November 15, 2002 - November 20, 2002
News - November 20,2002
Fighting SPAM - The Growing Problem
By:mark.j @ 1:48:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The junk e-mail (SPAM) and virus filtering company, MessageLabs, has claimed that demand for its anti-spam service has now outstripped demand for its anti-virus software. The groups Chief Technology Officer, Mark Sunner, had the following to say:
"I can see a situation where spam could make e-mail unworkable," said.
"Think what it is like to have to sort through your e-mail after being on holiday. That level of frustration will be a daily chore," he said.
Spam is on the increase in the UK, accounting for between 10 to 15% of e-mail received. In the US, as much as 40% of the daily inbox can be junk. "I think it will get to that level in Europe," said Mr Sunner.
Unfortunately tough new European regulation banning SPAM won't be enforced until this time next year, giving the problem time enough to grow completely out of control. More @ BBC News Online. |
BT Uncertain – BTOpenworlds Future
By:mark.j @ 1:40:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The future of BTs UK ISP BTOpenworld would still appear to be in doubt if the comments made by the operators newly-appointed chief broadband officer, Alison Ritchie, are to be believed:
Ms Ritchie shrugged her shoulders and said: "Who knows?"
Of course, some might point to this as yet further evidence that BT intends to marginalize its loss-making ISP and, instead, manoeuvre its broadband operation into the heart of BT. After all, broadband is now a central plank of BT's strategy. To place such an important part of its business in the hands of BTopenwoe could be seen as being a tad reckless.
If this is so, then folding BTopenwane into the heart of BT would take someone with immense regulatory skill and knowledge to navigate safely the Oftel-infested waters. Someone, erm, just like Ms Ritchie who, coincidentally, had a spell as BT's director of regulatory affairs.
It's far too early to predict what will happen in the future and clearly BT itself isn't sure either, more @ The Register. |
BTs 128Kbps Mid-Band Service Update
By:mark.j @ 1:34:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We've done our best to scrounge together as much information as we could regarding BTs proposed sub-broadband 128Kbps service and placed it below.
Unfortunately most of what we've turned up is highly contradictive, so be warned that nothing is set in stone until BT officially announce more details. Also note that some other sites have taken it upon themselves to re-write BTs own press release and in the process got some points wrong.
The price is expected to be less than ADSL, yet not by much at £20 to £25 per month. Public trials should begin sometime between March and April 2003. Most of this paragraph would appear to be true.
The service itself appears similar to ISDN in that it's expected to work by bonding two 64Kbps channels, yet this does NOT mean it's based off that technology. Some have suggested that it's a special form of RADSL, although as with all of the above, BT HAS CONFIRMED NOTHING.
In fact BT couldn't even tell people whether or not the service would be wholesale (available to other ISPs) or unique to BT, which will no doubt have some ISPs concerned.
For now we will all remain in the dark, while much of the public reaction to BTs new service has been somewhat negative, with many believing that the operator will simply use it to delay their true broadband roll-out. |
Next UK Virus Attack To Cost £2.1Billion?
By:mark.j @ 9:30:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The latest report from McAfee, a computer security firm, suggests that the next big computer virus attack in the UK could cost small and medium enterprises £2.1 billion:
McAfee also claims an attack could result in 2.2 million office days lost in downtime.
The company's research showed that 70% of all SMEs had received a virus, with each losing an average £843, and 7.2 hours in lost computer time, as a result.
The report notes that SMEs may have virus checkers installed, yet many often fail to update them against the latest threats. More @ Ananova. |
e-Government 2005 Target Inadequate
By:mark.j @ 9:25:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Critics claim that the governments plan to get all its services online by 2005 are inadequate:
Speaking at the e-Summit, prime minister Tony Blair acknowledged the problems. "Fifty-four percent of government services are already online," said Blair, "but we recognise that British companies and citizens are still not using those services."
Dr Ian Kearns, head of the digital society programme at the Institute for Public Policy Research, had earlier led the criticisms of the targets. "We have to accept that having all government services online by (2005) is not as good as having better services online," said Kearns. "The only reason we should be doing any of this is if we can deliver better services online."
