December 11, 2001 - December 17, 2001
News - December 17,2001
LE To Offer Broadband Capacity
By:mark.j @ 9:12:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] London Electricity (LE) is planning to make a big leap into the presently unstable UK telecoms market by offering broadband capacity among other services for the London area.
The 85km fibre-optic carrier network will allow other telecom related companies and ISPs to tap into its existing ducts (network). The sites range from a roadside cabinet to a three-room building and could be used to house telecom equipment to help them compete with BT.
The backbone 85km network is expected to be connected by March. Firms offering high-speed broadband communications (digital subscriber line) services are likely to be interested in the service.
DSL operators have complained they are unable to compete fairly with BT because of the charges set for sharing space in its local exchanges. LE will be able to house the equipment and provide separate direct links to their customer or the BT exchange. |
News - December 16,2001
ISP Review Weekly Update
By:mark.j @ 11:02:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] I'll keep this week’s update short since it's now so close to Christmas that I've got presents to wrap and a flat to clean. Yes ladies, shock, men can clean when it's absolutely necessary :P.
ISP Review is now mostly complete until next year, although we may try to fit some extra forum features in through the coming days if possible. Come 2002 we'll be concentrating on content and keeping the site up-to-date in general, we may also re-design everything.
As stated last week, we'll be taking Christmas week off starting from next Saturday, although there may be the odd news update if one of the other news staff or myself sees something of interest.
In the meantime we suggest anybody who hasn't already voted for their ISP (most of you) in our new Your Top ISPs section goes to vote because we may use it in our ISP For 2001 award. |
News - December 15,2001
802.11b BBW Operators Still Waiting
By:mark.j @ 9:59:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Broadband wireless operators (Wi-Fi) for the 802.11b standard will have to wait until next year (February 2002) before the government finalises regulation for commercial use of the 2.4GHz frequency:
The government’s Radiocommunications Agency has set a date of 15 February for the completion of its consultation into possible ways to open up the 2.4GHz and other ‘licence-exempt’ bands, which are currently reserved for private use of devices such as microwaves and key fobs.
While analysts expect a final decision on the spectrum to be made sometime later in 2002, some UK operators are preparing to launch public services over Wi-Fi, which uses the 2.4GHz band, much earlier.
Research consultancy Analysys recently released a report claiming that such services could take up to 10% of revenues earmarked by mobile operators for 3G.
More @ netimperative.com . |
Oftels Price Comparison Award Scheme
By:mark.j @ 9:55:AM - Comments (1) - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In an effort to improve Independent websites designed to aid consumers by offering a good display of price comparison information for the various telecom companies, Oftel is to offer an incentive.
The regulator could award an Oftel accreditation to any site meeting its standards:
Websites that meet standards, set out by Oftel, will be awarded a ‘kitemark’ giving consumers the assurance that those websites will enable them to compare the price of competing telecoms services easily and accurately.
Oftel has launched a consultation to identify what these standards should be. Key proposals included in the consultation are that accredited websites should:
* be independent and provide price information on a wide range of telecoms suppliers;
* be designed to make it easy for consumers to compare prices of different telecoms services;
* tell consumers that they may wish to consider other issues, such as quality of service before making their telecoms choices;
* provide accurate price information that is updated at least quarterly.
While there's already a site semi-managed by Oftel to do this, strong independently run ones are required. It'd certainly be nice to have a more comprehensive site that expands beyond the key operators. |
NTLs Final 2001 Broadband Rollout
By:mark.j @ 9:42:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] According to DigitalSpy, NTL has effectively put a freeze on the rollout of broadband cable modem services until early next year for obvious reasons:
These will be the last launches of the year as we are entering a platform freeze tonight. The next two franchises - SE Kent (Dover, Folkestone and Ashford) and Solent (Cosham, Havant, Horndean, Coxford, Locksheath, & Portsmouth) will enter trial in Jan and subsequently launch soon after.
Surrey and Peterborough were the last two locations to be upgraded and nothing new is likely to happen until 2002 as per the above. |
News - December 14,2001
NTL Face Critical Debt Situation
By:mark.j @ 3:42:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Next to BT, NTL is one of the more obvious telecom groups to be suffering from a serious debt problem. Unfortunately new fears suggest that the cable Telco could fast be running out of money, putting it in a critical situation:
However, NTL claims it can meet the earning targets required by its bank covenants by generating more revenue from its existing customers. If NTL misses its targets the banks could call in its debts.
