July 30, 2002 - August 4, 2002
News - August 4,2002
ISP Review Weekly Update
By:mark.j @ 10:15:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Much of the past week has been spent checking through all of the sites systems and re-installing any missed during the previous weeks move, thankfully this process is finally complete.
We also extended the beta testing of the new 'Reader ISP Reviews' system to the rest of our staff, which managed to uncover a couple of other issues.
Thankfully much of the system now appears to work without a hitch, only 1 public, 4 admin side bugs and 2 missing admin features remain to be fixed. Full public beta testing should begin very soon.
Work on the next forum upgrade is also underway, although is unlikely to merge into our main forum before the above system is introduced. We'll also be adding some additional forum sections soon which, among other things, will cover the growing number of broadband wireless ISPs. More next week. |
SPTen - New Broadband Wireless ISP
By:mark.j @ 10:01:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] SPTen is the second new broadband wireless ISP to show itself inside of a month, following our earlier July item on IAP Broadband (More details on IAP very soon!).
Unfortunately and much like IAP, SPTen's coverage is currently rather limited, although it should expand toward the end of this year:
Our Wireless Broadband services provide users with a high-speed, 'always on' connection to the Internet across rural area's, removing many of the frustrations of dial-up access and the costs associated with leased lines.
Our range is simply limited to the number of cell sites we operate from, currently our service is available in Andover and the surrounding area up to 30 miles using line of sight on our high operating frequency back to our cell sites.
By 2003 we will have enough cell sites in place to cover the South of the UK, allowing true wire free broadband roaming access up to 2mb using your desktop or laptop computer.
With various bandwidth available from 64k to 2mb on shared (20:1) or dedicated options (1:1). If we are not in your area yet, please contact us for cell site information, and the possibility of using the service in your area.
Pricing
Bandwidth is the same rate on up and download. At 20:1 you will be sharing the bandwidth on the cell site with 20 other users at any one time, where 1:1 is where you have your own dedicated bandwidth the same as a leased line.
BT and NTL's current user bandwidth ratio is 50:1
Bandwidth | 20:1 | 1:1
128k / 9.99 / 39.99
256k / 19.99 / 49.99
512k / 29.99 / 59.99
1mb / Call / Call
2mb / Call / Call
The pricing vs speed looks incredibly good and no doubt the ambitious coverage plan will come as pleasing news to many rural residents.
However it should be noted that the service is part of the same group, Route Unix, which angered many by failing with its unmetered dialup ISP, WonkyPig. Indeed it also has the same manager, Marc Warman.
Hopefully Route Unix has managed to learn from its mistakes and this time establish a stable and workable service, indeed if it succeeds then BT might actually have some competition for once. |
e-Democracy Expansion & UK Online
By:mark.j @ 9:20:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The government is to revamp its UK Online portal, establishing it as an e-democracy hub where online citizens can go to take part in the law/policy-making process:
Its new focus will revolve around Citizen Space, an area where the electorate will be able to access live consultation on various government policies, offer their feedback and get a response from MPs or ministers on the key policies of the day.
The proposal for the portal was announced this week as part of a wider consultation on the Government's approach to e-democracy.
The policy, which is being spearheaded by the Leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook MP, will be broken into two main areas: e-voting and e-participation.
It remains to be seen whether or not the ability to give people more of a say will ever truly be able to force a policy change; it's not as if the government listens offline, so why care online? More @ New Media Zero. |
e-Commerce MP Credits Energis & ADSL
By:mark.j @ 9:11:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The governments e-Commerce minister, Stephen Timms, has taken the unusual step of crediting Energis as being proof that Britain's IT sector is stronger than people think?:
"One of the things that has surprised me since I've been at the DTI is the degree of optimism around," says Timms, giving his first interview since taking the post. "Take Energis as an example. It has had its problems in the past, but it has come through them. It is now very well placed to make an important and valuable contribution to the development of UK telecoms. I suspect that if the company had been in the US, the outcome might have been a different one."
Why? "Well, because the sentiment in the market is significantly more negative in the US than in the UK."
If Energis is his example of the best then we'd love to see which company Mr.Timms believes to be the worst =). The Independent News item also goes on to mention his views on broadband ADSL:
"I am pleased we are making good progress [on broadband rollout]," says the minister. "Is it good enough? We've got to keep an eye on that. One could envisage that at some point in the future we could have some serious problems."
