March 15th, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband Providers, Broadband Reviews
Virgin Media is opening up the UK Broadband market with its offering of broadband services in cabled areas. Virgin is one of the newer companies to offer broadband internet in the UK, and since they’re fighting to gain market share, they’re offering quite a few attractive deals. If you’ve been considering moving from dial-up to a broadband connection, Virgin Media Broadband might offer a bundle that will make sense for your situation.
Since December 2008, when Virgin Media launched its 50Mb service, it has been the exclusive provider of that speed of service. No one else offers speeds that high. Virgin Media also offers a 10Mb service and a 20Mb service for those who don’t need the higher download limits. If you don’t regularly play online games or download entire movies, one of the lower limits might suit you just fine. The broadband plans with lower limits cost less per month, as well, and may suit your pocketbook better.
And since Virgin Media is a full-service media company, you can often save money by bundling your phone service with your internet service. Now that “media services”, including telephone, television and internet can be sold by more companies than just BT, you can often make deals by picking and choosing. Sometimes selecting services from two or three different companies will provide what you need; other times “bundling” with one company will not only get you what you want, but save you money as well.
For residential power users, though, the Virgin Media 50Mb cable service is an option you’ll probably want to explore.
March 12th, 2010 | Broadband, Business Broadband
Broadband has reached most areas in the country by now, and its ADSL technology – essentially an upgraded telephone line – means much faster speeds and download times than were the case with dial-up, plus a line to the internet that is always open, even when you’re on the phone. In deciding which of the broadband providers best suits your needs, a glance at the many broadband comparison websites and mobile broadband comparison websites should point you in the right direction. These provide all the information on deals and special offers from broadband providers such as O2 broadband, Tesco broadband, TalkTalk broadband and the vast range of others seeking to get you signed up.
The normal, private home internet user will usually go for the basic package if their usage of the internet is light to medium. They may also choose to wrap their telephone and TV in with the same package, in a bundle, as offered by Sky broadband and Virgin Media broadband.
For the business owner there are other factors to take into consideration, and for them a business broadband package is the better option, as offered by Plusnet broadband, BT Total broadband, TalkTalk broadband and many others. With a business broadband package, you get faster speeds and unlimited downloads. Another important available option is 24-hour support, with an engineer on call if the line goes down, and a guaranteed restart time limit. A comprehensive business broadband package will also mean that your connection grows with the business, and that security is a priority feature.
March 10th, 2010 | Broadband
When choosing a broadband connection you will find that many providers offer ADSL or cable broadband, but not both. There are a few simple differences between the two that can help you make a decision about what service to go for. You might have to make a call to the providers under consideration, but it will be worth it to ensure you’re receiving the fastest service you can for your money.
The basic difference is distance versus users. An ADSL connection is a dedicated circuit from the provider to you. The advantage to this type of connection is that, in most cases, the number of people logging on to the service does not have a significant impact on your service quality or speed. Your distance from the telephone company’s nearest “node” or DSL hub will be the biggest determinant of your service quality. There are several internet sites that can give you ideas of hub locations, but calling the providers in your area can give you a better idea of whose hub is located closest to you. Ideally, a hub within 1.5 kilometres is best; quality degrades slightly beyond that, and more precipitously the further from the hub you are. Beyond about 5-7 kilometres your service will be likely to be seriously impaired.
Cable broadband has generally higher transfer speeds, but it is impacted by the number of users. Cable is not a dedicated line to your house like ADSL; it’s shared by all users. This means that as more users log on, the more your speed degrades.
Of course, ultimately, your decision will be based upon what’s available in your area, but if you have a choice between the two, you’ll need to consider hub location as well as the number of people around you who could share the connection when you’re making your final decision.
March 9th, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband Comparison, Mobile Broadband
It seems there’s no end of broadband and mobile broadband providers to choose from these days. Fortunately, there are also lots of broadband and mobile broadband comparison websites. A quick Google search will yield a wealth of information to help you come to a decision, whatever your needs.
