Tech Bitch

Pipex Communications plc has renamed to FREEDOM4 Communications plc as part of its new focus to concentrate on business-strength Internet services and hosting solutions. The company’s Ordinary Shares will now trade with the TIDM (Tradable Instrument Display Mnemonic) of ‘FFC’.

The business divisions for FREEDOM4 Communications plc include WiMAX-powered wireless broadband provider FREEDOM4 and GX Networks Ltd, the parent company for the Web hosting and business brands. These include Vialtus Solutions (formerly Pipex Business), 123-reg, WebFusion, Supanames and Donhost. It is business as usual with all brands with the only changes being made in the reference to the parent company.

FREEDOM4 Communications plc is a provider of business Internet solutions. The company provides a range of corporate voice, Internet access, security, domain name registration as well as shared and dedicated hosting solutions.

A team of engineers at a British university have pimped broadband to make it 100 times faster and a quarter the price it is today.

Using existing telecommunications but channelling the data more efficiently, the machine will be able to download 15 full-length Hollywood movies a minute. That’s also a heck of a lot of prOn! The scientists at Bangor University are now set to build a prototype of their machine.

It is hoped their efforts will transform the communications industry, home life and the workplace. The new larger- and faster-capacity networks would revolutionise home entertainment, delivering high-speed high-definition films and television, high-power computer games and home video-conferencing facilities. It would also make boring things like remote working far easier.

Importantly, the device works with the existing fibre optic technology, so there is no need to rip out the cabling which runs the country’s telecommunications network. Projections have also shown a more efficient use of the network will cut costs for every user by up to 75%. Unfortunately it is too early to predict the high-street cost of the device, which will look very much like a DVD player and will sit between the broadband outlet and computer.

Anyone who thinks that downloading 15 feature films in a minute seems a trifle unnecessary should think again. I’m gagging for a piece of the action …

AOL has launched a new broadband package with no minimum term contract. The new Broadband Wireless Flexi costs from £14.99 a month and comes with a download speed of up to 8Mbps, a 10GB download allowance and a free wireless router worth £50.

However, a £49.99 connection fee also applies, but once paid and signed up, customers can leave the service whenever they want, without having to see out long 12, 18 or even 24-month contracts, as are also offered by AOL on its Broadband Wireless Plus package, which comes with a free laptop or Sony PlayStation.

The new package has been launched as a special offer, which ends on 1 June 2008. Customers not connected to AOL’s unbundled network have to pay an additional £5 a month in accordance to the company’s regional pricing policy.

No contract’ broadband packages are great if you don’t want to be tied into a long contract, but some carry hidden charges that have to be paid if you leave within the first 12 months. Although it is almost impossible to find a ‘no contract’ broadband package that doesn’t have a connection fee or exit fee attached to it, it is often better to pay any fees upfront to avoid an unexpected sting when you leave.

Most ‘no contract’ packages don’t come with free hardware, so it’s very good value that AOL is offering a free wireless router to customers who sign up for the Broadband Wireless Flexi package.

PlusNet comes out top overall across six categories in a survey conducted by BroadbandChoices.co.uk. Well done!

PlusNet topped the table with an average of 79% of users saying they were ‘very/fairly satisfied’ with their broadband service across all six customer satisfaction service categories.

BroadbandChoices asked broadband users to rate their ISP across six different areas: (1) Quality and reliability, (2) download time, (3) clarity of pricing and billing, (4) aftersales support, (5) good value for money and (6) speed of service activation. Top of the class were PlusNet, Sky Broadband and Pipex.

Michael Phillips, product director at BroadbandChoices, said: “We weren’t surprised to see PlusNet at the top of the table. Being a relatively small provider compared to the other contenders in this category, allows them to really focus on customer service and deliver consistently across the board.

“It has a UK-based call centre, which is important, as in a recent poll by Mori almost 80% of British people said that they didn’t like getting through to foreign call centres. This has helped it to achieve the highest score in ‘after sales support’. It also has very clear and up front language on things like ‘download limits’ so customers know exactly where they stand.”