A debt for equity swap, leaving banks and bondholders in control of the company, is the most likely outcome, as its majority shareholder France Telecom has said it will not invest any more money in the company.
Warnings have been coming in that if NTL can't produce improvements before Q2-2002 then they'll end up running out of money. Typically none of this is good news for customers, there's always the possibility of more price rises. |
First R/ADSL Wires-Only Trial Users
By:mark.j @ 3:35:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] A quick update snapped from ADSLGuide states that yesterday saw the first set of trial R/ADSL users gain a Wires-Only installation pushed into their house and or offices.
BTWholesale is expected to release the official set of Wires-Only pricing information before Christmas, Oftel has yet to approve. |
Terrorism Bill Passed - Now It's Law
By:mark.j @ 3:29:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] After a month of in-government fighting over the hugely controversial Anti-Terrorism Bill, it has finally become law. Thankfully and rather unlike the tone being set by the government yesterday, they did take on some of the Lord's amendments:
With regard to the controversial measure that will allow government bodies, the police and the security services to force ISPs and mobile companies to hand over up to seven years of data on an individual, the Lords made several in-roads.
Now any demand will have to be in connection to terrorism (previously the demand for valid for a range of minor offences, like tax evasion) and must be "proportionate" to the offence.
David Blunkett was however allowed to retain control over the code of practice for the demand of data - which effectively makes the "voluntary" code mandatory.
The Semi-good news is likely to be seen as a relief for ordinary Internet users who could have been snooped on for so little as forgetting to pay a small tax.
However ISPs may still be in a sticky situation and the government has yet to be clear about how it plans to help with the costs involved. More @ The Register. |
BT mmO2 Test 3G Search Service
By:mark.j @ 3:15:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The mmO2 (BT) subsidiary Manx Telecom has launched a search and directory system for its pilot 3G network on the Isle of Man. Produced by Calaba, the London-based mobile software company, it's the first of its kind in Europe:
The first of its kind deployed in Europe, allows users to either browse a directory or perform a search of content from approximately 30 sites created specifically for the Isle of Man project, as well as around 4,000 external 2G sites via the directory and over 1m pages through the search facility.
Content can also be tailored to suit users’ location. Calaba is acting as wireless ASP with the solution being hosted by a third-party company. Licken also blames that the lack of adequate search capabilities for the failure of WAP: “One of the greatest disincentives to WAP use is not finding compelling content.”
We couldn't agree more with the comments about WAP, almost all of it is rather dire, just simple lines of text and the odd image. More @ netimperative.com . |
New Reviews @ ISP Review
By:mark.j @ 2:53:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE]
Music Services To Boost 3G
By:mark.j @ 9:43:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Alongside the usual voice and video services expected to arrive with late GPRS and 3G broadband wireless phones, music is also another BIG runner for pushing the 3G revolution. This according to a new study by Nokia:
According to the study, which covered 3300 teenagers, young adults and ‘family adults’ in 11 major mobile markets globally - including the UK - listening to the radio and requesting songs and albums all featured among the top five entertainment applications in which consumers are interested.
Conveniently, Nokia’s recently released 5510 phone, which features a digital music player and recorder, CD copier and FM radio, spearheads the company’s focus on music as one of the main drivers of the 2.5G and 3G markets.
Watching live television and playing games, as well as texting via SMS and successive technologies, also featured strongly in the research. 70% of respondents also said they would rather pay for services in bundled packages rather than on an individual basis.
Typically no modern music lover, which is most of us, could possibly do without listening to high-quality music on-the-go. |
Energis Gain AOL UK Contract
By:mark.j @ 9:35:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] After feeling pressure from Freeserves current review of supply for their metered dialup services with Energis, the telecoms equipment and networking group has shot back up thanks to a new AOL UK deal.
No real information has been release regarding the parts of AOL UKs ISP that they'll deal with, although it'll keep Energis buoyant if Freeserve pulls out:
Matt Peacock, AOL's communications director, declined to discuss the deal with the paper, but confirmed the company is "conducting a major build-out of our network, which includes new suppliers".
