April 24, 2002 - April 30, 2002
News - April 30,2002
Quick ISP Review Site Update
By:mark.j @ 9:29:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Just a quick note to say that the old survey has now ended and the results were as follows:
Can you get ADSL or Cable Modem access in your area?
Yes - 42.3%
Soon - 2.8%
Unsure - 4.1%
No - 50.7%
Total votes: 1760
It looks as if the majority of readers still can’t get either of the two most popular broadband standards, with roughly 3% expecting it soon and 4% without a clue as to whether it exists for them or not.
The new survey is done in relation to BTs recently announced 'No Frills (BT Broadband)' ADSL service. It asks, "Would you subscribe to BTs new ‘No Frills’ ADSL service?". |
Pan-Euro ISP Launch UK Services
By:mark.j @ 9:06:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] mediaWays, a European network services provider owned by the Spanish Telco - Telefonica, has today announced its entrance into the UK ISP market. Full press release follows:
Pan-European ISP Specialist Launches UK Services
mediaWays.uk ( link to website @ http://www.mediaways.co.uk ) is pleased to announce the availability of a full range of services for ISPs in the UK. The company has deployed a national network, free of legacy equipment consisting of 28 POPs: providing national coverage for flat rate and metered services. This includes direct connections at over 90% of DLEs an architecture that provides high redundancy and availability.
"Having implemented services for many of the largest ISPs in Europe, we are now in a position to offer some of the most competitive dialin networking in the UK." says Andreas Bodczek - managing director of mediaWays.uk.
"The company's services will particularly appeal to ISPs who value network quality and value for money as central to their ability to attract and retain customers."
In addition to dial-in network capacity, mediaWays offers a full range of managed hosting, messaging and virtual private networking services for ISPs and corporates.
For more information on the full range of services available, please contact Duncan Watts ( hyperlink to email @ duncan.watts@mediaways.net ) |
Esat Preps Irish LLU Broadband
By:mark.j @ 9:02:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Irish town of Limerick looks set to be the first of many to receive unbundled broadband ADSL from Esat. By the end of the year Esat hopes to have 40 exchanges throughout Ireland unbundled, allowing it to offer ADSL to some 400,000 lines:
After Limerick exchanges in Ballina, Cork, Clonmel, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tralee, Athlone and Sligo will be unbundled. The company says it is still in negotiations to unbundle the 40 exchanges in Dublin.
The retail cost of Esat's ADSL service will be EUR270 per quarter with a once-off connection fee of EUR125.64 for a 512k connection. The company's 1Mb service will cost EUR614 every three months, but the connection fee remains the same. Its highest speed service, at 2Mb per second, will cost users EUR1,200 quarterly with a connection fee of EUR1,500.
"The truth is, these prices are a little high for most residential consumers, so for now we are targeting the small to medium sized businesses," explained Peter Evans, product director at Esat. "We fully expect the prices to go down however over the next few months as costs decrease in making it available."
Esat plans to lower prices by the end of the year and also offer a special Voice over IP (VoIP) based broadband solution to those who need it.
ElectricNews also reports that Esat will attempt to offer a FRIACO based unmetered dial-up service, although this depends on the telecoms regulator and chief operator Eircom. |
UK Next-Gen (Ethernet) Broadband
By:mark.j @ 8:53:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Recent reductions to the cost of broadband ADSL aside and the UK still falls behind its European neighbours in positioning itself for next generation broadband access via Ethernet connections:
Ethernet Metropolitan Area Networks have the potential to allow service providers to offer voice, data and digital television packages to subscribers at over 20 times the speed of ADSL connections.
Service providers like Italian ISP FastWeb and Bredbandsbolgat in Sweden are delivering symmetrical 10Mbps connections to subscribers in multi-dwelling residential units using Ethernet technology from Cisco Systems.
Nigel Moulton, Cisco's director of marketing for Metro Ethernet, said Ethernet connections allow service providers to set up profitable services that cost little more than ADSL (FastWeb Ethernet access in Milan subscription prices start at €95).
The Register's item throws an interesting prospect into the mix, yet the technology is believed to become mainstream in some countries within three years, before ADSL has finished growing in the UK. |
BT Slaps Government - Digital TV
By:mark.j @ 8:39:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BT has hit out at the government over their proposal to switch off analogue TV signals between 2006 and 2010:
At a conference to discuss the future of digital TV - made all the more high-profile by the recent demise of ITV Digital - Bland said the target date is unworkable. He pointed at the collapse of the Carlton and Granada joint venture as illustrating the pitfalls that await future forays into digital television, according to a report in the Guardian.
Tony Blair has pledged to switch off the analogue signal by 2010 at the latest, and then sell off the spectrum, in a simlar auction to that seen for mobile phone spectrum. The collapse of ITV Digital, which may have just days left to live, will have come as a particular blow to this plan as it provided a strong basis for future growth - providing digital terrestrial programming to around 1.5 million homes in the UK.
At the weekend BT was linked to a consortium of investors planning a bid for ITV Digital, but Bland's criticism would appear to be a strong denial of the incumbent telco's interest. However, it has long been suggested that Bland will look to steer BT towards some flavour of broadcasting in the future, given his past in television, as chairman of the BBC.
