December 4, 2002 - December 7, 2002
News - December 7,2002
Important ISP Review Website Update
By:mark.j @ 11:07:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Please note that as previously announced, we may attempt to change our forum software next weekend. The new code is faster and fully compressed, yet we've tried to make it as similar to the current format as possible so as not to confuse people.
The reason for this update is simply to inform our members that the upgrade could take a full day and there will be complications. Some topics, the odd forum, all polls and private messages will be lost.
On top of that and ISPs given 'Rep' status will loose that identity, however we do have most of the original requests logged and will thus be able to resolve 80-90% of the missing status titles.
Members should also note that the new code doesn't understand 'Public Display Names', thus existing 'Public Display Names' will become usernames under the new code. Why usernames aren't imported we don't know, but please do be aware of this when logging in to the new code.
At this point in time the upgrade timescale isn't set in stone because we still have a few bugs and format issues to resolve. If we're unable to resolve these by next weekend then the upgrade will have to wait until after Christmas.
Why the change? Well quite simply, we've outgrown our current code and need to move to one that’s better at coping with the servers growing load. It will be faster and have all the same features plus lots of smaller extras and an easier interface – we hope =).
Expect another update closer to the time. |
UK To Escape EC Broadband Probe
By:mark.j @ 10:39:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Sources close to the European Commission (EC) have suggested that Britain should escape legal action over broadband competition.
A report, which is due to be published on Monday, is expected to highlight Britain’s 'better than average' progress in many areas of the telecoms market, including broadband:
The UK, though, is likely to face criticism for the failure of local-loop unbundling (LLU) to make an impact on BT's dominance of Britain's wholesale ADSL market.
The EU forced all member states to introduce LLU as a way of bringing competition to the broadband infrastructure market. It allows other operators to install equipment in the local exchange of the incumbent operator -- BT, in the case of Britain -- and provide services such as broadband to ISPs, or directly to customers.
Since it came into effect in 2001, LLU has had little effect in Europe. In the UK, fewer than 1,000 telephone lines are thought to have been unbundled. Over 20 companies initially expressed interest but all but a handful have now dropped out -- many accusing BT of deliberately obstructing the process so as to maintain its wholesale monopoly.
No doubt more details will surface on Monday and ultimately attract a lot of attention from UK ISPs. Expect a number of press releases to follow. More @ ZDNet. |
Future UK Internet Award Winners - 2002
By:mark.j @ 10:31:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The winners of Future Publishing’s 2002 UK Internet Awards have finally been posted on the associated website, although no official press release has been issued, yet:
Best Business Web Host:
Winner: 1&1 Internet
Second place: Dedicated Servers
Third place: Virtual Internet
Best Consumer Web Host:
Winner: 1&1 Internet
Second place: Supanames
Third place: Netcetera
Best Gaming Service:
Winner: Blueyonder
Second place: Gamespy
Third place: Jolt
E-business of the year:
Winner: I want one of those
Second place: EasyJet
Third place: DVDs on tap
Best Web Development/Design Software:
Winner: Flash MX
Second place: Dreamweaver MX
Third place: EROL E-commerce software
Best New Media Agency:
Winner: Contraband Pictures Ltd
Second place: Domino Systems
Third place: Littleloud
Best Search Engine/Directory:
Winner: Google
2nd: Yahoo
3rd: Ask Jeeves
Best Dial-up ISP:
Winner: NTL World
2nd: Blueyonder
3rd: Freeserve
Best Business ISP:
Winner: Pipex
Second place: Mistral Internet
Third place: Zen Internet
Best Site for Broadband
Winner: BBC
Second place: Heavy.com
Third place: ADSL Guide
Best Shopping Site
Winner: Play
Second place: Overclock.co.uk
Third place: Amazon
Best Online Marketing Campaign:
Winner: Twang! The Sumo Soccer Wedgie Challenge
Second place: Bacardi Breezer
Third place: The Real Wacky Races
Web Innovation of the Year
Winner: Shazam.com
Second place: DivX
Third place: My Monopoly
Obviously our focus is on the ISP aspect and it's thus no surprise that Blueyonder is still in the top three. However the inclusion of Freeserve and NTL still leads us to believe that the awards only concentrate on the biggest rather than the best of ISPs.
Sadly Future Publishing didn't see fit to add a 'Best Broadband ISP' category, hopefully they'll do it for the 2003 awards. We’re also surprised to see Pipex voted as the best business ISP. |
News - December 6,2002
BT Responds - Satellite ISP Speed Cap
By:mark.j @ 2:50:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP BTOpenworld has finally given us their response to the continued problems with their broadband satellite ISP service.
To recap, many of those not classified as heavy users complained that they were all experiencing capped speeds. We recently speculated that this could be an issue with the software (drivers) and today BTO has given us their 'limited' response:
Please find below a response from BT Openworld about the issues addressed on the ISP Review site.
We would like to confirm that BT Openworld has not imposed any speed restrictions on its satellite service. As satellite broadband is a contended and managed service, customers can expect to receive fluctuating speeds and we are constantly working with our supplier to ensure that all customers receive the quality of service that they would expect.