Serious problems? No doubt we're not the only ones to be wondering exactly what he's thinking of. Unfortunately Timms goes on to show precious little enthusiasm for speeding up the rollout of ADSL services to rural areas, typical. |
News - August 3,2002
More Cheap Unmetered Dialup
By:Keith @ 10:37:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] E.T Global Solutions also appears to offer unmetered dialup from £6.95 (Inc. VAT), which gives you a maximum online time of 100 hours per month. Paying £7.95 (Inc VAT) can double this to 200. Details of the packages are:
E.T Global Anytime 100 (0808 Dialup)
Price: £6.95 Per Month Inc VAT
100 hours usage per month
A high contention best value 24/7 Internet access service for the home user - excellent for browsing Websites, checking email & chatting.
Recommended Users: This Service is recommended for LIGHT Users that do a lot of web surfing/ chatting/ on-line shopping/ emailing.
Access Cost at other times: This service is ALWAYS FREE
Cut-Off Procedure: 2 hour cut - off- but you may connect again instantly.
ET Global Anytime 200 offers the same as Anytime 100 but with 200 hours online use per month. |
BTO Sponsor Cowes Week Radio
By:mark.j @ 9:12:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Those into sailing will no doubt be aware of the prestigious event that is Cowes Week, yet not everybody will be able to go.
Thankfully BTOpenworld has the answer by helping to sponsor the event and thus allowing people to listen in over their Internet connection:
BT OPENWORLD MAKES WAVES ONLINE FOR COWES WEEK RADIO
As official sponsor of Cowes Week Radio, BT Openworld is streaming the station's coverage of Cowes Week live, via its web site at http://www.btopenworld.com/sport/sailing
Sailing fans from as far afield as Ottawa, Wellington and Tokyo will be able to follow competitors' progress throughout the six-day event. Listeners will also have the opportunity to email questions and requests via the site direct to the station's studio in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.
BT Openworld is providing Cowes Week Radio with all of the IT infrastructure and telecommunications equipment it needs to make this broadcast possible. ISDN lines from BT Openworld will provide a link from the station's two race commentators, via its studio to the open-air transmitter.
Dick Johnson, live commentator at Cowes Week Radio, said: "It's my job to provide running commentary from a boat in the Solent. As you can imagine, it takes a complex web of telecoms and internet gadgetry to keep myself in touch with the rest of the broadcast team. BT Openworld's help in this area is essential. Without it, live Cowes Week Radio would cease to happen."
Duncan Ingram, senior vice-president consumer internet services at BT
Openworld said: "As a sponsor, we're proud to be able to bring one of the biggest events in the sailing calendar to enthusiasts all over the globe for the third year running. This further underlines our long term commitment to developing the internet into a high quality and reliable entertainment source."
Cowes Week Radio has been providing the only live coverage of Cowes Week for the last 17 years. Up to 80 per cent of competitors tune in for the latest news, weather and tide information, as well as 30,000 local listeners and many more worldwide. The 2002 broadcast will begin at 7.00am on Saturday, August 3 and will be streamed online throughout the day until the following Saturday. |
BTOpenzone Wi-Fi Hotspots Live
By:mark.j @ 9:03:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In case you missed it, BT finally got its BTOpenzone Wi-Fi (public broadband wireless local area networks (LANs)) hotspots online for their target date of 1st August 2002 last week.
The service is touted to give laptop and PDA users high-speed wireless Internet access in selected locations, although the price tag may be too high for some:
BT has been trialling BT Openzone, which currently consists of 20 hot spots, since June. As planned, it began the commercial launch of the service on 1 August, and is targeting business users, although individuals will also be able to sign up.
"The trial period finished on 31 July," a BT spokeswoman told ZDNet UK. "The government only recently changed the law to make commercial Wi-Fi services legal, so 1 August was the first day that the commercial launch could take place," she added.
A range of different payment models are available. Subscribers can pay £85 per month for unlimited access, £40 per month for 900 minutes Wi-Fi surfing per month, or £20 for 300 minutes. Anyone who signs up before 31 December will get a 50 percent discount.
The ZDNet item notes that there are also two pre-pay schemes, one for £6 (1 hour) and the other at £15 (24 hours).
Note that both limit you to a single days time frame, thus you wouldn't be able to use any left over hours after a specific 24 hour period is up. |
MSNs Unlimited BT Phone Calls
By:mark.j @ 8:54:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] If you use Microsoft’s Instant messaging application, MSN Messenger, then you may like to know that it can now be used to make unlimited local and national phone calls for a fixed monthly fee:
By clicking the "Make a phone call" button in MSN Messenger, users with a BT phone line and a BT Together package can make calls from their PC to UK phones.