More @ Silicon. |
News - April 29,2002
THUS Predicts 2002 Sales Growth
By:mark.j @ 3:16:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] THUS, the alternative telecoms group behind UK ISP Demon Internet, has announced that it expects to generate up to 25% sales growth in 2002, yet dialup ISP customers continue to decline:
The company, which recently raised almost £270m through a share sale supported by ScottishPower to pay off much of its debt, posted a net loss of £104m for the year to 31 March 2002, against last year's £55m deficit. Thus made a profit at EBITDA level of £3.1m, against a loss at the same level of £24.6m last year.
Sales increased 17% to £269m, primarily due to growth in its data, telecoms and internet divisions. In the fourth-quarter, sales improved by 14% to just over £70m. Sales generated from erstwhile parent ScottishPower dwindled to account for less than 9% of group turnover, less than half of last year's total, proving that it is less-reliant on this "strong commercial relationship".
Its internet division reported a surge in business service sales, which helped boost internet-related turnover to almost £82m. Dial-up subscription revenues continued to decline, by 18% to £20m, in line with the fall in customer numbers. Meanwhile, Thus' data and telecoms division accounted for £142.5m of group sales, up nearly 40% on the previous year. Other group activities included servicing call centres, which accounted for £25m in sales, representing an 8% decline.
More @ netimperative.info . |
V21 Launch Affiliate/VISP Network
By:mark.j @ 3:01:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The unmetered dialup ISP V21, which has been improving over the last month following a lengthy period of problems, has today announced a new affiliate and VISP network for ‘wannabe’ ISPs:
V21 are pleased to announce the successful launch of their affiliate and VISP network.
Anyone can sign up to become an affiliate and earn thousands.......
Affiliate signup can be found at https://secure.v21.co.uk/affiliate_signup/index.asp
We are now also supplying full white label VISP platforms for any new ISP that needs Friaco or 0845 access needs.
It's not yet clear whether V21 would merely be 'reselling' their own service or offering something more flexible. |
Zipcom - UK's First Independent SDSL
By:mark.j @ 2:55:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Zipcom has today sent us a press release announcing the UK's first independent SDSL service, which is based on the companies own local loop technology:
Zipcom launches the UK’s first independent SDSL service for business customers
Zipcom, the independent UK telecoms operator is helping to drive forward next generation technology with the launch its own SDSL (symmetrical digital subscriber line) service dedicated to UK businesses. First of its kind, the announcement positions Zipcom as a motivating force behind broadband technological advances.
Zipcom’s SDSL service will enable companies to benefit from an independent broadband alternative to leased lines that provides exceptional service quality and speeds without the associated high costs.
Catering to a growing demand by UK businesses for greater broadband connectivity, Zipcom’s SDSL service offers a number of distinct advantages for businesses, including un-contended transmission speeds of up to 2.3 megabits per second and the same speeds upstream as downstream.
Grahame Purvis, CEO of Zipcom comments, “Our technology positions us at the forefront of the broadband revolution. We are using next generation technology to crack open the local loop for business users who need a combination of speed, reliability, flexibility and cost effectiveness. SDSL is not only one of the best ways of providing this, it is also an ideal technology through which to implement cost effective voice and data VPNs.”
Zipcom’s SDSL service is currently being rolled-out across its national network covering most major cities in the UK. The service takes advantage of Zipcom’s independently owned and managed national network and is backed by a comprehensive Service Level Agreement. Zipcom also offers all its customers a dedicated account manager, providing a single point of contact for all enquiries.
http://www.zipcom.com |
EU Harmonises Cybercrime Laws
By:mark.j @ 2:48:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Commission of the European Union is seeking to harmonize the EU's legal response to cybercrimes such as hacking, denial of service attacks (DoS/DDoS) and virus dissemination:
The proposal, said EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino, "aims to ensure a common minimum level of criminal law in all Member States" and calls for the mandatory introduction of 24-hour contact points in member states to facilitate the exchange of cybercrime information.
It will also seek to encourage the adoption of a minimum sentencing policy, mandating custodial sentences of at least one year for serious offences.
The Register notes that the new framework has yet to be officially approved. |
Oftel - Half Of UK Homes Online
By:mark.j @ 2:42:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] According to the UK telecoms regulator, which isn't the most reliable source for Internet statistics, just under half of UK households have Internet access and unmetered remains the most popular medium:
On average people spend around nine hours online each week - an increase of an hour compared to August 2001.
And broadband use remains at around just 3 per cent, although it should be noted that these figures were compiled in February before the recent shake-up in ADSL pricing and availability.
That said, the research points out that awareness of broadband is on the increase, which is an essential precondition if broadband is to make it into the mass-market.
The Register reports that the top five UK ISPs are as follows:
No. / Name (Market Share - %)
1. Freeserve (21%)
2. BT (20%)
3. AOL UK (17%)
4. NTL (11%)
5. Telewest (3%)
Note that the full report can be read HERE and was compiled BEFORE the recent ADSL price and services shake-up. |
Watch The World Cup Online?