As part of this commitment, BT Openworld is introducing new Satlynx drivers for its Satellite 500/1 product. These drivers are designed to improve performance when uploading files from the user's PC to the internet. In order to download the drivers, users should visit http://www.satlynx.com/users/home_page.html .
BT Openworld will be informing customers of the availability of new drivers over the next week.
It's a curious response and one that appears to swim around the issue and then quietly points to a previous reader suggestion of customers needing updated drivers.
In this instance BTO appears to have taken too long to inform users of the update, which resulted in customers experiencing capped speeds due to some changes made by the satellite supplier. Such changes only appear to work correctly with the new drivers. |
BTOpenworlds New Anti-SPAM Tool
By:mark.j @ 2:31:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP BTOpenworld has today announced the launch of its new anti-SPAM (junk e-mail) service, SPAMBuster:
BT OPENWORLD SPAMBUSTER SERVICE GOES LIVE
BT Openworld customers can now live a virtually spam and virus-free life thanks to a new service that goes live today.
The free service, provided by Brightmail, the market leader in anti-spam technology services, is BT Openworld's response to its customers' concerns about the growth of spam. Recent figures have shown that spam grew from 8 per cent of all emails sent 12 months ago to a staggering 40 per cent now.
The BT service screens all email before it reaches users' in-boxes. If viruses are detected, they are cleaned using Symantec's AntiVirus technology and detected spam is diverted into a separate spam folder for 15 days, after which it is automatically deleted.
Users wanting to benefit from the service can sign up on the BT Openworld web site - http://www.btopenworld.com/emailprotection - or via the webmail service. |
Vispa ISP Launches 'Broadband in a Box'
By:mark.j @ 1:42:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP Vispa Internet has today become the latest provider to offer its broadband ADSL service as a complete kit, which could thus be sold over the Internet or on shop store shelves as required:
VISPA LAUNCHES 'BROADBAND IN A BOX'
The ever growing popular UK ISP Vispa has taken the decision to extend its Christmas offerings, by launching 'Broadband in a box', a complete out of the box broadband connection for only £99.99.
For just an amazing £99.99 you get free connection/line activation, a high quality 'branded' modem, intelligent line filter (splitter), manuals, drivers, cables, regular updates about your installation, welcome information pack in the post and of course all these superb features :
Static IP Address as standard, Unlimited Email Addresses, 50Mb Webspace, Usenet access to over 80,000 groups, Vispa WebMail, Vispa Tucows Mirror, Pre-Installed CGI Scripts, Unlimited Domain Names Hosting and a minimum 3 month contract.
However, that's not all, as every user that signs up will receive Vispa's special voucher booklet deal. Vispa have teamed up with lots of big names to save you ££££'s off products and services, ideal for making great saving this Christmas. These include savings from 101cd.com, Black & Decker, Dollond & Aitchison, Grattan Catalogue, Hasbro, Esure, Fitness First, Flybe, Haven, Boozebuster, Virgin Wines, Hays Travel, Littlewoods, Peacocks, Argos, Yes Car Credit, Scottish Power, Swinton Insurance, Simply.co.uk, Mattel, Dulux, Norwich Union to name just a few. The booklet even has a voucher so you can give to a friend a 25% discount off there first month to Vispa, they will love you for it!
The offers don't stop there. The final part of the deal is that we will enter every user into our DVD player and 3 top title DVD's prize draw being held in December and January, yet another reason to consider Vispa!
This could be the ideal Christmas present for someone. Ordering now still gives you plenty of time to be using broadband on Christmas Day!
The promotion ends December 31st
To take advantage of this offer, customers can go to
http://www.vispa.net/broadband-home500.php |
Telewests 250,000th Broadband User
By:mark.j @ 1:36:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Telewests cable modem and unmetered dialup ISP wing, blueyonder, has today happily reported connecting its 250,000th broadband customer:
Telewest Broadband hits quarter of a million residential broadband customers
Telewest Broadband has ended the year on a high, having installed its 250,000th blueyonder broadband internet customer this week.
The new figures released today reveal a quarter of a million residential homes are now accessing blueyonder broadband internet services of 512 kbp/s and above. Ten per cent, 25,000 customers, have chosen the ISP's 1 Mb/s service, (up to twenty times as fast as a dial-up connection), launched nationally in June this year.
Gavin Patterson, managing director at Telewest Broadband said: "This year, we've been concentrating on getting the overall service quality and customer experience right and it's really paid off.
Our figures show there is a real appetite for broadband. And within our franchise areas we are still ahead in the numbers game, in addition to delivering unrivalled quality and innovation.
ADSL connections have recently hit half a million, but this makes our achievements all the more impressive, when you consider that figure represents the combined efforts of over 100 companies and includes both business and residential customers."
Independent research commissioned by Telewest Broadband in September this year showed that, where both blueyonder broadband and ADSL are available, eight out of ten consumers are choosing broadband cable.
It’s good news, although Telewest could probably do without the physical abuse -“Telewest Broadband hits quarter of a million residential broadband customers ”. Yeah.. yeah we know =). |
3G - Slower Than Dialup Modems!?
By:mark.j @ 1:31:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The next generation broadband wireless mobile phone standard, 3G (UTMS), was once supposed to offer individual users a speed of up to 384Kbps. Operators have since brought this down to between 115 and 144kbps.