Around 4000 households were surveyed to see who’s coming out top for customer satisfaction in the UK. Across all six categories, the ISPs by overall customer satisfaction were:

1. PlusNet
2. Sky Broadband
3. Pipex
4. Tiscali UK
5. Virgin Media
6. AOL Broadband
7. BT Broadband
8. Talk Talk
9. Tesco
10. Orange

The results concluded that PlusNet was the broadband supplier that gave the most consistent levels of customer satisfaction. Scoring the highest level of satisfaction, 88.3%, in ‘quality and reliability’ and coming out top in five of the six categories. Sky Broadband was a close second, ranking at the top of the table in ‘clarity of pricing and billing’.

Not doing so well in the rankings were Orange and Tesco. Tesco came bottom of the table in ‘quality and reliability’ and Orange lost the customer vote for ‘after sales support’. Tesco’s broadband proposition hasn’t fundamentally altered for some time now, so if things don’t start change soon, it could find itself being left behind in a fast moving market.

Orange coming bottom of the table only goes to show the importance of ‘after sales support’, in the light of their recent results. Bad service is one of the contributing factors that is driving UK broadband customers to swap ISPs in search of a better deal. Internet service providers are increasingly faced with the challenge of holding onto their existing users in a highly competitive market, and this is certainly an area they can’t afford to slip up on.

PlusNet and Sky’s performance demonstrate that you can get excellent value for money by switching to the right package, which can offer reliable connection speeds, faster downloads and better quality customer service. Consumers must consider the level of service they will get from their ISP after they have signed 12 or even 18 month contracts, rather than being swayed by flashy advertising and introductory pricing offers.

Now can someone please tell me how Tiscali made the list?

Word has it that we all can’t be bothered to adopt Internet television, despite the apparent popularity of the BBC’s iPlayer download service.Media law firm Wiggin found that only one in five people legally streamed or downloaded TV programmes from broadcasters such as the BBC or Channel 4, or ISPs such as Tiscali or BT’s Vision service.

Virgin Media’s IPTV proved the most popular, with 20% of respondents using the service regularly or occasionally, with Channel 4’s 4oD service coming second with 15% and the BBC iPlayer taking third place with only 13%, despite totting up more than 17 million hits since Christmas.

A paltry 4% used Joost.com despite deals with Sony, CNN, Viacom and Warner Music Group. BT Vision and Tiscali TV also only got 4% each.

It seems we’re all too familiar with the idea of snuggling down in our living room at an appointed time to watch our favourite programme rather than sitting uncomfortably at our sticky computer desks all day and night.

There’s no doubt we will gradually move to the on demand mentality, especially when home entertainment systems improve such that you can connect the PC to the television and have the ‘TV over the Internet’ experience on a big screen, but it seems we’re a long way off.

More than 50 per cent of the respondents said that they would be more inclined to use IPTV services if more content was pooled together, as is being planned by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 for a joint venture known as ‘Project Kangaroo’.

However, users need to be aware that their download limits will be affected by the amount that that stream and download, and many of these programs will continue to run in the background unless fully exited. Make sure you keep track of your downloads to avoid being charged for exceeding your allowance or fair usage policy.

Be, the Internet provider everyone wants in their homes, has announced today that over the next four months the network coverage will be increased by 15% of the UK population, providing ADSL2+ broadband to a further 2,000,000 lines.

Be Un Limited, which is wholly-owned by O2 and one of the most innovative and technically-advanced UK broadband networks, will now cover 67% of the UK population.

Between now and June, 400 exchanges will be unbundled bringing the total number to 1245, making this the most widespread ADSL2+ network in the country offering some of the fastest speeds to Net junkies.

“This is the next stage in our development at Be as we believe that reliable high speed broadband takes continual innovation and investment”, said Oli White, Head of Marketing at Be Un Limited.

“These 400 new exchanges will mean that over 67% of the UK population will be able to experience faster speeds with ADSL2+. But it doesn’t stop there; we are already testing new technologies that will enhance not only the network but our speed.”

This is clearly great news for the discerning consumer. Be’s expansion into Northern Ireland and Wales will be particularly well received, as users there often have to rely on carrier pigeon.

Following today’s announcement from Ofcom regarding proposals to curb unfair additional charges levied by communications providers on consumers’ bills, you might want to watch out for hidden charges in the mean time.

The investigation is great and it couldn’t have come sooner. We all continually face the prospect of additional charges from our service provider, which are all too often buried deep in the small print of the contract.