Kearns, whose comments were echoed by other speakers, said the government should be doing a lot more, and needed to find innovative ways of doing things.
More @ ZDNet. |
UK Gov Invests £1Billion In Broadband
By:mark.j @ 9:15:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] During yesterdays speech the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, pledged to spend £1Billion on broadband for key public services over the next three years as part of a general £6bn investment in I.T and communications:
Mr Blair told a gathering of Internet experts in London that the spending would create "fundamental improvement in the efficiency, convenience and quality of our services".
School pupils would be able to use broadband video streaming in lessons, ambulance crews would be able to access patients' medical records on the spot and GPs to send prescriptions to chemists electronically, predicted Mr Blair.
He said: "I consider the question of how we harness the potential of technological change - alongside the related question of science - to be the fundamental economic and social challenge of our future. Long after the cloud of day-to-day events has dispersed, what we do with information technology and how we use it will determine our success industrially and as a society for years to come."
Not surprisingly the comments, as reported by Ananova, came on the same day as BT announced their own broadband strategy (below). |
BT Broadband To Reach 90% - 2005
By:mark.j @ 9:07:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BT has announced that it intends to cover 90% of the country with broadband by 2005 and will introduce a midland (slower) broadband service in order to help make that a reality.
Note that very little is known about the new service (probably slower RADSL – extends coverage etc.), it appears to run at ISDN speed (128Kbps) and is likely very similar to NTLs solution of the same speed. Unlike NTL, BT doesn’t appear to regard this speed as classification of a broadband service.
BT has also said that its new broadband wireless (mesh) technology is progressing, although no real hint of when we’ll know more about that is given:
BT SETS OUT BROADBAND ROADMAP
BT today said that the company had a roadmap that would see broadband reach more than 80 per cent of the country in the next three years. In a wide-ranging speech to delegates at the e-envoys e-summit in London, BT board director Pierre Danon said that having put broadband at the heart of its strategy, BT was now looking to extend the number of areas where broadband would be available.
Mr Danon said: "Broadband is well and truly at the heart of BT and we are absolutely committed to our target of one million broadband connections by next summer. Weve made products available, made sure the price is right, and we are working hard on customer satisfaction. Our marketing campaign, one of the biggest ever seen in this country, has created a huge demand for broadband for BT and other internet service providers.
We’ve now had more than 200,000 registrations of interest for our registration scheme. That interest is helping to push our broadband exchange enabling scheme which kicked into action with Todmorden.
Seventeen others are currently being enabled and we now expect to upgrade exchanges to broadband at the equivalent rate of one a day all thanks to public demand."
Mr Danon, who attended the summit alongside Alison Ritchie, BTs new chief broadband officer, also reported on the success of regional partnership initiatives such as ACT NOW in Cornwall. "More partnerships are now being developed and we have recently announced our initiative with Kent County Council aiming at connecting schools and homes in the county. These initiatives which require active support from the government will add to the momentum created at a national level by the advertising campaign."
Based on the current momentum and assuming the success of these regional initiatives, BT believes that the number of households living in broadband enabled areas can be moved over 80 per cent.
Mr Danon explained also how BT was working to overcome the technical reasons which meant that some people who lived in broadband enabled exchange areas currently could not get a service. He said: "Our view is that our experts can find many innovative ways of extending the number of households who live in enabled areas who will be able to get it.
For example, we are working on managing the excessive sound interference level that appears when a household is too far from an enabled exchange. These solutions will also increase the number of people who will be able to enjoy broadband DSL.
In addition, there will be other innovative technological and business model advances such as satellite, wireless broadband and so-called mini DSLAMs which we believe will further increase the number of households who live in broadband enabled areas even higher.
In fact, altogether we believe that by mid 2005 broadband services could be available to around 90 per cent of households in the country."
In his presentation Mr Danon said that to achieve this situation would also require effort from other interested parties. He said: "To make our aims a reality will mean working in partnership with others in the industry and, in particular, with the government at all levels. We would also welcome the support of the government by them putting into practice many of the original and exciting uses they themselves have envisaged for broadband.