However most officials now admit that speeds of between 40 and 60Kbps are more likely, with the odd session going as low as 20Kbps, which is actually slower than some GPRS (2.5G) connections!:
"We tried real hard not to hype that peak number," of 144kbps, said Keith Nowak, a representative for handset maker Nokia. "But some other parties might have been more likely to hype it. In the long term, it's better to use the more realistic speeds."
For now, any disappointment over a network's performance will affect only the earliest users. But the situation doesn't bode well for an industry hoping to recoup the cost of building these new networks by selling downloadable games or business applications needing speed to succeed. And the success or failure of these new services could also affect other companies, including Microsoft, which is hoping to scrape together increased revenue by offering more mobile services.
"You build this big network, and all you can offer is a 20kbps download?" said IDC analyst Keith Waryas, referring to the low end of a typical Web session on new networks from AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile. "That's not much of an improvement over what the carriers already had."
For many this has raised the question of why such networks were built at all. T-Mobile reports that its own GPRS network can quite happily push 40Kbps, none of which bodes well for 3G. More @ ZDNet. |
UK Broadband & Dialup Progress - Oftel
By:mark.j @ 1:19:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Oftels latest research shows that UK broadband uptake is now progressing at a faster rate than other key countries including France, Germany, Sweden and the USA etc.:
Oftel’s research also found that residential broadband prices in the UK are as cheap as in France, Germany or the USA. DSL prices have fallen 27 per cent since February 2002, with cable modem prices continuing to be cheaper than DSL prices.
And for basic broadband business services, the UK is still cheaper than all of the other countries surveyed.
The total number of broadband connections is below these other surveyed countries, mainly because they began rolling out broadband services before the UK.
David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said today: "This research shows that consumers continue to benefit from the action taken by Oftel to promote competition.
Broadband connections have now reached 28,000 a week in the UK. This puts the UK in a strong position to build on the one million connections it passed recently during October.
Broadband fixed wireless access and satellite are developing broadband platforms, and the number of unbundled local loops is increasing as businesses sign up to services offered by operators. Oftel has included these in its research for the first time and will continue to track their development in the future.
The UK broadband market benefits from competition between the network suppliers, BT and the cable companies. There is also a flourishing level of competition between service providers which means UK consumers have a choice of around 200 DSL providers, and cable modems."
The telecoms regulator goes on to note the continued success of UK dialup access:
These results show that, based on the sample of service providers selected:
* for residential consumers, UK prices are cheaper than all countries for peak and off-peak unmetered services and peak limited usage. For off-peak limited usage the UK compares favourably with the US and France but prices are above those in Germany and Sweden; and
* for business consumers, UK prices for unmetered services are well below those in France and Sweden, but above those in Germany and the US (California). UK prices for limited usage are cheaper than Sweden and the US, but slightly more expensive than France and Germany.
S.9 In the UK and US, unmetered dial-up services are widely available. In the other European countries this is not the case, and broadband services are more cost effective than dial-up for consumers with high usage. The results are based on the average of the two cheapest available options, and hence include some broadband packages. |
EU - 54.1Million People Bank Online
By:mark.j @ 10:19:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The latest research from Jupiter suggests that by the end of 2002 a total of 54.1m European Internet users will bank online:
Advanced internet markets of the Nordic region will have the highest levels of online banking penetration, according to the report, reaching 54 per cent in Sweden, compared with just 13 percent in Greece. By 2005, the European average will reach 48 per cent. However, growth will subsequently slow, resulting in just 51 per cent of internet users banking online by the end of 2007.
The report predicts that usage of banking services will remain niche. By the end of 2002, 11 per cent of internet users will pay bills online, while just 0.3 per cent will apply for mortgages online. Jupiter asserts that the convenience of direct debits will largely restrict growth of online bill payment to only 22 per cent by 2007.
More @ Europemedia. |
Ofcom Refuses To Enforce SPAM Ban
By:mark.j @ 10:12:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Known MP and anti-spam (junk e-mail) campaigner, Derek Wyatt, said that Ofcom should make UK ISPs tackle the issue of unsolicited pornographic e-mail:
However, senior officials at Ofcom have insisted that they will not regulate the Internet. Wyatt -- a committed anti-spam campaigner -- warned that the problem of spam is becoming increasingly serious, and wants Ofcom to have the power to force ISPs to bring in effective filtering software.
"We are not addressing the issue, and I want to see a much tougher power for Ofcom included in the Bill. We must tell the Internet Service Providers that they must either accept a charter given to them by Ofcom, or be charged a licence fee. They would choose a charter pretty quickly," said Wyatt.
By this time next year the European Union (EU) will have banned SPAM, however enforcing such a ban via ISPs is far easier said than done.
For one thing, most existing filters simply aren’t effective enough; how can you enforce a ban on something that can never be completely stopped without harming legitimate material? More @ ZDNet. |
BTs Ultra-Cheap Weekend Voice Calls
By:mark.j @ 9:56:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BT is well known for its special Christmas phone call offers and this year appears to be no different. During December all local and national calls made at the weekend will cost a maximum of 20p, no matter how long you talk!:
BT's December offer brings you and friends and family together for just 20 pence
BT today announces seasonal cheer for all 19 million of its residential customers by making every weekend in December a BT Weekend Chataway weekend, where all local and national UK landline calls cost a maximum of 20p - no matter how long the conversation.