AOL has 1.7 million UK subscribers, ranking only behind Freeserve, the Wanadoo subsidiary. Freeserve currently runs on Energis infrastructure, but the contract is to end in November 2003.
Freeserve has already given notice to quit for the metered telecom service provided by Energis. This currently accounts for 65 per cent of Freeserve's revenues, but the mass-market is shifting - ever so slowly - to unmetered flat-fee products. Freeserve represents 10 per cent of Energis' turnover.
More @ The Register . |
Telco's Gain Unescorted LLU Access
By:mark.j @ 9:27:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Late yesterday afternoon Oftel finally ruled in a victor for rival Telco's involved in the Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) process that'd allow them unescorted access to BTs exchanges. Oftel has issued the following press release:
Operators can have unescorted access to BT's exchanges in order to carry out maintenance on their equipment to provide broadband services to customers, Oftel has confirmed today.
Escorted access will only be necessary where BT requires its own contractors to be accompanied by a member of BT.
Oftel's arrangements will help ensure that operators are not subject to unnecessary costs for providing broadband services over unbundled local loops.
David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said today: "BT raised a number of objections against operators or their contractors having unescorted access to BT's exchanges. Operators were concerned that if BT had insisted on escorted access at all exchanges this would have led to a significant increase in their costs."
"Oftel has decided that approved staff working for an operator must be treated in exactly the same way as an approved contractor working for BT. Operators' staff will be able to have unescorted access to any BT exchange, unless escorted access is required for BT's own contractors."
"These arrangements will not jeopardise the security at BT's exchanges or of the wider telecoms network."
Since BT weren't allowed to appeal the ruling they've been forced to take it in their stride, one spokesperson for BT states: "We look after the central nervous system of the UK's communications network, and it is vital that its security is maintained. We'll have to work to ensure this". |
News - December 13,2001
Broadband Shatters Nets Geeky Image
By:mark.j @ 4:06:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In their latest research, BTOpenworld has found that the image of Internet users being GEEKY has finally been shattered. While we've heard this before recently, it's always interesting to look at the social impact of a new technology. One propaganda paragraph was removed:
RESEARCH REVEALS BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY SHATTERS IMAGE OF INTERNET GEEK
The stereotype of the lonely computer geek has been shattered by research published by Fletcher Advisory, an affiliate of Forrester Research UK, on behalf of BTopenworld, BT's mass market Internet business, and the UK's leading supplier of DSL broadband.
Half of the broadband customers surveyed said their social life had improved since adopting broadband Internet. Many said the technology allowed them to work from home more often, which increased flexibility and generated extra time for leisure activities. They said broadband encouraged them to develop new hobbies and meet new people online who shared their interests.
The research looked at how residential broadband customers use the Internet. More than 90 per cent of broadband users surveyed said they now used the Web to research hobbies, with 75 per cent of them doing this more frequently since connecting to broadband.
Since they pay a fixed monthly fee, broadband customers tend to view the Internet as an information and entertainment tool for the whole family, rather than a time-sensitive commodity.
Although they use the Internet twice as much as the narrowband users also questioned in the survey, broadband customers achieve more in less time and use the Internet for a wider variety of tasks. Individual hobbies mentioned by respondents included genealogy, editing films, cookery, sports, digital photography and gardening (landscaping and researching plants).
Online hobbies were also popular, having become more accessible through high-speed Internet. The number of broadband users who regularly play online games is 47 per cent, compared to 24 per cent of narrowband respondents. Three-quarters of broadband users (74 per cent) download music regularly, compared to just over one quarter (29 per cent) for narrowband. Half of broadband users (53 per cent) regularly play or download videos from the Internet.
Broadband users also spend more time shopping online and 38 per cent said they had switched some traditional shopping tasks to the Web. Half of broadband households frequently use online education services.
The survey showed broadband users are starting to spend more time
online in peak-rate daytime hours, due mainly to the flat-rate and removal of telephone call charges. In addition, households with broadband are now keeping their computer connected to the Internet on average three times longer than narrowband users. Just over half of them have increased their use of online communications to replace phone, fax and letters.
Question, does broadband shatter the geeky image or simply expand it to a greater audience? |
Anti-Terror Amendments Rejected
By:mark.j @ 3:56:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It had been hoped that some suggested amendments by the House of Lords to the governments new Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Bill would at least be heard.