And finally we believe that going forward there’s a need for smarter regulation, regulation that evolves to take into account new areas of competition and new issues such as content rights management. Broadband is at the heart of BT. With the right environment and right momentum, broadband truly can be at the heart of the country."
Mr Danon finished by saying: "We recognise that the benefits of the new communications revolution are too great to leave people behind, but that there are technological limits to providing affordable broadband for all. So today we are also announcing a new alternative high speed internet access product for those who would not be able to get broadband. Our new "midband" product will begin trials in the Spring. It will provide an "always-on" email facility with fast internet access at up to 128K when needed and will be available quickly to 97 per cent of the UK population."
In summary, Alison Ritchie added: "No one should underestimate how serious we are about broadband. Were driving demand through the biggest ever UK advertising campaign. Were pushing the bounds of every technological solution. Were doing more than anyone to bring broadband to the country. And by working with partners and government we can and will achieve the widest possible coverage." |
News - November 19,2002
CE To Ban Online Hate Speech
By:mark.j @ 2:51:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Heads of state in Europe, North America and Japan will soon be invited to sign an international treaty criminalising "acts of a racist and xenophobic nature conducted through computer systems":
The document is an additional protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, which was ratified last November by members of the Council of Europe.
The protocol defines racist and xenophobic material as written material, images or other representations of ideas or theories advocating, promoting or inciting hatred, discrimination or violence against individuals or groups, based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin, or religion if used as a pretext for any of these factors.
It then calls on signatories to adopt legislative and other measures to make it a criminal offence to distribute or make available such material to the public through a computer system. Distribution would cover the sending of e-mail containing such material, while the creation of Web pages or even links to Web pages containing such material would be considered "making available".
The CW360 item notes that ISPs would not be held liable for hosting pages or transmitting e-mail messages containing racist or xenophobic material, which will no doubt come as a welcome relief.
Some have expressed fears that the new legislation may go too far, although we won't find out until it's finally law. |
Vodafones Mobile Internet Access
By:mark.j @ 2:37:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK mobile phone operator Vodafone has today announced a new GPRS based service, which offers business customers remote access to their offices via a mobile Internet connection:
Because GPRS provides "always-on" connectivity, users of the service are charged for the amount of data they transfer, rather than the length of a call. "If the system is used sensibly, it may work out cheaper than dialling into the company's network from a landline in a hotel," a spokesperson for Vodafone told ElectricNews.Net.
Although the system could download large files, the spokesperson said that the charging structure for GRPS meant that most people would probably prefer to limit their use of the system to less data-intensive tasks.
Users will be able to connect to their corporate network from any country in which Vodafone has a GRPS network. Client laptops will have GPRS data cards installed, which connects to a wireless data server in their corporate headquarters.
It's worth pointing out that Orange has offered similar solutions for sometime now and anybody with enough technical knowledge can do it. More @ ElectricNews. |
Affinity Internet Holdings Changes CEO
By:mark.j @ 1:15:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Affinity Internet Holdings, which is the group behind several UK ISPs, has today announced some new staff appointments and promotions:
Chief executive Wayne Lochner will become a non executive director and that June May, who is chief executive of the UK operations, will today replace him as CEO.
Lochner, who had been CEO for five years, will take up his role as non executive director from Jan 1 next year and will continue to be a major shareholder in Affinity, said chairman Terry Plummer.
More @ Ananova. |
LINX On e-Government Conference
By:mark.j @ 1:11:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The London Internet Exchange (LINX) has today issued a new press release touting next months London conference, which will focus on the practical issues involved in delivering 'e-government' in the UK:
GOVERNMENT AND INTERNET INDUSTRY TO EXPLORE THE REALITY OF E-GOVERNMENT
Representatives of the Internet industry, local and central government are to come together in a conference in London next month (December) to explore some of the practical issues involved in delivering 'e-government' in the UK.
The event - Internet Goes Public - is being jointly organised by the London Internet Exchange (LINX) on behalf of the industry and Public Sector Forums on behalf of government organisations. Admission is free for members of public sector organisations thanks to sponsorship kindly received from Redbus Interhouse, Foundry Networks and Star Internet.
