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Shirley Stevens asked:


As the iPhone 3G is linked exclusively to O2 Broadband, there are huge advantages to owning one - not least that you’ll put yourself in line for arguably the best broadband deals currently available.

Here’s three reasons why bagging an iPhone 3G could be the best broadband decision you ever make:

1. Being an O2 mobile customers means you can get REALLY cheap O2 broadband

Owning an iPhone, whether on contract or Pay As You Go, entitles you to a sizeable discount on an O2 Broadband package, in addition to exceptionally fast and unlimited broadband at home and unlimited internet usage.

O2 Broadband’s enviable high-speed broadband packages (and we’re talking up to 20Mb here!0, when taken with O2 mobile contracts, ensure that you pay at least £60 a year less than you would pay for O2 broadband on its own through another mobile phone provider.

2. O2 broadband has a REALLY good reputation

O2 Broadband is one of the fastest broadband providers in the UK, besides being one of the cheapest, and considering the generous discount on broadband that O2 gives its mobile customers, it is streets ahead of its competitors - really no contest.

O2 Broadband’s packages comprise Standard 8Mb, Premium 16Mb and Ultimate 20Mb options and cost O2 mobile customers as little as £7.50, £10, and £15 a month respectively.

These packages really do offer amazingly good value when compared with other current favourites.

3. O2 Broadband offers LOTS of extras

O2 Broadband’s packages are all unlimited and also have a more generous fair use policy than most other providers.

This cuts out the possibility of having your connection throttled at the busiest times, and allows you to download music and movies for your iPhone pretty much at will.

Customer service is free and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For a limited time the connection charge is also free.

Believe it or not, there is a free wireless router thrown in with the O2 broadband package and by using the phone’s WiFi capabilities you are able to surf the internet on your iPhone, whenever you stumble across a wi-fi zone.

Generously, O2 Broadband comes with a 30 day money back guarantee, should you decide it is not for you. This lets you try it out for a reasonable time without any financial risk at all.

Considering the quality of the connection, we’re unsure anyway has ever had to cash in on this!

Conclusion

The O2 Broadband/iPhone 3G combination package, with its bargain prices, shouldn’t be missed by anyone who may be at the end of their current contract and is looking for a great broadband deal.

It would also suit anyone who wants to make full use of the unlimited internet usage to surf at home or on the move - as well as having a gorgeous gadget in your pocket!

Caroline Telford asked:


No matter which type of service it is that you are planning to subscribe to, the first thing that you need to remember is that you should shop around for the best deals, the best rates and the best possible service that you can get.

The same principle applies if you are looking for a broadband services provider. If you are a professional who needs to remain connected to the Internet even while you are at home - then broadband instead of dial-up should be the connection type that you will choose.

To give you an idea of how you can get the best broadband deal available in your area, here are the things that you need to take into consideration when looking for a provider:

- What is the monthly cost of the service?

- What is the speed of the connection?

- Is there a monthly download usage limitation?

- Are there discounts or bundled-up services offered?

How the “Free” Broadband Services in the UK Started

The concept of offering customers free broadband services started in 2006.  The company which is responsible for introducing the free broadband concept is TalkTalk. 

TalkTalk is the consumer telephone business of the Carphone Warehouse Group - one of the leading communications retailers in the European region. When the free broadband deal was offered back then, the condition is that subscribers need to sign up to TalkTalk as their service provider.

For example, if you wish to sign up for the service, you need to select from one of the 18-month call plans offered by the company. In exchange for this, the broadband service that you will get is free.

TalkTalk’s Free Broadband Service Today

The broadband service offered by TalkTalk today did not veer away from their original free broadband offer in 2006. Here’s what the free broadband offer looks like:

- Up to 8Mb download speeds

- A maximum of 40 GB usage per month

- Unlimited evening and weekend phone calls to UK landlines

- Unlimited calls to other TalkTalk customers

- Free wireless router for a 30-day trial

This is just one of the many free broadband packages offered by TalkTalk. Go to their official website to check out the other packages that they have.

How about Sky Broadband’s Free Service?