By:mark.j @ 2:32:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Unfortunately not, although Fifa does intend to post match highlights online for the first time:
Fans can pay about £13.50 to access a package of four minutes of action from each of the 64 matches. The package will include voiceover commentary in six languages, post-match interviews, screensavers and competitions.
The announcement stems from a deal with marketing company KirchSport, which owns internet as well as television rights to all matches.
The highlights will be available from www.fifaworldcup.com, which is run by Fifa and Yahoo!
Ananova reports that Fifa will aim to have the highlights online 2 - 3 hours after the match itself, although there's no information on what the video quality will be like or connection requirements. |
BTs Internal War - No Frills Broadband
By:mark.j @ 8:46:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It's beginning to look as if BT and its ISP retail arm, BTOpenworld, could be seeing the beginnings of an internal civil war following last weeks 'No Frills BT Broadband' announcement.
There seems to be a clear conflict of interest between the new offering and BTOpenworld's existing services, one that could eventually result in BTO dropping its current ADSL offers!:
Talking to The Independent on Sunday (newspaper), Mr Danon hinted that Openworld may have to abandon its plans to offer consumer broadband internet access. His comments follow BT Retail's announcement on Wednesday that it would launch its own "no frills" broadband package in September. "Openworld are competing with us [on internet access]. This is an issue they will have to address one of these days. I think that at a certain point Alison will have to redefine what she really wants Openworld to do," said Mr Danon.
Like Retail, Openworld provides internet access, but also offers services such as online music, games and email.
Mr Danon said that if Retail proves that customers prefer to buy his "basic" internet offering then Openworld would have to "address this issue by January".
This raises concern over BTOpenworlds independency from BT and just how highly the new 'No Frills BT Broadband’ package is regarded, which shouldn't be the case if it's to be billed as a non-ISP-competitive product.
Typically BTOpenworld has denied any such concerns, although clearly BT thinks they exist and once again the operator and one of its offspring find themselves in conflict. BTO being forced by BT to drop its ADSL packages seems unthinkable, yet we get the impression that some of BTs people don’t know what they’re talking about (surprise?). |
New Unmetered ISP - friaconet
By:mark.j @ 8:34:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Yet another new unmetered ISP, friaconet, has announced its intention to launch services towards the end of May (21 days time). Information is sparse, although the website has a few helpful lines:
So What Are We Offering ?
- 0808 Dialup Access
- 0800 Dialup Access
Both services will also feature: web based email, pop3 email, smtp connection, news group feed and webspace.
The service will allow upto a 56k connection using a modem on a UK landline or 64k connection using a UK isdn line. Disconnection time of two hours per session will be in place with a 15 minute inactivity time-out. No bandwidth or usage limts will apply as the service is FLAT RATE INTERNET ACCESS, so there's no hidden agenda.
Prices for the service will be announced shortly.
Support
The service will operate a 24-7 telephone support desk on an 0870 national rate number,a 2 hour email responce and web based support tracking system.
Ratios
Connection ratios will be kept to 10:1 or lower.
Contract
The service will be available on a monthly basis, with no commitment to continue after a months use.
One of the ISPs Support Advisors, Terry, let us know that unlike so many recent additions, friaconet is not a NeonHippo reseller and buys its ports directly from BT.
On the downside friaconet states that "no bandwidth or usage limits will apply", which anybody who's read our 'Unmetered Expectations' article will know to regard with some scepticism. Still at least it's an independent ISP for once and prices will be announced shortly. |
08002go – Package and Price Update
By:mark.j @ 8:23:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Last week saw an update on our forum and also on 08002go’s sister site, (08452go), that the once popular unmetered service would be back on 1st June 2002. Today we noticed an update on the 08002go.com website with details on the new packages. These are as follows:
08002go Home Light: £5.75 (incl. VAT)
Good quality subscription package for afternoon users. Unmetered access between 12 noon and 5pm seven days a week. No cut-off on this service during the period between 12.00pm and 5.00pm.
08002go Off-Peak: £9.99 (incl. VAT)
A good quality evening & Weekend subscription package, especially suitable for those with school children. This service is available from 4pm to 8am weekdays and all weekend, This has a 2hr cut-off.
08002go Business Unlimited: £12.99 (Excl. VAT)
A quality internet access package for the business user who predominantly require daytime access from 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
There is no disconnection with this service except an inactivity cut-off.
08002go Unlimited: £13.99 (incl. VAT)
A quality 24/7 Internet access service for the frequent user. 2 Hr cut-off and a 10 minute inactivity cut-off. The is no limitation other than the 2hr cut-off and you can immediately log back on and use the service to your hearts’ content.
08002go Universal 24/7: £16.49 (incl. VAT)
A premium quality Internet access service for the home or business user. 4 Hr cut-off and 20 minutes inactivity cut-offs. User can immediately log back on to the service.
Please note that there will be NO new restrictions imposed on service in the future.