Instead they've once again ignored it as today the House of Commons rejected nearly all the proposed amendments:
Everything except the proposal for a committee of privy councillors to review the bill within two years and report to the Home Secretary was rejected. A significant number of backbench Labour MPs revolted but the government's huge majority assured that everything else was rejected (examples: 320 to 213; 307 to 236; 322 to 215).
That means that the law against racial hatred is still in, the sunset clauses for review are out, parliamentary and public review of aspects of the bill are out. Most importantly with regard to the Internet and mobile phones, data retention powers are back in and the Home Secretary still has the overriding power of decision over what police are allowed to do and what ISPs, mobile phone companies have to comply with.
Typically the governmental process has once again fouled up leaving neither side in agreement; it looks like this could continue if some agreement isn't found soon. More @ The Register. |
BTO Help MSN Launch Unmetered
By:mark.j @ 3:41:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Microsoft Network's UK (http://www.msn.co.uk) site has today 'OFFICIALLY' announced the launch of its new BTOpenworld powered (BTSurf/WebPort24) unmetered offerings.
The usual propaganda paragraphs were removed, although we included the last one so existing BTOpenworld dial-up subscribers could have a laugh =):
MSN launches new Flat-fee Internet packages with BTopenworld
MSN's 13 million UK users can now sign up to flat-fee Internet access services direct from MSN.co.uk. The leading portal is initially offering customers three flexible and competitive payment options for flat-fee Internet access, powered by BTopenworld's new wholesale virtual ISP (VISP). They include:
* a £4.99 per month (inc. VAT)* tariff offering light Internet users 24/7 availability for 10 hours per month. This lighter tariff is aimed at the 'daily email checker', new users and those users who mainly use the Internet at work, but want to budget for a quality Internet service at home for a set amount of hours a week.
* an £8.99 per month (inc. VAT)* tariff which gives more frequent users the option of 24/7 availability for 25 hours per month.
* A daytime tariff of £9.99 (inc. VAT)* for use between 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday. This tariff is suitable for students, retired, shift workers and small business users (up to 4 employees).
* Combined with MSN.co.uk's existing Pay-as-you-go service, also provided by BTopenworld powered, these Internet access packages will provide a cost-effective way for MSN customers to get online and enjoy the benefits of flat-fee Internet access.
These new access packages, based on FRIACO (Flat Rate Internet Access Call Origination), will be branded Freeweb, the brand MSN already uses for its Pay-as-you-go service.
Geoff Sutton, Director of MSN.co.uk, commented: "Through BTopenworld's wholesale VISP offering, we can offer our customers a quality Internet solution without moving into the ISP business. By partnering with a best-of-breed service provider like BTopenworld, we're able to concentrate on developing content and core services."
We can't help but feel that both the £4.99 and £8.99 options are ridiculously priced given their obvious limits, under some Telco's 10 hours per month costs around £4 without unmetered. More so when you think that most ISPs charging £12 to £15 per month are thinking in terms of 5-12 hours usage PER DAY! |
Last Mile Broadband Wireless Standard
By:mark.j @ 3:30:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] 802.16 has been approved as the global standard for fixed broadband wireless (FBBW) services by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
It's hoped the new standard will set the stage for an economical high-speed (broadband) 'last mile' connection to public networks:
The approval of the air interface standard for fixed broadband wireless systems provides a communications path between a subscriber site and a core network. It will give the go ahead for the widespread deployment of 10GHz to 66GHz wireless metropolitan area networks (Mans).
Roger Marks, chairman of the 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access, said: "The new WirelessMAN standard is a groundbreaking development that changes the landscape for providers and customers of high-speed networks."
According to Marks, the standard makes highly efficient use of bandwidth and supports voice, video and data applications with the quality that customers demand.
More @ VNUNet. |
Bulldog Lashes Out At BT - Again
By:mark.j @ 3:25:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] For the second time this week Bulldog Communications CEO, Richard Greco, has hit out at BT for using the September 11th attacks as a means to prevent Oftel favouring unescorted access to LLU exchanges:
Bulldog Communications CEO Richard Greco claims that, with Oftel’s final decision on allowing unescorted access due this week, BT has been “bringing enormous pressure and political clout to bear” on the regulator to decide against it. “BT is fighting this tooth and nail. They have even thrown in the spectre of 11 September in order to get their way,” he said.