I just hope that the proposals will ensure that extra charges are fair and up front. I also call on ISPs to clearly market the true cost of their service and not hide them away in the terms and conditions. Until Ofcom’s proposal is enforced you should be wary of the following hidden extras.

There are two types of broadband packages when it comes to downloads: ones with set, monthly limits or ‘caps’, and ones that are advertised as ‘unlimited’ but which are almost invariably subject to a fair usage policy. Both can end up costing you extra, or you may find you have the speed of your connection reduced.

Even if you’re signed up to an unlimited package, you could still be restrained under the conditions of your ISP’s ‘fair usage’ policy. If the ISP considers that your monthly downloading is excessive (or unfair to other users) then you could have your speed ‘throttled’ or ‘ports’ blocked, which will affect downloading. You may also have a fixed download limit, which may mean you end up paying an additional fee on top of your monthly rate for big downloads.

If you opt for a ‘no contract’ broadband deal it isn’t quite as straightforward as it seems. In order to cover costs, many ISP’s charge significantly more per month if no long-term contract has been signed. Other providers may charge you an exit fee if you leave during the initial 12 months.

Even if you’ve paid your bill just a few hours late you can still fall foul of late payment fees. Also, check your new contract carefully if you think you might need to cancel before the 12 month term is up. Even if you’re moving house and intending to use the same supplier again, this could still incur a charge. Finally, you’d think ISPs would be happy once they have your money, but additional charges can be incurred for paying by cheque or credit card. Make sure you read the small print and choose a payment method that won’t penalise you if you choose not to pay by direct debit.

Additional fees that are not part of the main service charge must be demonstrably fair and clearly sign posted on marketing materials and product information. Make sure you read through the small print and summarise all the hidden charges alongside the various package options to make an informed decision. I hope that Ofcom’s proposals will encourage companies to be open and straightforward about additional charges, and we’ll all be a little more vigilant when it comes to reading the small print.

With mobile broadband sales booming, are home broadband’s days numbered?Based on data from thousands of UK broadband package sales over the past six months, marketing types at Top 10 Broadband are currently tracking a paradigm shift in sales patterns towards mobile broadband and are foreseeing the eventual demise of home broadband.

Top 10 Broadband predicts that mobile broadband as a source of Internet connection will overtake home broadband by as early as 2010 to become the default way to access the Internet in the UK. What a load of toshiba!

Top 10 Broadband says mobile broadband sales have increased by over 50% month on month since adding them to its Web site. Mobile broadband now makes up over 10% of its total broadband sales from 0% only six months ago. Oh, that’s definitive then …

Come on! Even if laptop sales have boomed in recent years, the cost and hassle of mobile broadband means it’s still a long way off for mass market adoption. Even if major mobile broadband providers like Vodafone, T Mobile, 3 and Orange are competing hard, I just can’t see it happening any time soon.

The University of Bath has just made learning more accessible for all its students thanks to a ‘revolutionary’ blow-up pub high bandwidth connectivity. Made possible by H2O Networks’ FS Focus System, those students who have no girl/boy friends are actually resident on campus and those attending one of the University’s city centre student residencies and business centres can benefit from the speeds associated with next generation broadband. H2O Networks’ DARC fibre (Derestricted Access Route Connection), which delivers connectivity via its FS Focus System (Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer System), is used to deploy the cable through the City’s sewer network.

Keen not to cause too much disruption to the local area while the ultra broadband service was being rolled out to both the campus, students residences and education centres, the University’s IT department was over the moon at having more work that it could provide students with the fastest speeds available, yet still set up its own secure IT and telecoms network in case it all went tits-up.

Kris Shah, network manager, University of Bath commented: “It was important to us to ensure that all students attending the University could benefit from the same technology. Now all students attending the University of Bath regardless of whether they are on or off campus will be able to take advantage of ultra fast broadband access which is both reliable and scaleable for at least the next decade.

The new service now offers the kinds of bandwidth that students will really appreciate when it comes to prOn research and entertainment. According to boffins, the deployment process is at least 80% faster than traditional methods, resulting in operational networks within weeks rather than months. Every city and town has ready-made ducts that can be used without causing disruption - H2O wants to cash in big time…