Each of the above packages also comes with:
* Email address: yourname@08002go.com
* 15 email addresses (you can also use up to 10mb email space on our free 08002go portal)
* 10 MB of personal webspace (you can increase this by using our free 08002go Portal with 20mb)
* Dedicated technical support helpdesk, 24/7
Please note there is initially a limited number of spaces available on this service.
Although the site has been updated with this info and is headed “Registration Page” there is currently no option available to register. For the full update visit http://www.08002go.com |
News - April 28,2002
ISP Review Weekly Update
By:mark.j @ 11:16:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] So much for the warm sunny weather, it's now back to the all too traditional April shows, which makes me glad that we're only a few days away from May =).
Some of you may have noticed a few changes around the site over the last week, excluding the five new reviews and the five we've already begun working on for May.
The first thing to change was the forum, which along with the removal of the statistics system, has also been given an updated colour scheme. The stats system was removed because it was a CPU and file access hog.
We also made a small change to the front page by removing the bottom headlines (under the main news output) and instead linking the primary headlines at the top left to individual news items. There's no point in having two sets of headlines, is there?
We even completed work on the layout (what you'll see) for the future Reader ISP Reviews system, it's now down to the coder, whom we hope will be able to finish it the way we want.
Finally the testing for the next forum upgrade has been completed; it's now just a matter of waiting for the final release code, which should be out during the first half of May. |
New Unmetered ISP - Asian-biz
By:mark.j @ 10:12:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Yet another previously unknown unmetered dialup ISP, Asian-biz, has just presented itself to us.
Aside from the usual 0845 (Local Call Rate) pay as you go option, Asian-net also houses two BTSurftime and two FRIACO based unmetered dialups for home and business users:
FRIACO:
Asian Biz BusinessTime (£11.99 PM) - A peak period quality unmetered service for SME’s at £11.99 per month (incl VAT). Unmetered access will be available during the hours of 8am to 6pm, 5 days per week, at all other times 0845 rates will be charged.
Asian Biz HomeTime (£12.99 PM) - This product provides a subscriber with completely unmetered access to the Internet 24 hours and 7 days a week at £12.99 per month (incl VAT). Low cost option tailored for heavier residential users who need regular access to the Internet.
BT Surftime:
BT Surf & Talk (£11.99 PM) together package gives unlimited Internet access every evening (6pm - 8am) and all weekend (6pm Fridays - 8am Mondays). Peak time dial charges @ 1p per minute (5p minimum charge). Subscription breakdown - £6.00 is your ISP subscription & £5.99 is your BT SurfTime subscription.
BT SurfTime Anytime (£25.99 PM) package gives unlimited Internet access around the clock. Subscription breakdown - £6.00 is your ISP subscription & £19.99 is your BT SurfTime subscription. No other charges.
Note that based on the Biz Hometime offer the first payment will be for the first two months of service and monthly after that. There also appears to be a 12 Month minimum contract, which is something we always disagree with. Finally there's the typically 2 hourly cut-off period. |
News - April 27,2002
Klez E-Mail Virus Threat = Severe
By:mark.j @ 8:51:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We ourselves have seen almost endless repetitions of the Klez E-Mail virus (worm) over the past two weeks and so we're not surprised that Anti-Virus firms have now re-classified the threat as 'severe':
Symantec has been tracking an average of over 3,000 infections a day in the last few days. By comparison, the SirCam epidemic peaked at only 1,500 infections a day.
As a result, Klez and its variants have been upgraded to a level four threat, which translates as 'severe'. Level five is the most dangerous.
The latest variant spreads as an email attachment via the Windows Address Book, ICQ and local files and shares. Random subject lines and infected files make the worm harder to spot.
More @ VNUNet. |
Clara.net's Dropped ADSL Connections
By:mark.j @ 8:46:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Clara.net has issued a new service update that should help to explain the reason why some of their broadband ADSL customers have been experiencing dropped connections:
BT have identified a fault in the hardware cluster which terminates our customer ADSL connections. A firmware bug is causing nodes within the cluster to randomly reboot.
The symptoms are loss of routing after being successful connected and routed.
BT are sourcing updated hardware which is due to arrive next week. I will get a more specific date on Monday from BT and will post further information then.
Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. |
News - April 26,2002
Important Fast24 ISP Service Update
By:mark.j @ 3:08:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We recently asked the unmetered dialup ISP Fast24 if they could issue a service update, which follows a growing number of complaints surrounding the service; thankfully they've done just that:
PLEASE NOTE: The content of this email only affects those customers who connect to Fast24 using the 1430845-prefix access number. These customers should check their email regularly (daily) during the course of next week, to ensure minimum disruption to their Internet connectivity.
During the course of next week we shall be asking all 143 customers to update their dial-in numbers, and usernames, in order to take advantage of new capacity which we are bringing on-line via two new providers. Neither of these new providers is BT.
Our primary reason for doing this is:
At very short notice, our costs for evening and weekend usage of the 1430845-prefix number have increasing significantly, rendering the service uneconomic to us in its present form (the contract with the provider expired 3 days ago and we received notification of the price increases only yesterday).
However:
1) We have already planned to introduce additional capacity (of a level which tests indicate to be comparable to that obtained through the 1430845 number) from Monday 29th April in order to cover customer growth during May.