“There are only three exchanges in the UK considered sensitive enough to require escorted access…it is a blatant attempt by BT to manipulate legitimate security concerns to delay broadband competition.”
In response to Bulldog’s allegations of manipulating security fears arising from 11 September, a BT spokesperson said: “We absolutely refute that. That’s a very ugly thing to say.”
The netimperative.com item touches on a very sensitive area and we look forward to seeing exactly how Oftel cope with it when they announce their decision either this afternoon or tomorrow. |
Telewest To Improve E-Mail
By:mark.j @ 3:06:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Telewest's Internet wing, blueyonder, is set to improve its troubled E-Mail system after suffering a number of virus (E-Mail worm) attacks over the past few months.
Their last point of action was the controversial suspension of customer accounts infected with such a virus. Typically this hasn't changed and according to an item @ DigitalSpy, it's likely to be tightened up.
Other issues such as SPAM have also caused problems, yet blueyonder does intend to improve things in other ways:
To help deal with the abuse issues, we added a 7th SMTP server to our cluster, but we will shortly have 4 SMTP servers sending mail out, and another 4 processing mail coming in.
This is intended to lessen the impact on service when we have, for example, a mail bombing or spam attack. We will review the performance of our mail servers when this is in place -- we are going to be monitoring what they are doing very closely. This is an important first step, and when this is completed we will look at what else we can do to improve mail delivery -- such as distributed SMTP and alternative technologies for outgoing SMTP.
If you care about E-Mail and are a Telewest blueyonder customer then DigitalSpy's lengthy item is a required read. |
Workers Facing The Sack Still Surfing
By:mark.j @ 9:46:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In an unstable economic climate where almost nobody’s job seems to be secure, new research from NetValue shows that people are still choosing to spend many of their working hours surfing the Internet.
Roughly 25% (31.4Million) of the UK has access to the Internet at work and 14.8 million people have home Internet access, yet many are likely to surf banking and shopping websites while at the office.
The survey found that employees are also keen to keep up with the news in the workplace, with bbc.co.uk attracting 2.3 million visitors, or 30% of hits to non-work related sites, from office workstations during October.
Other popular non-work websites were online retailer’s amazon.co.uk with 19%, people tracker friendsreunited.co.uk at 18%, amazon.com at 16% and online bank egg.com with 12%.
Overall, the survey found that msn.com attracted the most visitors from work, followed by microsoft.com, yahoo.com and msn.co.uk. If anybody still wants their job after Christmas then now is the time to buckle down and work (says he updating from the office PC =]). |
BTs Hack-Proof Internet?
By:mark.j @ 9:32:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] While we have to disagree with the subject title alone (nothing can be 100% secure), BT has predicted that by 2006 one of the hottest new technologies will be "guaranteed hacker-proof security":
The telecoms giant recently surveyed 135 workers at its Brightstar incubator and research and development centre, 95 per cent of whom hold PhDs.
But Chris Winter, chief technology officer at Brightstar, believes it is a natural next step. Winter conceded that the idea of guaranteed hacker-proof services was currently embryonic, but said BT would soon open a new centre housing 20 to 30 researchers working on preventing online fraud, and developing hacker-proof technologies.
We can't help but feel that BTs team will be let down, there's a serious limit to what you can do without impeding a users access and flexibility to ridiculous levels. More @ VNUNet. |
BTOpenworld Gateway Upgrade Report
By:mark.j @ 9:20:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BTOpenwoe has today issued an interesting and well written article covering the improvements made after BTOpenworlds recent spate of Home Gateway upgrades.
Typically it's from the perspective of somebody who actually had their upgrade and may or may not be relevant to all users:
In brief, packet loss has been greatly improved, but is not completely resolved; likewise latency has also improved on the first hops into BTs network, but deeper in the network figures still show quite severe problems at peak times, so there are still further problems for BTOpenworld to resolve before the service can reliably deliver.