BT Weekend Chataways run across December 7/8, 14/15, 21/22 and 28/29 allowing customers to catch up with friends about antics at the office Christmas party and relatives to get some last-minute Christmas present ideas, as well as plan their New Year celebrations - all for just 20p per UK call.
Angus Porter, managing director of BT Consumer, said: "We've decided to make every weekend in December special. It's an ideal opportunity to catch up with old friends and family without worrying about how long you're on the phone."
BT residential customers will not even need to register or sign-up for the offer - the savings will apply automatically to national and local landline calls and any existing discounts or call allowances they receive will still apply.
Typically you shouldn't expect this offer to apply to local call rate 0845 numbers, which are often associated with ISPs. Please also remember that BT blacklists most local STD ISP dialup numbers as well.
Of course the clever people out there with a broadband ADSL connection could always setup a modem on the second line and let their friends dial in =). |
Price Still Hinders Broadband Uptake
By:mark.j @ 9:46:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] A new study of Europe's 11 million broadband users, conducted by fdtm for Reed Electronics Research (RER), has found that price is still the main barrier to European broadband uptake:
In Europe, as soon as a broadband offering hits the E39 (£25) mark demand rises rapidly. An fdtm analyst said the most important factor is the total cost, including line rental and call packages.
The report, entitled 'Broadband in Europe - Completing the Infrastructure', also concluded DSL and cable modem are the only two technologies that can satisfy demand at the price point required and that "incumbent operators are unbeatable in the short term".
Thankfully the report places the UK in a more favourable light because many ISPs now charge around the £25 per month mark.
Sadly most people still only see the more expensive market holding ISPs and don’t look around for the best deal. More @ Silicon. |
Home Office Got Data Retention Wrong
By:mark.j @ 9:39:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The government has admitted that its plans to ask UK ISPs to retain details of customer e-mails and web surfing have not worked out as it had hoped. The Home Office is now apparently back to square one:
Problems range from incompatibilities -- which the Home Office now appears to accept -- between no less than four different laws, to public concern over how they can access their data, how it can be accessed, and what redress they have when something goes wrong.
Speaking at a seminar for ISPs at Streaming Media Europe, a Home Office official said the government is now "looking to consult in the New Year on what data retention regime the public will be happy with".
The admission follows an embarrassing six months for the Home Office over the issue of data retention.
The ZDNet item makes no bones about laying out the entire history of the government’s data retention plans. It remains to be seen what will rise from the ashes. |
News - December 5,2002
Wireless sPten ISP Only Semi-Closed
By:mark.j @ 1:45:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Apparently the broadband wireless ISP sPten is still operational, yet only partly because registrations are now closed to new customers:
sPten has not gone bust, the service is still active and will remain so. The dishes don't need to be moved as the central antenna is still in place. The only affected people were the two or three businesses next door to us who have had either ADSL fitted free of charge or opted for an anntenna.
Apart from that, we intend to move forward and we will do so. the sp10.co.uk site is still there for the public to see whats going on, our customers have a seperate page for service information on technical support.
Website Update:
Thank you for visiting our website, the sPten wireless project is now closed to new subscribers, after almost 14 months of development and operation and with the help of 200 business and residential users in Andover, Hampshire we have created the next generation in wireless broadband hardware to enable rural area's without ADSL.
Andover will remain operational for the foreseeable future as our pilot town for new advances in service and hardware.
If you'd like to be kept up to date on our progress or would like more information on our hardware please email us.
----------------------
sPten - http://www.sp10.co.uk |
BTWholesale Offers Content Services
By:mark.j @ 1:32:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BTWholesale has joined forces with AssetHouse Technology to offer ISPs and other providers a mix of different content services:
BT WHOLESALE TEAMS UP WITH ASSETHOUSE TO OFFER DELIVERY OF CONTENT SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS
BT Wholesale today announced it has signed an agreement with AssetHouse Technology as part of its strategy to become a leading provider of end-to-end content management solutions for the UK telecommunications market. BT Wholesale will incorporate AssetHouse's carrier-class Content Services Infrastructure (CSI)(tm) solutions into its offering. This will enable the owners of network infrastructure - including service providers, cable, DSL and 3G companies - and the owners of multi-media digital content, to collaborate and deliver chargeable, revenue generating services - such as video on demand (VoD), interactive television (iTV) and e-learning.
The agreement comes as a result of AssetHouse's expertise and technology leadership in content services delivery, gained through the Colchester content trial in 1995. AssetHouse's leading software enables the rapid creation of revenue-generating content services via any network to any device, this being an attractive proposition to BT Wholesale's customers. As part of the agreement BT Wholesale, BTexact Technologies (BT's advanced research and technology business), and AssetHouse are currently building a demonstration facility, using music and games content, to highlight the capabilities of the service. The facility will be located at BTexact's Adastral Park headquarters in Suffolk.