2) From Friday 3rd May we should have activated significant additional capacity (covering 55% of the UK population initially, growing to 95% by the end of the summer), which tests indicate should be AT LEAST comparable to that experienced by users of the current 1430845 prefix service.
Additionally, we are actively negotiating with alternative suppliers to try and re-instigate a Netkonect- based service for those customers that still prefer to use that service.
We hope to have some news on this option by early May.
Our current aim is to downgrade our usage of services supplied by BT FRIACO as soon as possible.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL 1430845-PREFIX CUSTOMERS SHOULD CHECK EITHER THEIR FAST24 EMAIL, OR THE FAST24 WEBSITE (FOUND AT WWW.FAST24.NET), ON A REGULAR BASIS - FROM MONDAY 29TH APRIL - TO RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION AND UPDATES.
For those 1430845-prefix customers who find themselves without connectivity (perhaps because you are not in a position to check your email, or our website, for a few days next week) simply remove the 143-prefix from the dial-in number prior to connecting. This will permit you to dial-in and access the fast24 website, and your email, at local call rates and retrieve the necessary information.
We apologise to our customers for the short notice of this action, but we did not envisage having to withdraw the 1430845-prefix service (at least in the short term) until we received the price-change notification yesterday.
For the record we also understand that Fast24 will be working to improve their website and customer support, possibly by taking on extra staff and increasing the use of automation. This same update should also now be available in our forum, comment there. |
AOL UK Preps Summer Broadband
By:mark.j @ 2:58:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] AOL UK is close to resolving the issues that have preventing it joining rivals such as BTOpenworld and Freeserve in the highly competitive broadband access market. AOL is now hoping to introduce its Wires-Only broadband ADSL service this summer:
"We've been making lots of progress in our work with BT to resolve our concerns over the provisioning process for broadband. We're hopeful that we'll be able to launch in the near future....in weeks, rather than months," said Matt Peacock, communications director at AOL UK.
AOL is understood to be concerned about potential problems arising when one of its customers applies for a broadband service. Customers are likely to blame AOL for any delays or technical problems, even though these could be the fault of BT's wholesale division.
In theory, AOL could launch its broadband product tomorrow. The service is up and running, and some AOL customers already have a broadband connection, but a full launch complete with a big marketing push will have to wait a bit longer. "We want the service to be absolutely right before we launch it," explained Peacock.
It's understood that AOL would most likely seek to price its offering at a similar level to that of BTO and Freeserve, thus £29.99 is the best guess for a public launch.
AOL is also one of only three or four ISPs to have shown 'positive' interest in BTs other new 'No Frills' broadband product, imaginatively titled BT Broadband. More @ ZDNet. |
UK 3G Operators To Merge?
By:mark.j @ 2:51:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Next generation 3G broadband wireless mobile phone operators may have to merge and customers could be charged a higher price, that’s the warning from 'The Public Accounts Committee':
The Public Accounts Committee published a report on Friday that warned that some 3G licence-holders may be forced to merge to avoid going out of business. This would lead to a lack of competition in the mobile market, and the committee fears it would give the remaining 3G operators the chance to sting customers.
"There may yet be further mergers or takeovers between the five licensees," said the committee. "It will remain important to ensure a competitive market if the consumers are not to be left with an excessive share of the high cost incurred by the companies."
The first 3G services are expected to launch, albeit on a limited scale, towards the end of the summer, a larger rollout is more likely during 2003/4. More @ ZDNet. |
PSINet Europe Saved?
By:mark.j @ 2:43:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] It looks as if PSINet Europe could be saved after an international group of investors put forward a bid for the company:
The group, which includes ClearBlue Technologies, Israel Corporation, Infinity Holdings and British financier Michael W Stevens, has entered into a contract to buy the ISP and Web hosting business for $9.5 million cash.
The deal still needs to be approved by the US Bankruptcy Court. If the sale is given the go-ahead then it's expected to be completed by the end of June.
More @ The Register. |
New Broadband Wireless Auction
By:mark.j @ 2:41:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The government’s radio communications agency has today announced new plans to auction another spectrum to firms wishing to offer high-speed wireless Internet connections:
The 3.4GHz spectrum became available after the entry into administration of Cambridge-based radio local loop operator Ionica - to whom the frequencies were previously licensed.
The document also follows another consultation launched by the RA earlier this month, proposing that licenses also be made available to companies to offer services in the 2GHz band currently occupied by telecoms operator and ISP Zipcom.
The moves represent the government's latest attempt to encourage interest in fixed wireless technology as a feasible channel for high-speed internet services after its 2001 auction of regional licences to operate services in the 28GHz frequency band, saw only 16 of 42 available licenses being taken up.
The netimperative.info item also reminds us that the other auction, which was launched in October last year and is set to run until the same period this year, has still received no bids.
Currently Tele2 is the only true fixed broadband wireless provider offering ADSL competitive services, although NTL have a private trial running as well. |
NTL Broadband & BBCi
By:mark.j @ 2:32:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Those of you on ntl:home's broadband cable modem service may like to know that DigitalSpy is reporting a problem with those trying to access BBCi's portal (web site).