More @ BTOpenwoe . |
NTL Broadband Coverage Update
By:mark.j @ 9:14:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] DigitalSpy has word that the following locations now have access to broadband cable modem technology:
Aylesbury
Chiltern
South Herts
Sussex
Watford |
News - December 12,2001
BTO & Nationwide Partnership
By:mark.j @ 3:28:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Just a small press release from BTOpenworld stating their new partnership with the Nationwide Building Society, this should mean BTOpenworld CDs in their branches:
BTOPENWORLD ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY
BTopenworld, BT's mass market Internet business and Nationwide, the world's largest Building Society, today announced an affiliate marketing partnership that will begin in January 2002. Under the terms of the deal, BTopenworld registration discs will be distributed across Nationwide's 682 UK branches.
The alliance follows similar partnerships that BTopenworld has forged with other retailers including HMV, Toys'R'Us, Ryman and Iceland.
We cut out some of the usual propaganda babble; it was a short release to start with. |
Freeserve Review Energis Contract
By:mark.j @ 3:22:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Freeserve is reviewing its contract with the telecoms company Energis for supply of their metered (0845/Local Call Rate) ISP access product. Typically this is a wise thing for the provider to do considering the emergence of unmetered technologies has pushed prices down in such areas (note: not by much).
Freeserve states: "It's normal business practice to review suppliers from time to time, and this is what Freeserve is doing," said Paul Barker, head of corporate affairs at Freeserve. "As the UK's biggest ISP, there are a range of alternative scenarios available to us for the provision of network, which may include Energis."
Barker added: "We're in the early stages of a detailed review process and have plenty of time to arrive at a decision. This decision will be based on what's best for our customers and the service they receive from Freeserve and our overall business objectives." |
BTs Internet Payphones
By:mark.j @ 3:15:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It was reported earlier in the year that BT had plans for a wider introduction of Internet ready payphones around the UK, today the final plans have been unveiled.
Apparently the Telecoms equipment maker Marconi will be working with BT install a network of 28,000 voice and Internet-ready phones around the country. It'll take five years to roll the complete network out to the public and the process is set to start during April 2002.
Under the revenue-sharing deal, Marconi is investing in the terminals while BT will manage the network and promote it. BT said its own revenues from the payphones would be 50 million pounds by 2004/05. For its part, Marconi said it expected to net 100 million pounds in revenues over eight years.
In short, homeless people and late night drinkers can now surf the Internet while going to the loo or just generally being sick around the base. |
BT Users & Online Account Services
By:mark.j @ 3:05:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] If you're a customer with one of BTs 'BT Together' phone packages then you may or may not be please to hear that you can now access and handle all your accounts online:
BT Together Online, claimed BT Retail consumer MD Angus Porter, is aimed at giving phone customers more control over their accounts, offering them the chance to manage billing and services via the internet.
The move comes after BT introduced a new look phone bill during the summer, aimed at explaining call charges more clearly. The new venture will offer customers of BT Together the chance to check their account online, replacing the need for paper bills completely.
Funny, we could hardly tell the difference between the new and old BT paper bills =), more @ netimperative.com . |
PlusNET Tout Ethernet RADSL
By:mark.j @ 9:57:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Hot on the heels of BTs official introduction of RADSL (Rate Adaptive DSL) to the Ethernet DSL range, PlusNET have been one of the first to tout its official launch with a new press release. This time we only had to cut a couple of paragraphs, the rest is there and note the ‘Wires-Only’ mention at the bottom:
Broadband Internet access now available to even more business users than ever, say PlusNet
(11th December 2001 Sheffield, UK) - PlusNet, the popular UK ISP, today issued a reminder that as from 10th December, more business users than ever will be able to benefit from high-speed broadband ADSL Internet access. From this date it will be possible to supply PlusNet's Ethernet ADSL Professional 500 and ADSL Business 500 products to locations up to 5.5km from a suitably ADSL-enabled exchange, using new RADSL technology.
RADSL or 'Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line' technology extends the reach of ADSL from 3.5km from an enabled exchange to approximately 5.5km. The additional coverage means that if you need the benefits that broadband will bring but have been unable to get ADSL up until now, you should check to see whether you're now serviceable. A line-test is easily carried out and PlusNet's business support team will be more than happy to do this for you with no obligation. You can call PlusNet's support team on 0845 140 0200 (lines open 24-hours, 7-days a week, all calls charged at local rate).