To be held at Redbus Interhouse in the London Docklands on 12 December 2002, Internet Goes Public will bring together those responsible for delivering public services via the Internet and those responsible for the functioning of the Internet.
Speakers will include Steve Marsh, director of security policy in the government's Office of the e-Envoy; John Souter, chief executive of LINX; Felicity Hoad of UK Internet registrar Nominet; and Dave Williams of Medway District Council.
Ian Dunmore of Public Sector Forums said: "There is a need for those public sector managers responsible for e-government to better understand the workings of the Internet industry and vice versa.
Issues such as the legislation, regulations, and commercial and technical matters which govern or have an impact on use of the Internet are all critical areas when implementing an e-gov project. These are the topics we'll be covering on the day."
Vanessa Evans of LINX said: "There is a great deal of expertise available within the Internet industry which will help the public sector meet its objectives. Internet Goes Public will help us to pass on some of this knowledge and explain what the Internet can and cannot do.
At the same time, we shall be able to sign-post to colleagues in the public sector the places where commercial solutions to their problems may be found."
Around 100 delegates from local authorities and a range of central government departments have already signed up to attend the event which is free to members of Public Sector Forums.
For further details of the event, contact Ian Dunmore of Public Sector
Forums on 0161 486 1234 or visit http://www.linx.net/press/events/internetgoespublic |
BTs Broadband Wireless ADSL Modem
By:mark.j @ 9:38:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] BT has announced a new type of broadband ADSL modem, a wireless one that allows up to 10 people to share a single connection:
Designed for the home market, the BT Voyager 2000 has a range of up to 50m indoors and 250m outdoors and costs £359.97 (inc VAT).
The ADSL modem with a built-in base station enables multiple connections (up to 10 PCs) to one ADSL broadband subscription. It can also be used to network all home computers and laptops (up to 10 PCs) sharing a printer.
The Register reports that more information can be gathered about the new modem HERE. |
UN - Global Internet Use BOOMING!
By:mark.j @ 9:26:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The United Nations (UN) has reported that, despite the recent economic downturn, the number of people using the Internet around the world is booming.
Overall a rough growth of 30% during 2002 has been predicted, which would be equal to a total of some 655 million Internet users (500 million - 2001):
The annual E-Commerce and Development Report estimates trade in goods and services over the Internet could reach $2.3bn (£1.46bn) this year, a 50% jump on last year, and could hit $3.9bn by the end of 2003.
About a third of new users were from developing countries in 2001 but the percentage of the population using the internet was still far higher in rich nations, the report said.
The US had the most users, with nearly 143 million people online, followed by China with some 56.6 million. In Britain access rose by 33% to nearly 40% of the population.
It's worth noting that other surveys have predicted the number of Britains online to be closer to 45%+. More @ BBC News Online. |
UK Broadband Wireless Wi-Fi Grows
By:mark.j @ 9:20:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Operators such as BT and Megabeam appear to be helping Britain and Ireland lead the way with public broadband wireless Wi-Fi Hotspots:
Megabeam, which is shaping up as the most serious rival to BT Openzone, released details last week of the 14 (overall total of 17) places where it plans to set up a Wi-Fi hot spot between now and the end of December.
BT Openzone has taken a similar approach. It already has 36 operational hot spots, which are located at hotels, business parks, corporate headquarters and outlets of Costa Coffee following a deal announced late last month.
By the end of the year, BT Openzone hopes to have at least 70 hot spots in action, with a longer-term target of 400 by June of next year.
The ZDNet item reports that the UK should be able to boast up to 90 commercial Wi-Fi Hotspots by the end of 2002, which includes Hotspots from several smaller operators. |
e-Summit - Blair To Talk Up Broadband
By:mark.j @ 9:12:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Prime Minister Tony Blair is, among other things, expected to demand a faster roll-out of broadband services when he meets in London today with other government ministers, business leaders and Internet experts.
In what aides billed as a major policy speech, Blair will spell out on Tuesday how greater broadband access would be a godsend for key public services like schools and also transform the lives of ordinary people across the country.
Blair wants Britain to have fast Internet access available to all by 2005. But figures earlier this year showed the UK came last among the Group of Seven industrialised nations in adoption of fast Internet lines.