The PC 2 UK service, which costs £20 a month, doesn't include calls to mobiles, premium rate numbers or freephone numbers. Some other restrictions apply. The £20 fee is added to the customer's BT phone bill.
BT said the service works best with a USB handset and Windows XP. Users without an internet telephony handset can use speakers and a microphone. The service is available to both broadband and dial-up internet users.
Unlike most Internet telephony services this allows you to make unmetered calls at any time of the day for a comparatively low price, assuming you use the phone a lot. More @ Web-User. |
News - August 2,2002
Government Expands Online Learning
By:mark.j @ 2:53:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The government could soon expand their online learning plans after a new report suggested that an 'online college', digital careers advisers, and a mentoring programme for teachers and tutors would improve existing services:
The report, which has been welcomed by Education and Skills Secretary Estelle Morris, will be added to the £50m Curriculum Online project in which the Government plans to put the national curriculum on the internet.
The report, issued yesterday, is also being welcomed as part of separate plans by the Government to include IT skills as one of all students' basic skills along with numeracy and literacy by 2010. The move forms one element of the Government's belief that the internet will help improve the country's efficiency and knowledge-base, represented by the UK Online programme to increase the availability of access to the web and put all government services online by 2005.
The netimperative.info item goes on to give a brief rundown of the various suggestions and their advantages. |
Responsible Security Disclosure
By:mark.j @ 2:45:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] If there's a potential exploit in your web browser or operating system, one that online hacks could exploit and that hasn't been patched, then should you be made aware of it? That's the question being posed by UK Security Online today:
HP recently ignited controversy over the disclosure of vulnerabilities in software by invoking both the controversial 1998 DMCA and computer crime laws. HP has threatened to sue a team of researchers who publicized a vulnerability in the company's Compaq Tru64 Unix operating system.
HP's dramatic warning appears to be the first time the DMCA has been invoked to stifle research related to computer security. Until now, it's been used by copyright holders to pursue people who distribute computer programs that unlock copyrighted content such as DVDs or encrypted e-books.
Our view, and that of much of the security industry, is simple - responsible disclosure of security vulnerabilities serves a valuable purpose and should continue so that people other than the hackers are aware of software holes and can try to protect themselves. We give our reasons at our web site for our views on this issue and we define what we mean by "responsible"!
We have started a poll from our web forums to find out what the views of the general user community are on this important issue. The poll is at:
http://www.uksecurityfocus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=589
UPDATE:
Following from our previous release about a poll on the issue of
vulnerability disclosure we have just learned that HP have backed down.
Here is the story link -
http://www.uksecurityonline.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=591 |
NTL Slips Up On E-Mail Security
By:mark.j @ 2:35:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if the UKs largest cable operator, NTL, has made the classic mistake of not properly encoding private E-Mail addresses.
While sending a mass-mail to NTL users in the Southampton area regarding their new broadband cable modem services trial, the provider accidentally allowed all of the addresses to be public:
Subject: NTL Cable Modem Trial
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 09:26:32 +0100
Hi
We are currently compiling data for the NTL Stand Alone Cable Modem trials in the Southampton area. Your name is on a list as a potential trialist. In order to check whether you are in an area that is being used for the trial, please could you respond to this email with your full address and a daytime contact telephone number.
Should you be chosen for the trial, then you will be contacted in due course.
Kindest Regards
Jason Murphy
NTL Telesales (ESE)
If you want the addresses then The Inquirer has kindly offered to supply them, jokingly of course. You'd think that a big company like NTL would be better at protecting personal data than this. |
More ISDN To ADSL Offering ISPs
By:mark.j @ 2:25:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide is reporting that Nildram isn't the only ISP to have officially announced support for the new ISDN to ADSL conversion service; several others have also joined the fray (details as Nildram post below):
The ISPs that are offering the conversion are:
C2 Internet Ltd
Clara.net
Sniff Out
UTV Internet
This managed conversion means if the line fails the ADSL activation tests then the HH/ISDN2 line is restored. In addition the process should also result in less downtime than if you go for the alternate route of ceasing the HH then getting ADSL installed once you have a PSTN line.
We’d assume that BTOpenworld may also be offering it, although that has yet to be confirmed. |
Pipex - A Small Improvement?
By:rich @ 1:54:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Web-User has reported that Pipex have taken on extra support staff and have cut waiting times from an hour to 20 minutes on their technical support desk:
Pipex claims it has improved its helpdesk problems, which saw customers waiting up to an hour for assistance. The cut-price ADSL provider said it has slashed its technical support line waiting time from around an hour to just 20 minutes.