BT Wholesale has set ambitious goals for the integrated offering and will be primarily targeting the licensed operator market. This listing encompasses almost 500 companies including service providers, 3G, cable and fixed line service providers. The package will also be sold through existing BT Group channels including BT Ignite, BT Openworld and BT Retail.
Stuart Horwood, Managing Director BT Wholesale Markets, said: "In a marketplace that is realising that revenue streams will need to be generated from new media channels, the future of new broadband, digital TV and 3G services will depend on the ability to deploy a wide variety of content services across multiple platforms. The secret to building profitable content services lies in the ability to deliver them cost-effectively and quickly. The AssetHouse solution adds exactly this capability to our core network."
Jonathan Callcut, CEO of AssetHouse Technology Ltd, said: "This relationship really underlines the core strengths of our product - namely the fact that it was engineered by a telco for a telco. Our technology is quite unique because it scales extremely well in a telecoms environment. Working with BT Wholesale is an important part of our strategy. This agreement provides a complete solution to any network operator wanting to profit from content services." |
SurfAnyTime’s Third 128K ISDN Promo
By:mark.j @ 1:24:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP SurfAnyTime (SAT) has today sent us yet another update announcing a third unmetered dialup promotion:
SurfAnytime 128K ISDN Promo
Throughout December, new customers can take advantage of our 3 for 2 deal. Get 3 months of Diamond + for the price of 2 saving you a whopping £35!
AND
Until 1st January 2003, time-online between the hours of 01:00 and 07:00 will NOT be deducted from customers monthly allowance. |
Boeing Trials In-Flight Broadband
By:mark.j @ 1:20:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Boeing, the well known Aircraft maker, has begun in-flight trials of broadband Internet access technologies:
The service will let passengers on long-haul flights browse the web with their own handhelds and laptops or let business travellers stay in touch with the office.
Already three airlines, including British Airways, have signed up for the trials. In early 2003 British Airways and Lufthansa are due to introduce the high-speed net access trials on trans-Atlantic routes.
Almost half of all travellers would be willing to pay for in-flight net and e-mail access according to a study by the International Air Transport Association.
The BBC News Online item reports that British Airways (BA) will trial the service at a cost of £20. |
AOL Announces NTL Broadband Deal
By:mark.j @ 9:38:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP AOL has today sent us a press release announcing their new deal with the UKs largest cable operator, NTL.
The deal will allow AOL to expand its broadband reach to NTLs customers and continue their existing agreement for narrowband services:
AOL signs contract with NTL to extend broadband offering
NTL Business, a leading national and local provider of integrated business communications, and AOL, the UK's leading online interactive services provider, today announced an agreement to deliver a high-speed broadband service over NTL's state-of-the-art cable network infrastructure.
AOL and NTL Business also announced an extension to their existing strategic narrowband agreement, which will see NTL Business continue to provide managed flat-rate network capacity for AOL dial-up customers. The contracts are worth a combined total of up to £85m over four years.
The news follows the launch of the AOL Broadband service in June this year. The deal with NTL Business will enable AOL to extend its AOL Broadband service to all the 7.2 million broadband-enabled households on NTL's network. Combined with AOL's existing broadband coverage, this represents the largest potential customer base of any UK online service provider.
The deal is an important milestone in NTL Business' wholesale Internet strategy. The company is already one of the UK's leading providers of wholesale Internet solutions, delivering broadband and narrowband services to leading online brands. The deal with AOL marks the launch of the first wholesale cable broadband proposition for a UK online service provider.
Karen Thomson, Chief Executive of AOL UK, said: "This agreement will give AOL the widest coverage of any broadband service provider in the UK and help us to build a leadership position in the high-speed market."
Paul Rusby, Director Wholesale Internet Services at NTL Business, said: "NTL Business has established its leadership in the wholesale Internet solutions market by adopting a partnership approach with leading providers such as Virgin.net and Tesco. We believe that consumer choice is vital in driving the rollout of broadband, and our partners are increasingly recognising the opportunities offered by our world-class broadband network. We look forward to continuing to work closely with AOL to deliver a high-quality service to its members."
Mindy Mount, Executive Vice President and Co-Managing Director of AOL UK, added: "We are delighted to be extending our relationship with NTL Business as part of our continued drive to enhance the service we offer to AOL members. In particular, the expanded reach of AOL Broadband will help drive further development of the content and features consumers really want on high-speed services." |
New E-Mail Virus Warning - SfxDeth.A
By:mark.j @ 9:28:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] While it's not managed to sneak out of Australia yet, the new W32/SfxDeth.A-MM (W32/Lagel.A) e-mail worm (virus) has still managed to get a lot of people worried. The worm has the power to deletes all files on drives labelled D, E, F and G:
The worm, dubbed W32/Lagel.A by antivirus company Panda Software, arrives in an e-mail titled "Fwd: Crazy Illegal Sex" with an attachment called IlleGal.exe. If the file is executed, the worm creates four new files on the computer and runs a series of graphics implying the e-mail was simply a joke.
The files created are MPLAYER.EXE, which is run every time windows is started up, ILLEGAL.EXE, which contains the worm's code, MMAILS.DLL, which stores the e-mail addresses the worm obtains from the system, and SMTP.OCX, an application used to mail messages.