A government source said if the Internet was to make a real impact on Britain's economy, broadband adoption would have to increase rapidly. If handled properly, a radical expansion of broadband access could boost productivity and therefore the economy as a whole.
Blair will address a conference in London on development of "Internet economies" along with Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt and the minister responsible for "e-matters", Stephen Timms.
It'll certainly be interesting to see what's said because there have been many pleasing rumours about it. |
Broadband Pushes Cable Networks
By:mark.j @ 9:05:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Despite economic problems, the European Cable Yearbook 2002 has revealed that Europe’s cable operators (e.g. NTL) had a good year during 2001 largely thanks to the growth of broadband Internet access:
Gross sales for the industry rose 14 per cent to E10.1bn. Television still accounts for three-quarters of revenue - the reason why Germany, not known for cable broadband net access, still comes out as the largest market - but its share is declining.
The European Cable Yearbook 2002, put together by media analysts Screen Digest on behalf of the European Cable Communications Association (ECCA), shows the UK leads in the take-up of digital television and cable telephony, with 4.2 million subscribers.
The Silicon item also highlights IP telephony services (VoIP) as another strong technology for the future. |
News - November 18,2002
Safeway Promotes BTOpenworld ISP
By:mark.j @ 2:42:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Safeway, the UK Supermarket chain, has joined forces with ISP BTOpenworld in order to better promote its dialup and broadband Internet access offerings:
SAFEWAY CUSTOMERS TO CHECK OUT BT OPENWORLD
From today, CDs enabling people to sign up to BT Openworld's broadband or narrowband services will be available from 190 Safeway outlets across the UK.
The CDs contain a free educational demonstration of broadband, instructions and a link to the BT Openworld site to register for a full broadband service. This includes email, web space and content all in one place. With broadband, once a customer has signed up, BT Openworld can provide the necessary hardware to enable the customer to connect to its high-speed internet service*.
The deal between Safeway and BT Openworld consists of an eight-week rolling trial of the CD give-away, using Safeway's in-store concessionary' space. CDs will be available in all five megastores, 123 superstores, 50 petrol stations and 12 supermarkets across the UK.
Duncan Ingram, vice-president, consumer at BT Openworld, said: "Safeway is one of the UK's favourite supermarket chains and offers a wide range of everyday products and services. This deal sees it providing another important service - access to the internet through BT Openworld.
This initiative also sees BT Openworld moving another step closer to its aim of helping internet access become easily available to every home in the UK." |
BSG - Broadband Infrastructure Sharing
By:mark.j @ 2:36:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The governments’ broadband advisory forum, the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), has issued a new press release touting their suggestion that Telco's share the same physical infrastructure in order to extend broadband coverage:
UK Government advisory forum the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) has told the Government that telcos must share the same physical infrastructure in order to extend broadband coverage across the UK.
Chairman of the BSG Keith Todd will recommend in his annual report (due out this week) that the UK needs a 'civil utility infrastructure', whereby local authorities or private sector organisations take responsibility for constructing nationwide, high capacity fibre networks.
Next-generation broadband specialist, PacketFront, applauds this recommendation, and now calls for the broadband debate to focus on the delivery of competitive services rather than competitive infrastructure.
With a nationwide broadband utility network in place, consumers and businesses should expect to be able to choose between multiple service providers and their content rather than be tied into a single infrastructure/service provider such as BT (as is the case at the moment).
This Operator Independent Network (OIN) model has already begun to have a significant impact on the Swedish market. PacketFront's latest OIN project is in the Stockholm suburb of Hammarby Stojstad. Hammarby is Sweden's largest 'wired city', and when completed, over 30,000 homes and businesses will be connected to a fibre network with a choice of at least two competing TV providers, three IP telephony streams and three ISPs. |
MPs Hold Public Data Retention Inquiry
By:mark.j @ 2:31:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Government MPs are to hold a public inquiry to examine the new data retention rules and their probable impact on UK ISPs and the Internet:
The All Party Internet Group (APIG) will primarily focus on the enforcement of the powers contained in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) and the Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act.