"People are now starting to say "great we got through"," said a Pipex spokeswoman.
But the company still hasn't satisfied some customers, despite taking on an extra 40 staff to man the fast growing business. Pipex tops the complaints league on the ISPreview.co.uk website. Pipex argues that its problems have been fixed. "What you're refering to is historic stuff," the spokeswoman said.
This seems to be a small improvement to the support on Pipex, but problems still remain with dialup and ADSL services as seen on our complaints page. |
Pipex ISP - The Serious Problems
By:mark.j @ 9:28:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Pipex, a once well regarded UK ISP, has over the past few months fallen from grace. Complaints about the service on our forum have been on the rise and so too have the number of official ones made for our 'ISP Complaints' page.
Our attempts to contact Pipex via phone, support E-Mail or press routs have all failed and after a week of waiting we've about given up hope. They used to reply the very next day.
Thus we've today chosen to highlight two of the many complaints made against the ISP in the hope that Pipex will see it and issue an official response. For security reasons only the first name of those who've complained will be mentioned:
Use Pipex DialTime Shared 5:1 24/7 service. Constant difficulty making a connection especially during daytime. Support services also constantly engaged and when contactable [usually by fax] take several days to reply and cannot help. Intend to find better service and terminate contract with Pipex.
- E-Mail By John
------------------------------------
I've been using Pipex for two years. I'd always been delighted with their highly efficient, reliable and fast service. Support was good at the time too, with replies within 24 hrs. There was no ISP to beat it. I'm using Pipex Dial, on unmetered access and I also additionally have domain management, all of which costs over £400 per year. Up until recently it was worth it.
For the past couple of months or more, the Pipex service has been abominable. Including the following:
- Unable to dial up with unobtainable or engaged tones, needing to dial at least 10 times on occasions to finally get through. This continues.
- VERY slow internet access or coming to a stop, ie, "hanging". This continues.
- Unable to send mail [Ed - Goes on to mention many more E-Mail issues..].
- No replies when telephoning.
- No replies to zillions of emails sent to Pipex.
- E-Mail By Marina
We’ve also had a number of separate reports from people complaining about the ‘attitude’ of support staff (when you can get one), much of it is described as ‘abusive’, although without hearing it first hand it’d be hard to judge. |
ETGS Dips Into Satellite Broadband
By:mark.j @ 8:59:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if ET Global Solutions, which recently launched what it proclaimed to be the cheapest ADSL service in the UK, is also dipping into broadband satellite curtsy of Isonetric.
Isonetric, aka - Bridge Broadband, is also behind near identical resold packages from Satellite-ADSL, IDS-Satellite, Mac-1 and now ETGS. Typically the information is once again identical to that in our listings, bar the price, which, we're told, should be the same in the future:
Sat Bronze
Download: 512kbps
Burst Rate: 4mbps
Upload: 128k
Connectivity: USB
Cash Option: Hardware: £2200
Service: £109 Per Month
Rental Option: Hardware & Service: £159 Per Month
Unfortunately the high prices continue to prevent the service being acceptable to anybody outside of SME businesses and above.
On the bright side and such SME's can get special 'Broadband Funding Assistance', which varies depending on your location within the UK (details upon request). More @ Net4Nowt. |
Video E-Mails = Next Big Thing?
By:mark.j @ 8:47:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Most of us, at one time or another, have sent an E-Mail with a picture attached, but how about videos? For dialup users the prospect of sending larger video files via E-Mail is daunting, yet the broadband age is making it more of a reality:
Unlike the false promises of some online marketing firms two years ago, fast and reliable streamed video advertising online now appears to be a reality. Broadband penetration levels appear to be climbing steadily, but video streaming could take off thanks to improved video compression technology.
We’re already seeing firms such as Microsoft use video banners to demonstrate its games online, but potential for video emails, in particular, is huge. Entertainment companies such as Columbia TriStar have seen huge response rates to their built-in video trailers.
The reason marketers are getting excited about video email is because there are no attachments; the video is embedded in the email’s main body of text, the emails are light on the inbox and virtually undetectable by office email filtering software. The video also starts up as soon as the email is opened, so marketers no longer need to rely on a user clicking a link.
Unfortunately the Revolution item looks more at the worrying benefits of E-Mail marketing via video rather than personal use, which has so far failed to take off.