This is only a mild warning as the virus has yet to proliferate and with any luck it'll never get the chance. More @ ZDNet. |
Adam Rykala On Welsh Broadband
By:mark.j @ 9:20:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Adam Rykala has today sent us a small follow-up to yesterdays news item, which saw Mr Rykala attacking a welsh minister, Andrew Davies, over his somewhat less than accurate broadband claims:
Of the five major towns in Blaenau Gwent
Name - Trigger level - current registration
Abertillery - 250 - 85
Ebbw Vale - 250 - 155
Blaina (hometown!) - none set - 25
Brynmawr - none set - 42
Tredegar - none set - 48
This means that 355 people in BG have a wish for broadband that isn't hereyet, and taking the trigger levels into account only 240 of those may even see it. And of those 240, 155 have more chance then the rest.
Abertillery has 34% of its target, with Ebbw Vale hitting 62%. For the others, if they did have a similar threshold they would be 10%, 17% and 19% respectively.
Factor in the demand-supply-demand vicious cycle and you can see the inherent problems we face, particularly from BT who have quite openly admitted they are a business not a charity. All well and good, but perhaps encouraging businesses to develop in areas such as BG would have more of a long term impact on them then short term losses.....
Interestingly enough Brynmawr and Abertillery aren't too dissimilar in size, and Ebbw Vale's inclusion as the largest town must have some political implication there.
Sadly I know the minute Ebbw Vale is announced everyone will be taking the credit for it, when we know full well it will be the people of Ebbw Vale who delivered it for their community - not politicians, but common or garden people who just wanted the same hopes and opportunities as the rest of the UK....
And the rest of us on exchanges without trigger levels are prey to market forces.
These figures were received from http://www.bt.com/broadband - using five friends phone numbers as checks.
There’s nothing more irritating than local politicians taking credit for something that an individual has worked tooth and nail to do. |
SEEDA - Satellite Broadband Subsidies
By:mark.j @ 9:13:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The South East England Development Agency (Seeda) is extending its pilot of broadband satellite ISP subsidies to 700 businesses across the region.
Seeda is offering a miniscule £1000 subsidy for satellite broadband connections to local businesses:
The aim is for the satellite grants to create a self-sustaining market, says Seeda chief executive Anthony Dunnett.
'Feedback from the pilot says people are saving so much money from using broadband that after a year they will be willing and able to pay the full price themselves.'
'ADSL take-up has rocketed as a result of the focus on broadband and the marketing of the whole agenda, underwritten by the satellite pilot. We have been saying there is no excuse for not being on broadband because if you can't get ADSL we will link you up using satellite,' said Dunnett.
There's no excuse for not getting broadband just because Satellite is available? This seems like an incredibly arrogant thing to say. Still, business wise it's better than nothing, more @ VNUNet. |
Hutchison3G Shops Not Ready - Yet
By:mark.j @ 9:02:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Hutchison3G UK, the next-generation 3G (UTMS) broadband wireless mobile phone operator, has added to existing confusion by admitting that it's not quite ready to open its shops yet:
A spokesman for the new entrant into the UK mobile phone business explained that the opening of the shops, two in London and one in Birmingham, is dependent on the company ironing out teething troubles with handsets and hand-overs between second- and third-generation cells during calls.
"The shops are ready. I walked past one on Oxford Street on Saturday. It is boarded up but I know inside they are ready to open," he said.
The fact that Hutchison 3G will now well and truly miss the Christmas launch they'd hoped for probably isn't likely to do them much good. More @ VNUNet. |
News - December 4,2002
THUS To Lodge Formal BT Complaint
By:mark.j @ 2:46:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Following yesterdays news item regarding Tina Weston, whom was prevented from signing up to the ISP Demon Internet, which came after being allowed on BTs own service; THUS is now preparing to lodge a formal complaint:
According to one senior source this appears to be "a clear breach of the Competition Act and we are taking it up with Oftel".
Interestingly The Register has now gone on to highlight several other instances of the same problem:
Darren Hubbard from London told us how he came unstuck a year ago when he tried to sign up to Nildram. "After BT did the exchange survey they informed Nildram that the exchange capacity was full (i.e. too many people on that exchange already on ADSL) and I would need to wait (six months) until BT upgraded the exchange.
Now, because I'm a naturally untrustworthy person I then tried to order (same day) an ADSL connection via BT Openworld (I left the Nildram order open). You know what? All necessary surveys and tests [were] completed and BT was ready to come to my house to install the service about 10 days later," he said.
Curious, yet this could be potentially very damaging for BT. During the past two years we've heard a number of similar things from other people. |
16 User DSLAM (ADSL) Trial Update
By:mark.j @ 2:36:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] ADSLGuide reports that two Scottish exchanges, Drumnadrochit and Muir of Ord, have finally gone live today. These exchanges are significant because they're taking part in the mini DSLAM trials, which only require 16 users for ADSL:
miniDSLAM trial goes live
The trials, sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, should, it is hoped, provide a template for rolling out copper wire-based broadband in rural areas. Until now investment to enable broadband in rural local exchanges has been viewed in many areas as disproportionate to customer numbers.