There's no information on exactly what the problem is or when it'll be fixed, although NTL is aware and is working to resolve it. |
Webscreen - The ISP DDoS Solution?
By:mark.j @ 9:09:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] For any ISPs that might be interested, Webscreen Technology has sent us some more information on their anti-DDoS attack solution:
WEBSCREEN TECHNOLOGY TARGETS ISPs WITH DDoS ATTACK SOLUTION
Internet security specialists Webscreen Technology Limited today launched Webscreen WS1000, a hardware device that protects Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Webscreen WS1000 is installed in front of the ISP server and can effectively filter high-bandwidth Internet traffic at gigabit speeds.
Webscreen WS1000 prevents ISP websites from ‘crashing’ during DDoS attacks while allowing them to continue to operate normally. It does this by using patented CHARM technology which records user behaviour during normal operation and enables it to recognise when an attack is taking place, and ensuring that legitimate Internet traffic can continue to visit the website while it is being attacked.
Webscreen WS1000 is installed in front of the ISP server so that all traffic passing from the Internet to the web site passes through the Webscreen. Each IP packet passing through the Webscreen WS1000 is assigned a CHARM value and only IP packets with CHARM values greater than a specified threshold, are allowed to the website during an attack. Those IP packets with lower CHARM ratings are discarded and prevented from visiting the website.
Webscreen WS1000 is fully compatible with the WS100 as user behaviour patterns and attack information can be transferred between products.
Commenting on the launch of Webscreen WS1000, Gary Milo, managing director, Webscreen Technology said: "The recent damaging attacks suffered by Cloud Nine and Tiscali should be a wake up call to ISPs to protect themselves. The nature of their business with high volumes of Internet traffic requires a solution that can effectively filter a large quantity of data without slowing down traffic and what we’ve developed is a device that will specifically enable ISPs to do this."
Distributed Denial of Service attacks
To launch a DDoS attack, a hacker uses easily Internet downloadable kits to break into any number of Internet-connected computers and covertly installs a piece of attack software on them turning the PC into a so called zombie. The software (on hundreds, if not thousands of zombie computers) is then remotely activated to connect to the target web server sending bogus packets of traffic thousands of times a minute.
The target web server is flooded with this barrage of spurious traffic, overwhelming its infrastructure, exhausting its bandwidth, router processing capacity or network stack resources and ultimately making it crash and so denying service. |
Crystal Data Launch Satellite ISP
By:mark.j @ 9:06:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Crystal Data, a previously unfamiliar company to ISP Review, has today sent us a press release announcing their new Two-Way Satellite ISP service:
Crystal Data provide affordable Two-Way Satellite Internet Access now in most UK locations
Most organisations will now appreciate that fast reliable Internet access is a key tool to future business development. I.T. Mangers in companies large and small realise the importance of true broadband and not a contented service. Satellite from Crystal Data now provides this solution at an affordable cost.
The service is dedicated and not a shared resource (no contention ratio). The data is encrypted at source although Crystal data recommend the use of a firewall and VPN for sensitive data, although speeds when using VPN may vary. Satellite from Crystal Data is available in most UK postcodes and is an always-on service with no call charges and a low monthly fee. The only effective answer for the SME business sector for fast Internet access is Satellite from Crystal Data.
Confusion is rife in the broadband market place, with certain information not being disclosed to the user:
Will the service be contended?
Is there any limitation on services being offered?
What is the true cost do I need other services or equipment?
When will I get the service?
Satellite from Crystal Data answers all questions in advance and points out the drawbacks before installation takes place.
Crystal Data empowers the customer with to right information to make the right decision before purchase.
Satellite from Crystal Data will not suit everyone but it will be the best choice for most SME’s and SOHO users. Satellite from Crystal Data has an inherent delay of 700ms and is not suitable for web hosting, although most other services available via the internet are available through Satellite from Crystal Data, just a lot faster than the average business user could previously afford.
Satellite Internet access
Crystal Data provide
24/7 access
Fixed IP available at an extra cost*
Not geographic dependent.
Package -|- Downlink / Uplink / Monthly Fee / Install and setup
Single PC -|- 400kbps / 128kbps / £109.99 / £650.00
Multi PC -|- 500kbps / 153kbps / £199.99 / £650.00
Crystal Data offers a clear solution to the Internet question.
All prices shown exclude VAT
Typically this is not being touted as a residential solution and indeed the price tag of £109.99 per month and up confirms this. On the flip side this makes similar offers from BTOpenworld and future ones from Tiscali, among many others, look cheap.
No details on the satellite used or whether it’s a Digital or Analogue service; the website is also eerily sparse. |
Tiscali Update ISP Web Services
By:mark.j @ 8:55:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Tiscali, the ISP that should be spending money fixing its troubled services, has instead opted to launch a new service. The ISP is set to go head-to-head with AOL by using a similar style of technology via a customised web browser.
Tiscali said its new web browser, which is a customised version of Internet Explorer, will provide "a user-friendly unified interface" for all the channels and services. It will be distributed on CD-roms or can be downloaded from the web. Tiscali 10.0 is available at no extra charge for all Tiscali customers.