APIG is looking for those involved in the industry to submit written evidence to the inquiry before December 6.
Public hearings will be held in the House of Commons on the 11th and 18th December when MPs will hold oral evidence sessions with industry, Government and other interested bodies.
The Register reports that the findings of the inquiry are expected to be published early next year. Any UK ISPs concerned by the new data retention proposals would be well advised to write in. |
Many Commercial UK Websites Still Poor?
By:mark.j @ 1:33:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The NUA is reporting on a recent BBC Training & Development study, which found that many business websites are still failing to meet the grade:
The training company reviewed more than 60 leading websites and found that half of them had prominent one-way hyperlinks taking visitors away from the site.
Nearly 30 percent of websites examined did not contain a company telephone number, while only 23 percent displayed a contact number on the home page.
Around 18 percent of the sites tested gave no opportunity to provide feedback at all, while around 57 percent of those that did, could only be contracted using offline email links rather than the more user-friendly online forms.
The NUA item goes on to state that just 63% of websites had a fast download time. |
Employees Gain Greater Online Privacy
By:mark.j @ 1:28:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] New rules from the UK's privacy watchdog could soon make it much harder for employers to monitor their employees e-mail and Internet access habits:
The UK's privacy watchdog is producing stringent codes of practice governing how much scrutiny companies can carry out on private communications.
The Information Commissioner warns that companies that do not follow the letter of these rules risk prosecution under the Data Protection Act.
The Information Commissioner is warning that companies cannot trample over rights to privacy or ignore data protection rules when monitoring e-mail and net use.
Details are currently somewhat thin on the ground, although sacking a member of staff for a naughty e-mail could now be a lot harder to do. More @ BBC News Online. |
Families More Likely To Go Online
By:mark.j @ 1:20:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] A new study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project has found that families with children living at home are more likely to use the Internet:
"Many wired parents are convinced technology helps them stay more in control of their busy lives," Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, said in a statement. "Even more important is that they are anxious to make sure their children learn how to use the Internet."
In one finding, 70 percent of parents with a child at home said they have access to the Internet, compared with just 53 percent of nonparents. The study comes as more Web companies are eyeing parents' preferences when marketing and developing products.
The ZDNet item notes how children are often the ones found to be teaching their own parents how to use the Internet. |
ONS - UK Internet Connectivity Grows
By:mark.j @ 1:15:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The governments Office of National Statistics (ONS) has today issued its September 2002 Internet Connectivity (Adobe Acrobat Format) report, which found that the number of Britons connected to the Internet rose 12.4% during 2002.
Overall (broadband & dial-up) connections increased by 0.9% between August and September 2002, with broadband connections rising 0.6% to a total of 7.8% for the same period. As also reported in the August update, dial-up users have continued to migrate to faster broadband connections. |
Mozilla Web Browser v1.3a Released
By:mark.j @ 9:46:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The latest version of Mozilla, a popular open-source web browser project, has appeared on the sites nightly download section as v1.3a.
It's not yet clear exactly what has changed between 1.2 and 1.3 as no official announcement has been made, yet you can download it HERE. Please be aware that this is not a final release and there may be bugs. |
New ISP Review Survey (Poll)
By:mark.j @ 8:43:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] We've just started a new survey (poll), which asks, "What kind of support quality does your ISP offer?". Results from the previous month’s survey can be found below:
Should ISPs often breaking advertising (ASA) rules be fined?
Yes - 92.2%
No - 4.7%
Undecided - 3%
Total Votes = 721
Clearly the vast majority of ISP users agree that service providers found to be making a habit of breaking advertising rules (printing false information etc.) should be fined.
Only a tiny group of 5% disagreed and 3% remained undecided, yet clearly many believe that ISPs aren’t punished enough for consistent advertising mistakes. |
News - November 17,2002
ISP Review Weekly Update
By:mark.j @ 10:44:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Just to let you know that there won't be anymore weekly updates, changes in my real-life work mean that I will now be working over the weekend and have precious little time to write an update. Updates will now only be posted when required.
Very little work has been done this week as I've been busy changing flats again and we also wanted to see how the new 'Reader ISP Reviews' system went before moving on. So far so good.