BT first introduced RADSL technology in July of this year on its IPStream 500 wholesale product, which uses a USB-modem to connect to the user's PC. Whilst PlusNet has both Home and Business versions of the USB product, the Ethernet hub/router than comes as standard with the Professional and Business accounts allows easy networking should you need to connect more than one machine to the Internet via broadband ADSL.
"The UK's broadband market has been suffering from poor perception lately, with most people unaware of just what are the benefits over and above the higher connection speeds. ADSL makes an ideal way to connect a small network of up to 40 PCs, depending upon the bandwidth option you choose," stated Matt Grest, Product and Services Manager for PlusNet Technologies Ltd. "Yesterday's announcement that RADSL is available on the Professional and Business 500 Ethernet variants will go someway to helping British business get connected over broadband but obviously you still need to be within 5.5km from a suitably enabled telephone exchange."
PlusNet's ADSL Professional products start from just £75 per month (ex. VAT) with a one-off £260 (ex. VAT) installation fee. Alternatively you could opt to include the installation charge in convenient monthly or quarterly subscription payments of £100 (ex. VAT) and £300 (ex. VAT) respectively.
PlusNet wish to remind prospective customers that they have only until the end of the month to take advantage of half-price installation of the USB-modem products.
PlusNet are currently investigating how BT's new 'wires-only' ADSL service will be able to provide as much value for their customers as their current broadband range. The self-install option requires that the customer purchase their own modem or router and complete the installation of ADSL equipment themselves; something that is carried out by a BT engineer at present. There is also the additional cost of 'microfilters' (required equipment that splits voice traffic from broadband data) and a BT 'activation' charge to consider.
PlusNet will be launching the self-install version of broadband ADSL as soon as it becomes available in the New Year.
http://www.plus.net |
BTs New Chief Executive
By:mark.j @ 9:49:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BT has today named Lucent Technologies vice chairman, Ben Verwaayen, as their new Chief Executive (CE) to take over from the much questioned Peter Bonfield:
Verwaayen will take up his role as chief executive on 1 February with a basic salary of £700,000. He is currently vice chairman of telecoms equipment maker Lucent Technologies in the United States and has had a long career within the telecommunications industry, BT said in a statement.
Investors will be looking to him to restore stability to BT after a period of upheaval at the company, Britain's most widely held stock. BT shares were indicated virtually unchanged at 260 pence in early trade, having closed at 261-1/4p.
Bonfield, who said in October he would leave a year ahead of schedule, had shouldered much of the blame for an acquisition strategy that piled up £30bn of debt prior to this year's radical restructuring.
No doubt we'll have to wait until the late spring/early summer of next year before we know exactly if the new man is likely to improve things or not. More @ ZDNet. |
ASA Slap easyEverything Over AOL Slur
By:mark.j @ 9:44:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Some people may recognise the easyEverything advert in which the Internet cafés boss, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, is seen ripping up his AOL account and asking others to follow. While we did laugh at the advert, it was inevitable that AOL would complain.
Today easyEverything has been slapped by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and accused of having unfairly denigrated and exploited the goodwill of AOLs brand and product:
The ad read: "Stelios says: Tear up your AOL account!" and pictured Stelios tearing a piece of paper with AOL's logo and "AOL Subscription" on it.
The ad went on: "Now there is a new and more cost-effective way to get yourself online by visiting our Internet cafes. Avoid the cost of owning a PC and you don't have to pay £40 a month to BT for broadband Internet access either! Unlimited high speed access for just £15 a month."
AOL UK objected to the ad, arguing that the comparison was unfair because easyEverything's offer was limited to an Internet café whereas it offers a home/office-based service. AOL UK also complained that the headline and depiction of their logo being torn up was "denigratory and exploited the goodwill attached to their service".
The comparison was also unfair because the advert compared broadband with narrowband, yet nobody seemed to have noticed that. Typically easyEverything has responded with anger, although to be honest you'd have to be pretty blind not to see this one coming. More @ the Register. |
Rivals Complain Of BT xDSL Subsidies
By:mark.j @ 9:30:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] With unbundled local loops starting to arise from some BT exchanges and thus making 'direct' rivals to BT itself, some such as Bulldog have questioned yesterdays move to help subsidise the rollout in specific areas:
CEO of BT rival Bulldog Communications Richard Greco described the backing for BT as “terribly unfair”, saying that Bulldog had not been contacted about the project and questioned whether Cornwall had investigated whether it was getting the best deal form BT.