One of the key problems is a lack of knowledge, most people simply wouldn't know how to make or properly compress a video in the first place. |
UK Online Banking Proves Popular
By:mark.j @ 8:39:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Barclays, one of the UKs most popular banks, has today proved that online banking is still a growth area by adding 200,000 new customers to its online service in the six months to 30th June 2002:
The bank now has 3.5m registered users and claims that 17 per cent of personal banking transactions are conducted online, with 50 per cent of customers registered for online banking. The company has not released WAP figures for this period.
More @ Europemedia. |
Nildrams Final ISDN To ADSL Service
By:mark.j @ 8:34:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP Nildram has been trialing its ISDN to ADSL conversion process, with BTs blessing, for sometime now. Yesterday the provider finally announced its official launch:
Nildram launch ISDN upgrades to 'Wires Only' ADSL
Nildram, one of the UK's leading Broadband Internet Service Providers, have today announced the launch of a conversion process which enables current Home and Office Highway as well as ISDN2 users, to upgrade to a Nildram Home or Office ADSL service in a simple, painless way?
The new simplified process enables a single order to be placed with BT by Nildram. Nildram then manage the conversion of the BT provided ISDN line to PSTN and subsequent activation of the customers' ADSL service. Should the conversion fail for technical reasons, the engineer converts the line back to the original service and all associated charges are cancelled. BT charge £27.99 for the process and bill this to the end user directly.
Iain Ogilvie, marketing manager at Nildram comments: "In conjunction with BT, we have been offering a migration path to the 'traditional' 'with hardware' USB ADSL services for some time, but we have been aware that there has been interest in migration to the 'wires only' Home and Office services. Following BTs recent announcement that it was to launch a new process, we are delighted to be able to be able to add this facility to our extensive Broadband portfolio."
The £27.99 price tag is certainly an improvement and no doubt more ISPs will be advertising this service in the future. |
News - August 1,2002
Broadband Support Via BrownstoneIT
By:mark.j @ 3:17:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BrownstoneIT has today issued a press release announcing their new broadband integration services and support:
BrownstoneIT launched to meet growing interest in Broadband
Building on several years’ successful systems development and installation experience, BrownstoneIT now offers broadband integration services.
The services offered by BrownstoneIT are complementary to broadband communications in the same way that garage services are required by the motor industry. Cars are kept running at top performance through garage services - in the same way BrownstoneIT will ensure a trouble free network operation through careful design, installation and maintenance services.
BrownstoneIT are finding a good deal of interest coming from the education sector and are currently working with several schools to map out broadband projects. Earlier network integration work at BrownstoneIT was done for companies in the telecom and media sectors.
"We have found widespread interest in the services we offer, especially amongst the SMEs.” Says Anthony Lilly, a director of Brownstone IT. “People recognise the advantages offered to their business by faster internet access, but worry about their increased vulnerability arising from the “always on” broadband connection. We also find, quite often, that the installation of broadband is coupled with a network upgrade to take advantage of the increased bandwidth. In cases such as these, BrownstoneIT has been asked to help to improve security or to design and install a new network."
http://www.brownstoneit.com |
Electoral Commission's e-Voting Verdict
By:mark.j @ 3:11:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Electoral Commission has today delivered its verdict on the government’s recent e-voting (Internet/Phone/SMS etc.) pilot schemes.
Apparently there were a few technical glitches and more trials will be needed, yet the future looks bright:
Sam Younger, chairman of the Electoral Commission, said: "The pilots provide a clear indication of how successful postal voting can be in boosting turnout.
It also shows us that although there is still a great deal of work needed before we can have a fully e-enabled election, the first steps have been successfully taken."
Mr Younger described government talk of an e-enabled general election by 2006 as "over-optimistic".
More @ The BBC. |
BTs Ridiculous ADSL Trigger Levels
By:mark.j @ 2:56:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Brace yourself because if you've tried BTs new pre-registration system and found that your exchange has yet to be given a trigger level then things could be about to get worse.
ADSLGuide has reported on word of a meeting between Ulverston and BTs Broadband Deployment and Strategy manager, Malcom Starke, yesterday:
Paul Buck has reported that BT said the exchanges that don't have their triggers specified yet can expect the figures to be set in the next 10 days. The bad news is the triggers will be between 400 and 600, which for the smaller exchanges means it will be a very long time before this level is reached.
BT also has given some indication of timetables, they expect that most triggers will not be reached until Christmas 2002 at the earliest - this doesn't seem unreasonable if the same rate of growth can be maintained. The problem is that once the order phase of 6 weeks starts if the 75% order level is reached an exchange build will still take around another four months.
