SmartTime Package
£12.99 per month
Inclusive unmetered Internet access for the home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reconnection required every 2 hours
SERVICES: Access Speeds Up To 64Kbps ISDN, Email - Unlimited POP3 mailboxes, Web Mail, Newsgroups, Portal Site, Telephone Support (calls charged at 50p per min), Free Email Support, Unlimited web space. (Dual ISDN Being Considered!)
DreamTime Package
£19.99 per month
Inclusive extended unmetered Internet access for the home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reconnection required every 5 hours
SERVICES: Access Speeds Up To 64Kbps ISDN, Email - Unlimited POP3 mailboxes, Web Mail, Newsgroups, Portal Site, Telephone Support (calls charged at 50p per min), Free Email Support, Unlimited web space. (Dual ISDN Being Considered!)
The new offers seem to follow the usual trend and aren't anything out of the ordinary, although we'll be interested to see if anything comes of the Dual Channel ISDN considerations.
UPDATE:
Scratch that last bit, they've got a 5 hour cut off on the business package, which is one hour more than most. Now if they’d allow dual channel ISDN on the same package then we know of a few people who’d pay £40 per month for it =).
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Madasafish Sale Causes Loss Of Newsgroups
By:mark.j @ 9:34:AM -
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Normally the sale of a provider won't affect its core services, although this doesn't appear to be the case for popular gaming ISP Madasafish. The latest service status page update simply reads:
The newsgroup service, provided by Iomart for Madasafish, will be discontinued due to the sale of Madasafish.
One of our readers, NutCracker, managed to get a more detailed response:
The reason cited by the support person I just spoke to was:
The newsserver was provided by Iomart who have now sold Madasafish, hence the service is no longer part of Madasafish.
I asked Madasafish how they could just stop providing what I considered a core component of their service. Their response:
The newsgroup service was never part of their terms and conditions.
That last reply is one of the worst excuses we have ever heard for dropping a core system, the T&Cs overall service statement should cover it, you don't list individual items in them anyway. If this were the case then any ISP could sign you up and instantly take away all the core services, it just doesn't work that way.
Sadly there's no mention of what they intend to do about all those users whom make regular use of the system. Will another server be integrated? Unlikely given their rather direct responses so far. Perhaps it’s time for a petition.
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Affinity Purchase Breathe From GUS
By:mark.j @ 9:22:AM -
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Good news for those still using the Ex-Unmetered urbanist ISP, Breathe, after having been ripped to shreds by Great Universal Stores (G.U.S) they're now to be sold.
The new owners will be none other than popular ISP and VIP provider, Affinity Internet Holdings, who will purchase Breathe from GUS at a cost of £1.75Million (533,537 Shares @ £3.28 Each).
Breathe now has a real chance of once again becoming a popular British ISP after being one of the UKs most publicised market failures. Lets hope Affinity give them the home they deserve.
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KeMe Launch Today (Midday)
By:mark.j @ 9:13:AM -
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Just a quick update on the unmetered ISP KeMe, which ran unmetered beta trials early last week. Originally due to go live on the 7th June 2001, this was postponed until the 11th June (today); the service is expected to be online for Midday.
We'll try to get a review done in a month’s time when they've had a chance to settle.
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C.U.T Dissolve Campaign Group
By:mark.j @ 9:10:AM -
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To be fair we've been expecting this, over the last few months C.U.T's news page has remained thin and our interview with them never finalised. Not only that but unmetered access in the UK is now much more realistic and apparent than it was two or three years ago, partly thanks to them:
The Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications is dissolved
London, 10 June 2001
For immediate release
Following a unanimous vote at its third Annual General Meeting the Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications [1] is dissolved.
The attendees decided that, after three years of effort, the Campaign had fulfilled its objectives - there being sustainable unmetered telecommunications at reasonable cost in the United Kingdom - and that it was time to stop when ahead. Committee members will continue to contribute to industry events and discussions on their own initiative.
The remaining Campaign funds are voted to be distributed thus:
* 100 per cent to HumanITy [2].
The Campaign Web site will remain in place indefinitely, with only the interactive parts removed.
The Committee thanks all the individuals and organisations who helped it and, in particular, its 10,000 plus supporters [3] and the five former Committee members. Everything the Campaign did took place, uncompensated, in the free time of its participants.
Notes
[1] http://www.unmetered.org.uk/
[2] http://www.humanity.org.uk/
[3] http://www.unmetered.org.uk/interactive/supportlst.htm
For the record, Humanity is a group aiming to study the impact of information technology on society and work ways around any problems that show up.
We're sorry to see C.U.T go and in some ways remain a little confused as to why. Unmetered Internet access is now abundant, but most of the UKs Telco's don't have any sort of freecall access for voice calls. Having said that we wish C.U.T the best of luck and thank them for all their hard work, you'll be missed.