Sky broadband and Virgin Media broadband will cover your telephone and TV as well, in an integrated package that offers great broadband deals when you tie them all in. It also simplifies your domestic accounts. You could take out a mobile broadband deal instead of this, or even in addition, if you’re on the move a lot, and again it’s advisable to take a look at a broadband comparison website to get a feel for the broadband deals on offer.
For those who prefer not to go down the services bundling route, there are scores of other broadband providers to choose from, each offering competitive deals in a cut-throat marketplace. The customer can be a clear winner if he puts a little thought into his broadband requirements. The additional features that come with most broadband business packages will be surplus to domestic requirements, and by the same token a business will find itself handicapped by too basic a deal.
Broadband providers such as Broadband UK specialise in the business end of the market, with advanced technology that can be customised to a vast range of business requirements. TalkTalk broadband and BT Total broadband amongst many others are also providing competition in this area.
March 5th, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband Providers, Broadband Reviews
One of the “new kids on the block” in UK broadband offerings is Sky Broadband. While Sky has been around for a while offering telephone services to compete with BT, their broadband offerings are a relatively new service.
Sky offers three levels of broadband service: Base, Everyday, and Unlimited. The Base level is the entry-level for many people. If you need more than dial-up internet can offer but you’re not moving around large audio or video files, this might be the package for you. It offers broadband speeds of around 2 megabytes (Mb) of download, which would provide plenty of e-mail and text information, but limited music and video.
Their Everyday package has the same fast broadband speeds as the Base package, but allows more download capacity. This will allow you to download music, photos, and video clips, but not entire movies. This package is suitable for most people who have limited time to spend on the internet, but like staying in touch through all kinds of media.
Sky Broadband’s Unlimited package allows up to 20 Mb of download speed and unlimited usage. With this package you can download entire movies, along with songs, pictures, and video clips. If you have someone in your household who enjoys online gaming, this is definitely the package for you, as it will allow uninterrupted play.
Sky’s broadband offerings may be new, but they compare favourably with other offerings from BT Total Broadband, TalkTalk Broadband, and Tesco Broadband, among others. Determine your needs, see which companies service your area, and then begin to narrow down your choices. The switch to broadband isn’t any more difficult than that.
March 3rd, 2010 | Broadband, Business Broadband
When you are considering fitting out your workplace with an internet connection, you will find that you have many different packages of broadband to choose from the internet providers.
If you need broadband for your business it is very likely that there will be more than one computer using the broadband at a time. Furthermore, it is likely that the machines using the broadband connection will be downloading large amounts of information over longer periods of time. If this is the case, then you should consider one of the better broadband internet deals around that will allow you to download at a much faster pace, such as 20mb (not possible in all areas of the UK).
It is important that if you are considering installing business broadband to shop around and compare the various broadband internet deals from the different providers. If you cannot find what you need on their website, then give them a call and let the broadband provider know what your needs are and they may be able to help. The broadband provider might be able to tailor a broadband package specifically to your needs, and it is likely that you will be able to negotiate a good price if you are flexible as to the length of the contract.
Business broadband will inevitably be more expensive to run than having the typical broadband package in your home. Although business broadband will cost more to use, it will be a whole lot faster and will allow more computers to connect and download data at a much faster pace than if you had only a conventional home broadband package.
February 28th, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband Providers
You might live in a remote corner of the UK, far away from the noise and pollution of London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, or the other major cities. You love the quiet, your neighbours, the fresh air, everything is great, until you need to access the internet! You may then have a problem.
Demand for broadband provision in rural areas has risen faster than in urban areas, and has even affected property prices. Sales of some properties will not go through unless the house or commercial premises is in an area where broadband is available.
Residents in one area of Cumbria became so fed up with BT’s inability to provide a service that they did it themselves by creating their own broadband cooperative, the first of its kind in Britain. Once fitted with a broadband connection, some homes saw a rise in price of upwards of 20% when put on the market. Rural areas have become a popular place for working from home business people and entrepreneurs, but their livelihood is often dependant upon internet access, and most usually broadband access. Without that there is probably no pay cheque, and of course no ability to pay the mortgage.
If you’re considering a move to a more rural area be sure to ask around about what types of internet access are available, and at what speeds. BT’s “up to 8 Mb” speed is notoriously well below that in rural areas, sometimes so far below that a dial-up connection might be a cheaper option.