But miniDSLAMs, which utilise existing technology within local exchanges, are much cheaper to install and become commercially viable with lower customer bases. The six month long Drumnadrochit and Muir of Ord trials were officially launched at the Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition at Drumnadrochit.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise are supporting the concept trials with £14,000 of funding, while the single internet service provider for the 32 end users is Inverness-based Scotnet. BT is also investing a total of £1 million in the trial and equipment manufacturers Alcatel, ECI Telecom and Fujitsu are donating new equipment to be tested.
The trials are designed to test new broadband ADSL exchange equipment that can use the existing transmission links into BT's internet backbone. They can be deployed in much smaller units than currently but only linking to a single broadband service provider. BT is working with the equipment manufacturers to develop the concept during the trial.
Mini-DSLAM trials are being conducted by BT across the UK in a bid to make ADSL broadband more accessible to smaller communities where previously it was not commercially viable. With the launch of the Highland trials, four out of the eight UK trial sites are now operational
Two sites in Wales are also up and running and the remaining four in the trial will go live in the next two months. |
Welsh Broadband - Not Quite So Rosy
By:mark.j @ 1:44:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Plaid Cymru's Adam Rykala, a prospective candidate for the Welsh National Assembly, has hit out at Andrew Davies because of his recent comments regarding the supposed success of broadband in Wales:
Said Mr Davies in the interview: "By March 2003, 47% of Welsh schools will have a broadband connection - primary schools will have a 2Mbps connection, and secondary schools an 8Mbps link. In the NHS, 67% of Welsh GP practices already have a connection of at least 256Kbps."
But Mr Rykala dismissed Mr Davies' comments: "We hear many pie in the sky promises about delivery of broadband but in Tredegar they are still waiting for the school to get broadband and I don't consider the provision of a few terminals in Tredegar Library as providing broadband to the community - as I wouldn't consider a few taps in Tredegar High Street the provision of running water to it."
"Mr Davies has been high on talk and low on action in this community for broadband, and I predict the only announcements we shall see over the issue will time themselves with May's election," he said.
It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a politician has attempted to use broadband coverage as a political tool for staying in power. More @ The Register. |
Mobile Website Viewing Grows
By:mark.j @ 1:32:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The latest statistics from the Mobile Data Association (MDA) show that mobile phone users downloaded 356 million Internet pages to their handsets in October, up from 340 million the month before.
The most popular services among the 25 million Internet-enabled handset owners were mobile Internet messaging, games and e-mail, the MDA said on Wednesday. |
Demon Launch New ADSL Service
By:mark.j @ 1:26:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The THUS Telecom backed UK ISP Demon Internet has today sent us a new press release announcing the launch of their new broadband ADSL service - Demon Express Total:
THUS EXTENDS ADSL PORTFOLIO WITH LAUNCH OF DEMON EXPRESS TOTAL
December 4, 2002 - THUS plc, one of the UK's leading providers of voice, networking, Internet and contact centre services, today announced the launch of Demon Express Total, a complete self-install ADSL solution for home workers that is provided with an Alcatel SpeedTouch 330 USB modem. Demon Express Total compliments THUS's existing range of ADSL products for SOHO, SME and corporate customers and reinforces the position of its Demon-branded UK ISP as the premier provider of broadband to the business market.
"Self-install broadband has been the key to encouraging widespread adoption of broadband by cutting the cost of connections and removing some of the delays associated with installation," said Phil Male, Chief Operating Officer at THUS. "The availability of more reliable and user-friendly modems like the SpeedTouch 330 makes self-install the logical choice for homeworkers."
"The SpeedTouch 330 is one of the easiest-to-install ADSL modems on the market making it the ideal choice for single PC-users," he continued. "By offering an ADSL package with a bundled modem we can offer an even greater level of customer care and better assist customers with their connection. The SpeedTouch 330 is provided with easy-to-install software that enables customers to be up and running in no time at all, ensuring a true plug-and-play customer experience."
Demon Express Total provides permanent Internet access and comes with a bundled modem for easier connection to the Internet. With high bandwidth capability of up to 500kb/s downstream and 250kb/s upstream, Demon Express Total will enable customers to spend less time waiting for downloads and more time working.
Key benefits of Demon Express Total include:
* rapid download times, enabling businesses to receive information significantly faster and cheaper than via a dial-up connection
* a complete solution with market-leading SpeedTouch 330 USB modem
* a competitive connection fee, and affordable monthly bill of £24.99, regardless of hours spent online
* an electronic fax, no need to pay for additional equipment or a dedicated phone line
* simultaneous access to the Internet and a telephone or fax line
* unmetered Internet access, meaning no surprise bills and enabling more effective budgetary control. |
NTL Confirms £34.99 1Mbps Price
By:mark.j @ 1:23:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Thanks to one of our readers (Jeff) for spotting THIS news item on the NTHellWorld site.
The UKs largest cable operator, NTL, has officially confirmed the earlier rumours of a ‘sustained’ price cut to their 1Mbps broadband cable modem service:
From the beginning of 2003, ntl:home customers will be able to get their broadband internet access at a speed of 1Mbit for £34.99, saving £15 per month, it was confirmed to us this afternoon.