Wonderful, so even if your area could meet the madness of a 600 strong trigger level then you'd still have to wait the best part of a year before the exchange could be enabled, oh very clever BT. We thought things were supposed to get faster – NOT SLOWER! |
Zen Internets ADSL Referendum
By:mark.j @ 2:43:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Very few UK ISPs seem to be aware of BTs new pre-registration system and even less bother to work with or advertise it, thankfully Zen Internet does.
The ISPs latest newsletter carries word of what they're calling an ADSL referendum, although they've actually just become one of the few providers to properly implement BTs new availability checker:
We extol the virtues and virtuosity of ADSL in every other issue of the newsletter. It's hard for anyone who has tried broadband to stay quiet about it, especially when they see how much time and money it saves, and thousands of users who experience the technology every day will tell you that they'd never want to go back to dial-up Internet access again.
There are thousands more who can't get broadband at all - they live and work outside ADSL-enabled areas - and they are amazed at users who could sign up for ADSL with a few clicks of the mouse but aren't doing it. This month, instead of preaching to the unconverted, we're coming to the aid of all those who've already seen the light, but can't get it to shine in their neighbourhood.
We're holding a broadband referendum, and you can vote today to help persuade the powers at BT that ADSL-enabling your local telephone exchange would be the decent thing to do - as well as a viable proposition for them. If you follow the steps provided at the link below, we'll do the rest.
http://www.zenadsl.com/preregister |
Telewests 192,000 Broadband Users
By:mark.j @ 9:35:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] With both NTL and BT claiming to have 300,000 broadband subscribers (each) for their respective technologies, today it's the turn of Telewest.
Telewests broadband and dialup ISP wing, blueyonder, has announced the accumulation of 192,000 cable modem subscribers. The details, which were released with updated financial results, also showed their new 1Mbps service as doing well:
The company said in less than two months it has signed up 15,000 users to its faster 1 megabit service, demonstrating there is a substantial market for high-speed communications.
The second quarter saw net additions of 51,000 in broadband internet to 177,000 at June 30. As at June 30, net debt stood at £5.308 billion.
Despite this the Ananova item reports that Telewests future is still cloudy due to the lost Liberty Media deal, which the operator may now try to re-investigate. We also just had the following from Telewest directly:
We announced that we've now installed over 192,000 blueyonder broadband customers. That includes the incredible demand we've experienced for our new 1Mb blueyonder broadband service, with 15,000 customers opting to double the speed of their connection within the first seven weeks of availability.
As of today, our blueyonder broadband services are also available to new customers with a USB port installation. In the vast majority of cases new customers can now be installed without the need for a NIC (network installation card) to be fitted in their PC.
That lowers our maximum installation fee even further, which is now a straight £50, although we're also offering half price connection throughout August. Compare that with over £200 you'll have to shell out for one of BT's engineers to install ADSL for you and we reckon it's pretty good value. |
fairADSL - UKs Cheapest ADSL ISP!?
By:mark.j @ 9:22:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The start of a worrying trend? The second ISP, fairADSL, in two days to announce itself as the cheapest residential offering broadband ADSL service in the UK, has launched.
Interestingly the service is actually a few pence more expensive than yesterdays introduction at £18.99 per month (vs £18.95) inc. VAT.
Apparently fairADSL proclaims itself to be the cheapest because it's the first to physically launch the service, unlike the ETGS offer, which isn't live yet:
NEW PROVIDER LAUNCHES UK'S CHEAPEST BROADBAND SERVICE
fairADSL, Britain's newest broadband service provider, has today slashed the cost of broadband technology to only £18.99. This is less than a third of the price of many other broadband providers and just £3 more than slower dial-up packages.
The fairADSL service uses BT's existing network - making the service available to 70 per cent of UK households. fairADSL customers will benefit from a connection which is ten times faster than a standard 56k dial-up modem, a simple self-install process, no visiting engineers and simultaneous internet and telephone service on one line.
And unlike some other providers fairADSL broadband offers no restriction on downloading mp3 or video files, and there are no hidden extras.
Bernadette Ebene, fairADSL's Marketing Director, said: "fairADSL is the first company in the UK to offer broadband for below £20 a month. This makes broadband technology cheaper and fairer for customers - effectively destroying the price gap between 'fast' and 'slow' internet options.
Our offer is price driven, but in no way cuts corners. We are simply an independent provider delivering our products through safe, secure and reliable BT channels.
Broadband take up in the UK has been one of the lowest in the developing world, and the reason is price. We are convinced that our service will open up a market blighted by high cost."
While the service may be cheap, we find it hard to believe their claim of not cutting corners via price; this is all too familiar to the unstable early days of unmetered dialup access.