However, unlike AOL, Tiscali's customised browser will be optional. "AOL does have a number of packages but what we're offering is not the same," said a Tiscali spokeswoman.
What Tiscali 10.0 includes:
* Internet access
* Email - six free email addresses and a multilingual spell-check
* Webspace - free 100Mb of web space
* Calendar - organisational tool for appointments and important dates
* Tiscali Messenger - instant messaging
* Chat rooms and discussion forums
* Tiscali By Phone - using a special access number, this allows customers to listen to and send emails from any phone using their voice
* Tiscali Mobile - pick up and send email via any WAP enabled phone or PDA, plus the ringtones, logos and mobile offers
* My Account - allows customers to monitor and manage their accounts and internet usage online
* Text Messaging - 10 free text messages every day from a PC to mobile phone
Web-User notes that the service (Tiscali 10.0) is expected to go live from the 1st May 2002, although it hardly looks like the same service AOL provides, which is a more 'integrated' affair. |
News - April 25,2002
Gio Introduce New Unmetered Offers
By:mark.j @ 3:18:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] There seems to be no stopping them, for the third time in so many weeks the NeonHippo backed unmetered dialup ISP, Gio Internet, has announced several new packages.
However unlike previous offers, which touted no-restrictions on usage and higher contention ratios to off-set a lower price, the newer options are designed with lower contentions and a specific limit. Note that this comes from the Gio ISP rep on our forum:
Next week sees the launch of Gio Anytime packages with user to modem ratio of only 10:1
100 hrs £6.95
200 hrs £8.95
300 hrs £11.95
Typically with a lower contention you're less likely to see engage tones. |
Alcatel Moving Toward Profit
By:mark.j @ 2:58:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Alcatel, the French telecoms equipment maker responsible for many of those USB ADSL modems some of you will own, has reported lower first-quarter losses. The news is seen as positive and could allow the group to return to profit by the end of the year.
Unfortunately Alcatel's Chairman, Serge Tchuruk, has less than optimistic news for the telecoms industry in general: "We haven't seen any concrete signs so far of a rebound taking place in 2002. We never said there would be a recovery in the second quarter, and now that we have visibility on Q2, I can confirm that there isn't one."
His comments were echoed by Heinrich von Pierer, the chief executive of diversified German group Siemens, who said he did not expect any significant revival in demand from the telecoms equipment sector for at least another year.
The gloomy industry outlook sent Alcatel into reverse, the stock falling some five percent after a positive opening.
Reporting figures in line with a first-quarter preview last week, Alcatel reported an operating loss of 343 million euros (£212 Million), down from a 368 million fourth-quarter loss, though a far cry from a restated profit of 132 million for the year-ago period.
Quarterly sales slid 32.7% from the previous quarter to 4.3 billion euros but Alcatel cut its net loss to 836 million euros, almost halving a 1.498 billion euro fourth-quarter loss.
Shares in Alcatel traded down 4.8% at 13.62 euros at 09:48 GMT as investors digested the lacklustre market outlook and a surprise fall in Germany's influential IFO business barometer weighed on stocks across Europe. |
BT Increasing ADSL Coverage
By:mark.j @ 2:41:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] More local exchanges around the UK will soon be ADSL enabled, increasing BTs overall coverage, if only by a small amount. The first 6 are related to the much publicised scheme in Cornwall, all of which will be enabled from tomorrow:
The £12.5m project, of which BT put up less than £2m, offers ADSL services from £34.95 a month. Funds from local businesses, government agencies and around £5m in EU funding made up the shortfall.
Some 3,300 businesses around Truro, St Austell, Redruth, Camborne, Newquay and Penzance are set to benefit.
Depending on take-up, further exchanges at Falmouth, Bodmin, Launceston Saltash, Penryn, St Ives and Bude may be upgraded later in the year.
In addition to that BT has persuaded local businesses, government agencies and the EU to help subsidise ADSL in a further ten UK regions. Unfortunately these areas are yet to be finalised:
Chief executive Ben Verweyaan demanded that coalitions of business and government agencies put up similar totals to its Cornish ACT NOW project, where BT put up less than £2m of the projected £12.5m cost.
Earlier this month BT made some concessions to criticisms that it had isolated 40 per cent of the country, when it promised to upgrade 100 more exchanges and consider the merits of 500 others.
But even including these additions, the focus on urban areas means that a third of the population would be left uncovered for ADSL, with BT providing only expensive, or limited, satellite broadband services.
VNUNet notes that while Londonderry is the only region to be confirmed, others are expected to be in Wales, the West Midlands and Northern Ireland.
Details of all the additional exchanges will be made public in June, although it looks like our little corner of the UK has once again been overlooked. Hopefully I can convince the local cows that they need ADSL. |
UK e-Voting Trials Start Tomorrow
By:mark.j @ 9:04:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The early trials of the governments future Internet based online voting systems are set to begin tomorrow with the local council elections:
The UK Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions has picked BT and election.com to conduct an e-voting trial in two electoral wards enabling more than 21,000 people to take part.