Talk to your potential neighbours or a knowledgeable estate agent to find out what types of reliable service are available in the location you’re considering, and what the advertised speeds are likely to be in reality.
February 27th, 2010 | Broadband, Mobile Broadband, Mobile Broadband Comparison
The possibilities of mobile internet access are growing each day, and over recent years consumers have been provided with a wealth of different mobile broadband options. With the advent of the Smartphone, mobile broadband has leapt forward in the possibilities it provides for the user.
Mobile broadband will provide you with the ability to check e-mails, read documents, download videos, and do just about anything else while you are on the move. Mobile broadband means that the user does not need to be fixed at a particular location while using the internet, just as with your mobile phone.
There are different methods by which a person may use mobile broadband. If you would prefer to use your mobile phone, this is possible as long as you have an up to date handset that supports mobile internet access. Many new mobile phones allow users to make use of mobile broadband, however on particular handsets users may find that the mobile broadband is limited to particular functions, such as reading e-mail or checking social networking websites. If you would like your mobile broadband to allow you to achieve more, it is probably best that you invest in a higher quality handset.
If you would like to use your laptop on the go, then mobile broadband can also accommodate this. You can purchase a ‘dongle’ from many of the major mobile broadband providers that you plug into a USB port on your laptop. This then effectively turns the machine into a sophisticated mobile phone allowing internet access. It is important to remember that if your mobile phone has poor reception in certain areas then the broadband connection will reflect this.
February 24th, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband Comparison, Broadband Providers
Both Be and O2 offer broadband internet coverage in the UK. Both rank at around 80% customer service satisfaction from current customers, and both offer coverage throughout the majority of the UK. So how do you decide between the two?
Both offer services at 8 Mb and 20 Mb; Be Broadband offers one package at the 8 Mb level while O2 offers 4 packages at that level. Both companies offer four packages at the 20 Mb level.
If you’re a light to moderate user, one of the 8 Mb packages might work for you. Be’s “Be Value” Home Light package includes 8 Mb transfer speed, free setup and only a £7.50 per month fee, including VAT. This is, however, on a 12-month contract, so you would need to be sure that this would suit your needs. Upgrades during the contract are permitted however, so it usually pays to start small and upgrade if and when needed.
O2’s selection is a bit broader, with four 8 Mb plans available, two for current O2 mobile telephone customers and two for non-customers. These plans are also priced for a 12-month contract, with the customer contracts priced slightly lower. For example, the Standard plan includes upload speeds up to 1.3 Mb, one McAfee security licence to help keep viruses away from your computer, up to ten O2 e-mail addresses and up to 100 free web texts per month. The Access plan for non-customers is priced £10 per month higher, with up to three anti-virus licences, but only 448 kbps as the maximum upload speed.
Compare the two services at a site like Broadband Finder, where you can check them side-by-side, and decide which one looks the best for you.
February 23rd, 2010 | Broadband, Broadband Providers
Several UK broadband providers are branching out and offering cable internet connections as an option for their customers. If you have a cable operator in the area where you live, you may already have cable television. Cable internet uses that same cable connection to bring the internet to your door. When you compare broadband options you may find that a cable internet broadband connection answers your needs.
Cable television is made up of audio and video data that streams from the cable operator through a line to your home. Once it reaches a cable TV box, or in some cases the television itself, the data “packets” are re-assembled into the picture and sound that you experience. Cable internet connections are no different. Data packets arrive from the internet, stream through cables to the provider, and then to you, where they’re re-assembled in your computer as spreadsheets, reports, pictures, music or movies.
The biggest advantage to cable internet is its speed. It is much faster than either ADSL or SDSL, the two most common types of UK Broadband. However, along with that higher speed can come higher cost, although broadband providers typically offer good deals to new customers and some of those deals can have reduced prices for as long as a year. For business broadband, cable is an obvious choice as it allows you to get business done much more quickly than other broadband solutions.
If you want to make the leap to cable, call several cable broadband UK providers and see what types of deals they can offer. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.