Every ADSL ISP uses the same BT connection and shares similar limits, the less you charge for your service the less you make and the less there is to spend on a strong support team, services and quality. Hopefully fairADSL will still succeed. |
July Virus Top 10 - Klez-H Still TOP
By:mark.j @ 9:06:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] As August arrives then so does the usual MessageLabs update on the monthly top 10 viruses, this time for July, obviously:
1. W32/Klez.H-mm
2. W32/Yaha.E-mm
3. W32/SirCam.A-mm
4. W32/Klez.E-mm
5. W32/Magistr.B-mm
6. W32/Hybris.B-mm
7. W32/Magistr.A-mm
8. W32/Frethem.L-mm
9. W32/Yaha.C-mm
10. W32/MTX-m
Not surprisingly the Klez-H E-Mail worm (virus) remains at the top with MessageLabs reporting 475,000 instances of the virus in July, down from a whopping 788,000 infected emails in June.
Overall the trend for last month is downwards (less viruses), but will it last? |
Telewest CEO Steps Down
By:mark.j @ 8:56:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] In a surprise move the CEO of cable operator Telewest, Adam Singer, has stepped down from the board as the group moves closer to a possible debt-for-equity swap by changing its management team:
The debt-ridden company has been linked with an NTL-style financial restructuring for some time, but Singer has so far resisted change, and appears to have been ousted from his position.
In a statement that suggests a refinacing deal looms large on Telewest's horizon, company chairman Cob Stenham said: "Given our current financial position, the independent directors believe the company needs a different management style to take the business through its next phase."
Telewests shares have plummeted by roughly 13% (1.95p) on the news, more @ netimperative.info . |
BT Updates Broadband ADSL Site
By:mark.j @ 8:45:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] News - July 31,2002
BSkyB Uses BT 'No Frills' Broadband
By:mark.j @ 2:58:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BSkyB, aka - SkyDigital, has today confirmed that their broadband service is to use BTs own BT 'No Frills' Broadband service, which is likely to be a highly controversial move:
The long-anticipated move will see Sky offering BT's controversial 'no-frills' broadband package, BT Broadband, to its subscribers to compete with the 'all-in-one' phone, internet and TV offerings of its counterparts NTL and Telewest.
Announced with the satellite broadcaster's annual results this morning, the deal mirrors BT's discounted offering of Sky's services to its customers, but details are still sketchy. A spokesperson for Sky wouldn't elaborate on how it will be billed, priced or branded and - even though the company has demonstrated the service on a prototype, broadband-ready set-top box to analysts - whether the service will be accompanied by a commercial roll-out of such a device.
However, the company said the product would be available to its subscribers on "special terms", and would "ensure that Sky subscribers have access to a highly competitive offering as demand for broadband internet access develops."
By far the most worrying aspect of the netimperative.info item is the fact that BT has allowed their 'No Frills' service to be used by a group other than their own.
This will no doubt deepen the anger of rival ISPs toward the service; many had assumed the 'No Frills' package would be a BT only service. If Sky can get it, why can't others? The deal is set to begin sometime later this year. |
ETGS - Record Cheapest ADSL ISP!?
By:mark.j @ 2:45:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The price of UK broadband ADSL ISP services just got 'dangerously' cheap after ADSLGuide ran a story on ET Global Solutions new service.
The provider is offering its residential USB package for a staggeringly low £18.95 (inc. VAT) per month, although there's also a £59.99 setup charge:
These prices are about as close as you can get to selling at a loss, since the wholesale charge is £14.75+VAT per month for a 50:1 connection and £40+VAT for the 20:1 service. There are other charges to go on top of this such as staff wages, office space and BT Central related costs. For example, a 155Mbps BT Central connection (the link between the BT network and the ISP) costs £40,000 per year.
If the ISP has 5,000 customers on this link, the per-user cost works out to be around 66 pence. This would leave ET Global with just 72 pence per month for everything else. Perhaps they hope to boost profit on items such as static IP options, hardware, micro-filters etc.
In our minds £20 (+vat [not inc.]) per month is the lowest an ISP should choose to go, anything less has the potential to dramatically reduce service quality (PIPEX?).
There’s definitely a growing fear that providers could be falling into the same trap of competitive pricing over service quality that once befell unmetered dialup ISPs during 1999/2000. |
Freeserves Questionable Advertising
By:mark.j @ 12:29:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] One of the UKs largest dialup ISPs, Freeserve, has begun advertising its unmetered services in the national press, via a Dixons advert, for a special price of £5.99 per month for the first three months.