Those living in the Liverpool wards of Church and Everton will have the option to vote from 26 April until the close of polling on 2 May using the internet, SMS or telephone. They can still vote in person on 2 May if they wish.
"While many people still like to vote by marking their cross with the traditional stubby pencil in a polling booth, there are new ways in which people can have their say," explained Liverpool City Council leader Mike Storey. "They can choose how they do it and when. It is more convenient for them."
The VNUNet item notes importance of such trials and how online voting could be used in future general elections, although probably not the next one in 2006. |
UK Reaches 500,000 Broadband Users
By:mark.j @ 8:55:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Oftel is believed to be preparing for an important announcement, that of the UK reaching the half a million broadband customers milestone:
Oftel is expected to publish its latest statistics of Internet use in the UK within the next few days, and sources have indicated that these figures will show that at least 500,000 people have got broadband at home.
This means that the number of people with broadband at home is rising fast, as three months ago there were only around 340,000 broadband-enabled UK consumers. Consumer broadband services have been available in Britain for around two years, but until recently take-up has been disappointingly slow.
These "mass-market broadband" users will have signed up with cable firms ntl or Telewest, or with an Internet Service Provider that offers a broadband product based on BT Wholesale's ADSL product. One significant factor behind the rapid increase is the price cuts made by BT Wholesale back in February. This has led to a surge in demand -- retailers are running low on ADSL modems and BT is dealing with more than 10,000 new ADSL customers a week.
This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise because Oftel's director general, David Edmonds, has already stated (last week) that there were more than 460,000 online. It's not clear whether broadband wireless and satellite services will be included in the count. More @ ZDNet. |
BTs 'No Frills' Broadband Feedback
By:mark.j @ 8:49:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] What follows is some of the feedback from various news sources on BTs recently announced No Frills ‘BT Broadband’ (ADSL) product.
We note that a lot of groups still make the same mistake of not being able to see past the higher priced/bigger opposition of Freeserve, BTO and AOL etc.:
However, digital media analyst at Ovum, Dario Betti said: "BT Retail is playing with the definition of 'ISP'. It is the ISP here but it's separating access from content because it wants to change the way it charges customers. By doing so it will side-step a regulator that always tells them what to do and how to price things."
Chris Panayis, MD of ISP Freedom2surf agreed with Betti: "BT is just playing with words. It is the ISP." Betti added: "While this offering isn't that bad for users in the short term, long term it will reduce competition in the ISP world. The £27 per month is only a few pounds less than ISPs like Freeserve charge, but that few pounds means a lot."
Telecoms entrepreneur Bob Jones added: "This product will create distrust between ISPs and BT, because one division of the group is selling net access to another."
Following the above feedback from Silicon, Ananova was also able to get an opinion from Forrester Research's Rebecca Ulph, who thinks it's a good thing, if only a small step forward:
But she questions the price-point and BT's decision not to include email.
She also points out that the £27 price-point remains above the cheapest self-install ADSL packages already available that include web space and email.
Finally, Forrester has been one of the few groups to state how the service is actually more expensive than 'most' of the competition, which doesn't include the three or four big-guns. |
Business Doesn't Like BTOpenworld
By:mark.j @ 8:34:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BTOpenworld has been forced to acknowledge that one in five (18%) of its broadband ADSL business customers are dissatisfied with the service:
It seems that businesses which rely on BT's broadband service get irate when the service starts playing-up - or worse - goes tits up.
Things are different for home users where customer dissatisfaction levels have fallen from 15 per cent in September last year to 6 per cent.
"The customer experience six months ago was disastrous," said Pierre Danon, chief exec of BT Retail. "Now it is mediocre."
Wow, only mediocre, things must be good then? Thankfully BTO has promised to try and make the broadband service more robust and reliable. More @ The Register. |
News - April 24,2002
UKStamps New Unmetered ISP Offers
By:mark.j @ 3:25:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] One of our forum moderators, Keith, has informed us that the unmetered dialup ISP UKStamp has announced the details of three new packages:
OPTION 1 - NO PRICE YET
FREE 2 WEEKS TRIAL PERIOD
24/7 Access FREEFONE Internet Account
Immediate Connection
Face To Face Technical Support
FREE Telephone Technical Support
FREE Email Technical Support
Local Call Rate Newsgroup Access
No Long Contract Period
No Payment taken within Free 2 week trial period
FREEFONE POP3 Email Account (After Free Trial)
30 Mins Cut Off (2 Hour After Free Trial)
OPTION 6
4 HOUR DISCONNECTIONS Business Account - £17.63 inc vat Per Month (cheque payment only) - NOT 24/7
As Options 3 & 4 (prices & access excluded) +
4 Hour Disconnections (8am til 5.30 pm) Weekdays
FREEFONE Newsgroup Access
OPTION 7
NIGHT SURF - 4 Hour Disconnections - Any Customer - £3.99 Per Month - Excellent for large downloads!
1am til 8am Surfing - 7 days a week!
No Inactive Period!
Immediate Connection
Free Email Technical Support
100% Refund Guarantee |
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