You can expect some brand new forum code to arrive sometime over the next month or two, hopefully before Christmas. |
EzAccess Launch Unmetered 128K ISDN
By:mark.j @ 10:34:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP EzAccess Internet (TheDotComplete) has issued a new service update and announced a new 128Kbps ISDN unmetered dialup package:
Service Update:
There is scheduled web server downtime at approximately 1.am on Monday night (18/11/01) to coincide with our Windows2000 Server maintenance update. The downtime will not effect eMail or Internet access and will last for approximately 37 minutes. We recommend you update your site before this time, so that all server web pages are up-to-date.
EzAccess Internet launches several new Internet packages:
The AllTime ISDN 128k package is a specifically engineered 128K service for ISDN users; it utilizes the 2 channel bonding features of most ISDN TA and Modems. It provides download speads in excess of 14k which is 2.4 times faster than 56K Modems. The Package consists of all the features off the AllTime service with 128K support.
0808 FRIACO access
Supports 64k and 128k ISDN. (V90 Support is also available)
Unlimited eMail addresses
300 MB fast Unix Web space
CGI access
40,000 + News Groups
Access to the EzAccess Portal
Free Technical Support
12:1 Contention
free.co.uk
Fast dedicated servers
Game Servers
Built around the heavy usage model (<160 and >240 hrs per month per channel)
For £22.99 a month (* with a specific payment method.)
There's also a mention of the services new ADSL offer @ £19.99 inc. VAT per month (£49.99 Setup / £89.99 Modem). |
News - November 16,2002
IAP Broadband On Government Subsidies
By:mark.j @ 11:12:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK broadband wireless ISP IAP Broadband has today sent us their latest press release, which makes for an interesting take on the highly controversial issue of government broadband subsidies:
Government Subsidies
The vision is Brodband for Everyone but the reality is something different. The Gvernment has a varity of packages aimed at developing Broadband links to businesses. Businesses with broadband links will have a competative advantage over unconnected businesses; but you don't have to be a big business to see substantial cost savings.
When Broadband finally arrives to the masses it will transform working practices. The current employer, employee relationship will change. Employees no longer need to come into work as it can all be done from home. this will lead to employment opportunities being available across the entire country. People growing up in remote or isolated communities will no longer have to move away to find work therefore reversing the trend within these communities.
It's not just employees that gain but companies as well, overheads will reduce as expensive employment land is no longer required. Small businesses will be able to purchase time from highly qualified e-workers allowing them to expand secure in the knowlege that they can obtain the required number of staff hours when required.
The Government are currently putting large amounts of money behing broadband but have they got it right?
Large Towns and Cities are getting coverage from Telephone and Cable companies, but Broadband is really required everywhere if the ecomomy is to see the full rewards. So we have a mixture of Telephone, Cable, Satellite and Wireless systems all receiving some sort of Government support, But what are they supporting?
If we are all to benefit from this technology then Broadband needs to deliver fast 2 way connections with low contention ratios at affordable prices, so way are subsidies available for one way satellite?
Are the Government right to subsidise Broadband? The amswer is a resounding YES - Have they got it right yet? - NO |
Government To Filter Porn SPAM
By:mark.j @ 9:01:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] The Independent online reports that British members of parliament have received so much junk e-mail (SPAM) containing porn that they've now chosen to introduce filtering:
The leader of the House of Commons said on Thursday. "I am pleased to tell you the matter was discussed at this week's meeting of the Speaker's panel and I understand a decision has been taken to acquire the necessary filter mechanism to make sure that members are protected from this," Leader of the House Robin Cook said.
The issue had been raised by Brian Iddon, the Labour Party member for Bolton Southeast, who said many members had been receiving "unsolicited and highly offensive pornography" via the network. |
Gov Should NOT Subsidies Broadband
By:mark.j @ 8:53:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Ovum analyst (research group) Jan Dawson has contradicted the positive impact of government subsidies in other countries (South Korea) and suggested that they would do more harm than good in the UK:
Such a move, Dawson warns, would be counter-productive in the long-term as it could create an inefficient broadband market that was reliant on subsidy.