The offer itself isn’t new and has been doing the rounds in associated store chains (Dixons etc.) for well over a month, yet that’s not the problem. The advert itself uses the following phrase:
“Use as much as you like, whenever you like.”
Interestingly the advert doesn’t mention their specific session limits or the acceptable usage policy; it only asks you to visit the website and view the T&C’s there, which few would ever bother doing. |
NTLs Celtic Broadband Only Service
By:mark.j @ 8:55:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] DigitalSpy reports that the UKs largest cable operator, NTL, is planning to offer a special broadband cable modem only service to Celtic regions (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales):
According to the document received by ntl, the Celtic regions will be able to sell customers a broadband-only connection later this month - currently customers must take a broadband service in conjunction with other ntl services as part of a bundled package. Other areas running on SMS customer management systems - ex-CableTel regions - will receive the option at a later date.
Options will include paying the monthly fee, at £14.99/month for 128k service, £24.99/month for 512k service, and £49.99/month for 1Mbps service; alternatively, customers will be able to pre-pay an annual fee.
Note that the installation charge is said to remain at £50, which is of course a one-off payment. Note, all of this has yet to be confirmed. |
KPN Buying KPNQwest Leftovers
By:mark.j @ 8:51:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] By now there's very little of the European KPNQwest network left, however that hasn't stopped the Dutch phone company, KPN, from snapping up a central part of the data network:
KPN, which along with troubled US phone operator Qwest Communications set up KPNQwest only three years ago, agreed to buy the Dutch part of what was once Europe's largest data network and a data centre based at The Hague for "a couple million euros," it said.
The sale underlines the failure of the court-appointed liquidators to attract any significant offers for the once mighty "Eurorings" network, with most remaining players hurting from falling prices caused by a huge capacity glut.
The ZDNet item goes on to report that KPN may also be looking to grab any other remains of the fallen joint venture, although talks on the matter are likely to last another two weeks before that can be confirmed. |
BTO - Business Before Residential ADSL
By:mark.j @ 8:45:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BTOpenworld (BTO) has long touted its growing love for business over residential ADSL subscribers and today they've taken that one step further.
ADSLGuide reports that BTO are planning improvements in the response times on ADSL faults, yet only for business customers:
Specifically, when an engineer is required on the users premises, someone will be available to go out on the same day if the appointment is booked before 1pm, or if after 1pm, during the first appointment slot the following day (8-10:30am). This is a big improvement in response times, but it only affects users who have purchased Ethernet products, which in reality, relates to mainly business users.
What will this mean to residential user? Well, most probably, when an engineer is required on site to fix the problem, a delay in actually getting someone out as business users have priority over the appointment slots.
To be fair there's nothing unusual about higher paying customers getting better treatment than lower paying, residential, clients. Thankfully a good number of ISPs do still treat customers equally. |
UK Businesses Don't Have Backup ISPs
By:mark.j @ 8:36:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] A new study from the Stonesoft security firm has found that more than 50% of UK businesses don't have a backup connection/ISP should their primary service fail:
Over one-third of respondents to the survey said once their ISP went down, they just waited for the service to be reconnected rather than seeking alternatives.
Despite the fact that many companies cited the importance of internet availability, many are not prepared for a serious failure.
Tony Anscombe, director for northern Europe at Stonesoft, said: "It is worrying to see this relaxed attitude in business ISP connections. The service provision market is in a state of turmoil right now. Even the big household names are not to be trusted."
The Silicon item notes an interesting response from ISPs claiming that there's very little to worry about. Apparently in the event of total failure IT managers should get some notice period. Sure, we've seen a lot of that with UK ISPs, haven't we? |
News - July 30,2002
BTs £1Million Offer To UK ADSL ISPs
By:mark.j @ 2:51:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Following on from the success of BTs earlier broadband marketing announcement, the operator has now set about allocating £1Million in advertising funds for a few select ADSL offering ISPs:
The money will be used to finance new advertising campaigns for high-speed Internet access services based on BT's ADSL product.
BT said yesterday that it had recently invited ISPs to submit proposals for innovative broadband marketing campaigns. The five ISPs that submit the best ideas will each receive £200,000, and an unspecified number of other ISPs will receive £50,000 each to help finance their advertising.
ZDNet UK understands that a large number of ISPs have applied for these grants, including some of the UK's largest ISPs. The winners, whose identity could be revealed in the next few days, will be chosen by an independent panel of judges, including a representative from the Institute of Marketing.
BT hopes that the money will give a further boost to the take-up of broadband ADSL services in the UK, More @ ZDNet. |
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