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News - June 10,2001
ISP Review Weekly Update
By:mark.j @ 9:02:AM -
- SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]
It's been a fairly tough couple of weeks for me, my mother has been seriously ill, another member of the family just got diagnosed with bowel cancer and the workload is building up. Despite this the site continues to solider on and next week should be back to normal with two new reviews and one article.
As you can imagine not much work has been done because of all this, although from tomorrow I will once again continue the long forum migration process. We've been busy taking in some of your suggestions for this and preparing to put them into action.
At present we still plan on introducing the new Readers Top 50 first and then migrating the forums into one place directly after. This should make the site a little less confusing and more fun/easy to use.
It's probably best to leave it at that for this week since there's nothing much to say. I would suggest that if you haven't already and weren't on the original members list when we introduced the Specific ISP Forums, then now would be a good time to register on them for the future.
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News - June 9,2001
PlusNet Drop ADSL Bandwidth Restrictions
By:mark.j @ 9:41:AM -
Comments (6)
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Ever since PlusNET first launched their ADSL services we've seen criticism over their extreme bandwidth limit of 500mb per month. Thankfully and following on from our item yesterday about how the UKs primary broadband suppliers wouldn't introduce restrictions, PlusNET have today announced the removal of their bandwidth limit!:
PlusNet Drop Bandwidth Restrictions on ADSL Services
Great news! PlusNet are pleased to announce the removal of the data transfer quotas for all ADSL services!
PlusNet already offer what are considered to be the best value-added services of any ISP in the UK; effective from 1st June, Data Transfer quotas for the whole range of ADSL products were removed.
This information is published on the product pages of the PlusNet Portal website http://www.plus.net/
So from now on, PlusNet customers can enjoy the benefits of always-on and high-speed Internet connectivity to the full, without limits on how much data they can download in a single day!
PlusNet would remind their customers that this removal of bandwidth restriction applies only to the ADSL connection and this does not affect the policy on Web site traffic.
These improvements are part of the continual drive to enhance the quality of service to all PlusNet customers.
This is clearly excellent news for customers of their broadband package and shows that the ISPs can listen and act when they want to.
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Blueyonder Cache Problem Update
By:mark.j @ 9:34:AM -
Comments (0)
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Telewests broadband Cable Modem arm, blueyonder, yesterday made an update regarding the cache problems we've been covering over the last couple of weeks:
The remainder of the Scotland UBR's are having their configurations updated with the potential fix at midnight tonight. The UBR's are Castle Cary, Perth, Uddingston, Dumbarton. This will be monitored over the weekend. Please give us any feedback on your performance in the newsgroups. Feedback has been positive for the UBR's which have had the "leaky buckets" fix. A further announcement will be made next with regards to future plans.
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BigBlueSky On Price Rises No.2
By:mark.j @ 9:28:AM -
Comments (10)
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BigBlueSky have sent us a copy of their sites latest service status page that outlines exactly what they plan on doing with their pricing scheme:
Well, people it appears that the management has been outvoted yet again by our Support Centre team! The Scottish lassies in the Support Centre have insisted that, because it is Lanimer week, and this offer of £25 registration for individual customers has been extended to various local organisations, it is only fair that the same offer should be made available to all our customers for the same period.
The boss, David, still wants to pay customers to register (one day he will get it :-), and the management want to increase it to £50.
Consequently, the offer of £25 registration fee will be held until, and including, 14th June 2001, when the offer for the local community also ends. From the 15th June 2001 up to, and including 30th June 2001 the price will be £35/year. From 1st July 2001 the individual registration price will go up to £45/year.
The business package will be made live on the 1st July 2001 (or earlier) and will be priced at £65. Businesses looking to register on this service will have to wait until Monday 25th of June 2001. We have the business pages ready. However, they will not be posted on our website until the full Adobe .pdf versions are ready to download. Anyone wishing to have details on this package should email Ken at the following address requesting the information: ken@bigbluesky.uk.net
For those who have already contacted us, these details will be sent out to them by default next week.
Please note : Our offices will be closed for the local Lanimer Day holiday on Thursday 14th June 2001.
In other words BBS will retain their status as cheapest British ISP and we're also hearing customers mention that a 3Hour cut off is now being tested on the service.
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News - June 8,2001
08002Go Revamp & Service Update
By:mark.j @ 4:17:PM -
Comments (16)
- SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]
Keith let us know that the popular unmetered ISP 08002Go has introduced a new web site design and also made another interesting service update:
WHATS UP DOC?
We promised you the most Enviable ISP, Service in Europe and that's what 08002go.com is FAST becoming.
Excellent dial up connections. - Yep we got that.
Fast modem speeds. - Yep we got that.
Friendly human, help line, personnel. -Yep we got that.
In excess of 40,000 news groups. - Yep we got that.