Certain customers had been able to get the 1Mbit service for £34.99 for the last few months as part of a special offer, although there has been increasing concern recently that ntl would increase the price of the 1Mbit service back to £49.99, although ntl today confirmed that this was not the case.
So much for BTs 1Mbps ADSL service, which appears to be trailing further and further behind the cable choices. |
AOL UK ISP Close To Profit
By:mark.j @ 1:17:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] While AOLs USA wing doesn't appear to be fairing too well, AOLs UK and European ISP ends could soon turn a profit:
The company, which was revealing its strategy for turnaround after a tumultuous 12 months, said the UK unit would hit profit 'probably in 2003', while its European operations as a whole were on course for break-even and would cut their losses by $100m more than predicted earlier in the year.
More @ netimperative.info . |
Mozilla v1.2.1 Web Browser Released
By:mark.j @ 12:54:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The open source web browser project, Mozilla, has released an important bug-fix update to its recent v1.2 client:
Mozilla 1.2.1 was released to correct a DHTML bug in Mozilla 1.2. The only difference between the two releases is the fix for this bug (Bug 182500). If you have already installed Mozilla 1.2, you should upgrade to Mozilla 1.2.1.
Anybody using v1.2 should definitely upgrade as the DHTML bug can be quite serious. You can find a download location HERE. |
Freeserve ISP Upgrade Saves £15K
By:mark.j @ 10:17:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP Freeserve has apparently managed to save £15,000 per month by moving all of its streaming media services on to the new RealNetworks' Helix Universal server:
RealNetworks released the server platform in July, but this is the first major ISP in the UK to fully migrate to it.
With its ability to serve almost any media format, including MPEG 4 (QuickTime) and Windows Media, and its support for multiple platforms, including Windows and Linux, Freeserve now serves all its media from a single server. Previously it had used G4 servers for QuickTime files, Windows 2000 servers for Windows Media and Sun and Linux servers to handle its Real Audio and Video files.
John Gisby, managing director of Freeserve Portals, said: 'With over four million unique users, managing our streaming services effectively is imperative for us. Helix provides up to four times the performance at a lower cost than the separate server equivalents and drastically cuts the management workload. Content is key to our growth but it is only profitable if the media delivery can be made cost-effective, something RealNetworks accomplishes with Helix.'
More @ PC Pro. |
Ofcom Must Keep Strong Grip On BT
By:mark.j @ 10:08:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] A new government report by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, Electronic Networks: Challenges for the Next Decade, has stated that one of Ofcoms key challenges will be to keep a grip on operators such as BT:
One of its key conclusions is that network operators who are dominant today are likely to enjoy similar muscle in 2012, as the Strategy Unit does not believe that any new nationwide networks will be built over the next decade.
Given this, Ofcom -- which will replace five existing regulators in 2003 or 2004 -- must be vigilant in preventing these companies from abusing their market power and in ensuring competition at both the wholesale and retail level, the Strategy Unit advises.
"Innovation is expected to result primarily from the evolution of existing networks rather than the creation of new networks," says the Strategy Unit in its report. The report also predicts that wireless networks such as Wi-Fi and 3G will merely complement, rather than replace wired networks.
Interestingly the little heard of Powerline broadband (Internet via power cables) and ultrawideband have been identified by the Strategy Unit as two technologies that could disrupt the current market set-up. More @ ZDNet. |
Bloomley UK Offers FRIACO To ISPs
By:mark.j @ 9:59:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Bloomley UK, an ISP which is currently in the process of updating its offers, has today given a new meaning to FRIACO and offered it up to other ISPs:
Stop Press FRIACO (Frighteningly Real Internet Access Crazy Offer)
Calling ISP's, got FRIACO, want FRIACO, now here’s an offer that cannot be passed by:
For a very limited period we can give ISP's the chance to break into the flat rate market or boost sales by offering crazy prices for a two month period on FRIACO products.
"Flat rate internet access is still a growing market and a key product for all UK ISP's" said Simon Strode of Bloomley UK Ltd. "But it is often difficult and costly to enter the market, Bloomley UK are able to provide flexible offers on a per user of port basis. Right now we are able to offer crazy prices for the coming two months to any ISP wanting to offer flat rate services. We can deliver rapidly, normally within 48hrs, but the current offer is limited so we would urge anyone wanting a great deal to call now".
To hear more about this silly offer call Bloomley on 0870 754 2113 |
South-East England Hotels Gain Wi-Fi
By:mark.j @ 9:54:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Megabeam, the BTOpenzone competitive broadband wireless (Wi-Fi) local area networking providing ISP, has expanded its coverage to include a handful of Holiday Inn and hotels in south-east England:
Wi-Fi specialist Megabeam has signed a deal with BDL Hotels, the hospitality franchise company, which will see it install hot spots at various hotels including Holiday Inn London Heathrow, the Express at London Luton Airport, Holiday Inn Docklands and the Crowne Plaza, Marlow on Thames.
Most of the hot spots will be live by early in the new year. BDL's finance director Stuart McCaffer said in a statement: "We have excellent meeting and conference facilities at each of our locations, however many blue chip global clients are now seeking this type of service."
The ZDNet item reminds us that Megabeam's access packages range from two hours' access at approx £4.80, right up to the more expensive annual subscriptions. |
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