He added that the grants were “exactly the opposite of what you want to do as a government to engender competition. If the government is providing grants and subsidies then why doesn’t it use those grants and subsidies to generate competition?”.
BT is also hoping to extend the public-private model to other rural areas in the UK, after recently deciding to ‘review’ its autonomous programme to upgrade local exchanges to ADSL across the country, possibly leaving many regions without access to the technology. Cornwall currently has one ADSL local exchange, in Truro.
This could make for a good example as to why competition can sometimes be a negative aspect as well, especially for consumers. More @ netimperative.com . |
News - December 11,2001
Female Surfers On The Increase
By:mark.j @ 3:27:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Much as we reported earlier in the year, Female Internet surfers are continuing to catch up to males in terms of online surfing and usage. Since the last report during mid-year the number has once again increase by a dramatic 10% (36% total)!
The once troubled online banking group, Egg, found that 19Million people (42% of the adult public) use the Internet in their own time. "Traditionally men have been the predominate users of the Internet, but women are catching up," an Egg spokesman said. "Women are becoming more comfortable with the technology and the balance is being redressed."
Egg said that a total of 25Million people now use the Internet, digital television or WAP mobile phones. The figure has risen 6% points in six months, according to Egg's poll of 1,959 adults.
Despite more women turning to the Internet, Egg said young, affluent men were still more likely to use new technology. Isn't it always the way? |
BT Continues R/ADSL Rollout - Sort Of
By:mark.j @ 3:17:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if a trial public/private sector partnership between BT and the 'South West of England Regional Development Agency' could be a showcase for a future R/ADSL rollout in other parts of the country.
Apparently a combined investment of £12.5Million will help get small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) online in the Cornwall area:
Before this project, the city of Truro was the only place in Cornwall with access to DSL. Thanks to the cash injection Penzance, Newquay, St Austell and Redruth will be upgraded early next year.
And if the project is successful, further exchanges in Falmouth, Camborne, Launceston, Bodmin, Saltash, Penryn, St Ives and Bude will follow.
As a result 93,000 households and 14,000 businesses will be within ADSL-enabled exchange areas in Cornwall.
As you'd expect the government has ceased the opportunity to use the good news for its own political end and promoted the idea, which is fair enough since it looks as if it'll work.
While The Register presents a very interesting item, we can only hope BT don't start relying on such methods and thus neglect the rest of the country. |
Totalise ISP Stops Offering Shares
By:mark.j @ 3:08:PM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] For several years now the semi-popular UK ISP Totalise has been offering shares with user accounts, however this is partly to stop from April next year (2002).
Apparently existing ISP customers have been worried about excessive dilution and there's also recognition of the significantly reduced incentive the share deal now offers:
Since operations began, Totalise has issued a total of 34m free incentive shares to its customer base or 49% of its outstanding 69.3m shares. At today’s share price of 5.5p, these would be worth £1.7m.
Totalise CEO Peter Gregory said: "We feel that our product and service portfolio is now sufficiently established to operate without the need for this type of incentive, and this announcement should also address those with concerns regarding dilution within the company shareholding.”
Users were rewarded in shares for time spent online via Totalise’s ISP operations, as well as customers of its e-commerce sites Eurekar - a car sales business - and Flowers2send, as well as Totalise Telecom, a provider of cheap telephone calls to subscribers and financial services such as the Totalise credit card and insurance products.
It'll be interesting to see what impact this has on Totalise's ISP services and offer over the next year, more @ netimperative.com . |
10 Years Ago - The First W.W.Webpage
By:mark.j @ 10:02:AM - - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] People have been reminded today by various publications that 10 years ago a particle physicist by the name of Paul Kunz posted the first global web page from Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC).
Typically it was also based off the first web server outside Western Europe and designed as a tool for providing easier access to scientific papers.
This forms an excellent reminder to people that the Internet is still infantile, yet expands almost as fast as the universe itself. Hopefully by 2010 we won’t be overrun by strange robots called Terminators and toasters seeking revenge for their years of hardship, hopefully. |
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