Best contention rates in Europe. - Yep we got that.
Extra 70,000 spaces for new members. - Yep we got that.
Modern web pages. - Yep we got that.
E-mail addresses. - Yep we got that.
Can I really win a brand new MINI. - Coming.
Can I pay other than by credit cards. - Yep we got that.
Everything we have said is coming true. - Yep You got that.
Will 08002go.com do toast for me in the morning. - Nope.
Are you working on the above - Yep. Coming!
Will 08002go.com stay at £9.98 per month. - Yep you have that.
Is there any discount for one year?. - Yep we have that.
What's the deal:
Pay for one years subscription at the discounted rate of £99.96 and you will receive 12 months service but only pay for 10 months so that's 1440 hrs, per year FREE.
Eat your Heart Out 'AOL & Freeserve.'
Remember we really do care about our members, their families & friends.
So, What's Up. DOC? Nothing, Absolutely Nothing!
REGISTER ONLINE NOW FOR 08002GO.COM
£99.96 Per Year works out at roughly £8.30 Per Month, keeping 08002Go firmly in the position of the UKs second cheapest unmetered (24/7) provider for what they offer. We generally tend to advise against yearly subscriptions as they usually lock you into something that's very difficult to get back if troubles arise.
Either way if you're confident 08002Go have what you need and have checked our forums for the latest customer feedback, then make your own choice.
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ISPs To Take Responsibility For Piracy?
By:mark.j @ 4:09:PM -
Comments (1)
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Following on from MP3 song swapping sites such as Napster, several key industry groups have called for ISPs to be directly responsible for their customer’s actions:
ISPs are stuck in an uncomfortable digital dragnet as record companies, Hollywood studios and independent copyright bounty hunters target their subscribers as pirates. Increasingly, service providers are even being asked to cut their subscribers' connections, a last-ditch proposition that these companies ordinarily avoid at all costs.
Although many ISPs are complying, several of the largest are putting the brakes on the most severe of these requests, saying copyright law simply doesn't cover the new file-swapping services. The resulting tension outlines what will likely be an increasingly contentious battlefield as file trading shifts from centralised services such as Napster to new networks such as Gnutella and others that can be approached only one individual at a time.
The new file-swapping services "can't fit under the [copyright law], and the copyright community is very frustrated", said Sarah Deutsch, associate general counsel for Verizon Communications, one of the biggest high-speed ISPs. "It's one thing to ask us to take material down. But asking for subscriber termination is a very drastic remedy that infringes on people's rights and speech."
The ZDNet item puts a lot of detail into explaining both sides, although primarily ISPs would have to monitor and have permission to watch their customers actions in order to be responsible. Such a thing has and is still causing problems with the UKs own R.I.P, Data Confidentiality and Human Rights act, which remain somewhat up in the air.
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EU Telco Watchdogs Plan Closer Unity
By:mark.j @ 3:56:PM -
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Given that Labour have won the general election for 2001, closer relations and ties with Europe are now inevitable. In such a climate Oftel, along with other EU Telecom regulators, would still like to remain as independent as possible from final EU regulations.
In order to do this they intend to have greater communication among themselves to ensure telecom policies across member states are streamlined:
The EC had been pushing for greater powers to intervene in national watchdogs' policies and regulations, an idea that was universally rejected by the regulators. However, it seems the watchdogs do agree with the EC's basic idea; that policy across Europe needs to be standardised. As such they are preparing to push the discussion group -- called the Independent Regulators Group (IRG) -- as the appropriate forum for greater European cooperation.
At the last IRG meeting there were informal discussions according to UK watchdog Oftel. "We are looking at ways of exchanging best practices but there are no proposals for taking it forward," said an Oftel spokesman.
The ZDNet item is quick to point out that either sides (EU vs Regulators) various proposals would face an uphill struggle, although never the less some standard will have to be agreed upon.
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UK Won't Impose Broadband Usage Cap
By:mark.j @ 3:47:PM -
Comments (3)
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The UKs top three broadband providers; BT, Telewest and NTL have all agreed that they have no plans to introduce any usage limits for customers of their broadband services:
The assurances follow in the wake of the decision by Australian broadband provider, Telstra BigPond, to limit the amount of usage for residential users to just 3GB of data a month.
BigPond said the limits - due to come into force on July 5 - were imposed because a small number of users were effectively hogging the service.
BigPond reckons its decision will not hit the majority of users. However, the move has angered users, who've set up an online petition to try and get BigPond to reverse its decision. Several readers have told El Reg that the petition is no longer accessible from a Big Pond account.
The Register goes on to mention that the notion of broadband limits hasn't been completely ruled out, but certainly there are no plans for such a thing - yet.
It's also worth mentioning that ISPs can still impose limits, 3GB Per Month may cause an outcry, but remember that PlusNET have a 500mb limit!, as do one or two others.
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