In a research note published this week, Dawson points to the current boom in the UK's broadband market as evidence that the government's current strategy -- of letting market forces drive the supply and take-up of high-speed Internet services -- is working.
"The UK government has committed less than $5 (£3) per head to broadband, compared with $25 per head in France, and $95 per head in Japan. And yet, Britain has overtaken France in the last couple of months," wrote Dawson.
Dawson does have a fair point, although it's equally difficult to know whether or not that the remark is good or bad.
Reading ZDNet's item we get the impression that Dawson is talking about subsidies of service as well as rollout, yet coverage is all most people care about. |
V21 Launch £6.99 Unlimited Unmetered!?
By:mark.j @ 8:42:AM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP V21 (Free24-7) has apparently launched the impossible, an unlimited unmetered dialup service costing just £6.99 per month!:
Today sees the launch of one of the cheapest unlimited ISP's in the country.
Fast4.net have launched an unlimited 24/7 dial up service for the amazing price of just £6.99 per month. Offering a contention ratio of 10:1 with a 2 hour cut off and no weekly or monthly limits, the package also boasts national rate customer and technical support.
Lloyd Sanders, Operations Manager of Fast4 commented "surfers can once again forget the clock watching and enjoy a fast reliable dial up connection. We aim to provide a service to people who can't yet receive a broadband service, without penalising them like many other ISP's have done."
The service will support up to speeds of 56k dial up and 64 k ISDN.
Connectivity for both PC's and MAC's will be supported. Anyone wishing to take up this offer can sign up at http://www.fast4.net
Not surprisingly we have absolutely no idea how V21 can maintain such a service, especially on a 10:1 ratio, although we will attempt to find out.
It's worth noting that this service uses separate ports from V21 and thus other ISP services will not be affected by any problems with Fast4. ISP Fast24 may find the name a little too similar for their liking. |
News - November 15,2002
UK Broadband Subscriptions Rocket
By:mark.j @ 2:48:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] Over the past week Telewest, NTL and BT have all issued their third quarter financial results and all showed a clear boost in broadband connections.
Combined, an estimated 34,000 new customers connect to a broadband technology each week, up from 20,000!:
Latest figures from BT, NTL and Telewest show that, after the disappointment of previous years, broadband is one of the success stories of 2002.
BT Wholesale, whose ADSL products are resold by around 200 Internet service providers, is currently adding more new broadband connections than either NTL or Telewest individually. BT Wholesale announced last week that new orders are running at 16,000 per week.
NTL is understood to have gained 70,000 broadband customers in the last six weeks -- a take-up rate of almost 12,000 per week -- and Telewest is selling "in excess of 1,000 connections per working day (Monday to Saturday)", which works out at a take-up rate of over 6,000 per week.
ZDNet's item is essentially a summary of the past weeks various results from the three major market players. |
Vispa ISP Cuts Broadband ADSL Prices
By:mark.j @ 2:39:PM - News Comments - SendNews [HERE] / PrintNews [HERE] UK ISP Vispa Internet has announced a cut in the cost of its broadband ADSL packages:
Vispa, who has been offering broadband connections since March 2000; have taken the decision to reduce the monthly price of its broadband packages. The reductions being made are due to lower operating business costs, therefore allowing savings to be directly passed to the customer.
Package prices are now as follows and include a static IP as standard (essential in our eyes) and a 3 month minimum contract period.
Home 500 (50:1 Contention) - £24.67pm
Business 500 (20:1 Contention) - £60.00pm
Business 1000 (20:1 Contention) - £95.00pm
Business 2000 (20:1 Contention) - £140.00pm
Multiple IP addresses totaling 8 can be added to any of the above packages for a little as £5 per month, ideal for business or individuals requiring remote access and more control to internal services.
The above prices are exclusive of VAT @ 17.5%
Likewise Vispa's ability to buy in large quantity directly from hardware vendors has ensured that they offer modems at some of the best retail prices. You can now buy your modem complete with filters, manuals and everything to get you up and running for a little as £69.99, including postage and delivery costs.
For further details and information visit
http://www.vispa.net/broadband.php |
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