Following the success of TalkTalk, there were other companies in the UK which started offering free broadband services to their customers. Sky Surf Broadband is one of them.

If you are already a Sky subscriber, you can get the Sky Broadband service for free - which comes with up to 2MB download speed, and a monthly usage allowance of 2GB.

A Final Word about Free Broadband Services

No matter which company you end up getting the free broadband services from, the important thing is to make a comparison of the offers first. This way, you can get the best broadband deal which is available in the market today - that will give you the fastest speed and the best value for your money.

Daymon Hoag asked:


I do a lot of snooping around on question and answer sites like Yahoo Answers to find out what kind of questions people are asking about broadband phone service. Even with all of the advertising, and TV commercials, people seem to have heard of VoIP, but are still unsure of what exactly it is, and how or if it can benefit them. Most people understand VoIP’s potential for saving money on phone calls, but are unaware of the many different ways to use it.

What is VoIP?

The term VoIP is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol. Some pronounce it like a word, voyp, while others, including myself, pronounce it just like it’s spelled, Vee-oh-I-pee. VoIP is a protocol that converts voice signals into a digital format that can be transferred over the Internet. Keep in mind that VoIP is not a service. It is a means of converting voice signals to a usable format for relaying voice messages over the Internet. For all intents and purposes it is a technical term. I felt a need to clarify that since most people do believe it is a service. For any form of VoIP to work you need a broadband Internet connection like DSL or cable.

Using VoIP with a Client

To use VoIP with a computer you can use a free downloadable client, and either a headset with built in microphone, or computer speakers and microphone. Most people have heard of Skype, a very popular VoIP client that makes it possible to make free calls from your computer to other computers or Skype users. MSN or Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger do the same thing! When you’re using Yahoo and MSN to voice chat you are using VoIP. You can also use these services to make calls to cell phones, or landline phones, but normally for a fee. In general only computer calls are free.

While making calls using a VoIP client is either cheap or free, it does have its limitations, with the biggest one being not everyone has Skype, MSN, or Yahoo messenger. Your contacts have to be online for you to call them, or for them to call you. It is possible to get a phone number for your client so people can call you from their home telephone, or cell phone, but it is not free, and you will need to be at your computer to accept the call. Even if you have voicemail, or offline messages it is still going to cost something.

Using VoIP with Broadband Phone Service

You can use VoIP to make and receive phone calls all over the world the same way you would with a landline telephone. To do this you’ll need a broadband Internet connection like cable or DSL, a broadband phone service provider like Vonage or Packet8, and a broadband phone router that you can plug a normal telephone into, or a special broadband telephone.

When you use a router you can only plug one telephone into it. This creates a problem for people who need other phones connected to the line throughout the house. The solution to this is an expandable base broadband telephone. Expandable base broadband phones have the VoIP router built into the main phone, or base, and can connect to multiple wireless handsets throughout the home, eliminating the need for multiple outlets.

Replacing Your Landline with Broadband Phone

Often times you can keep your existing phone number when you switch to broadband phone. Many people use broadband telephone to replace their landline, but there are limitations here as well. If you lose power, or your Internet connection, you lose your phone service. 911 is also different from landline phone service since 911 over most broadband phone services call to the nearest emergency center, which may not even be in your area code. You also need to provide the information for your location via software or online account settings from your provider for 911 service to work. If you take your phone to another location, or move and forget to update your address, emergency services could possibly go to the wrong place when you call 911.

Benefits of Broadband Phone Service

Broadband phone service is much cheaper than traditional landline especially with unlimited calling plans. Unlike using a VoIP client, you get a real phone number, and use a real telephone for making and receiving your calls. Most broadband phone providers offer all of the calling features like call waiting, voicemail, or caller ID for free. Most landline companies charge a fee for these extra features, or you only get a few as part of your plan. Your phone can work from anywhere you have a broadband Internet connection. Yes, if you wanted to, you could take it with you.

There are a few enhanced features that are not available with other types of phone service, like virtual phone numbers. With virtual phone numbers you can get a phone number outside of your area code. One of the most common uses for this is getting a virtual number in an area code where a friend or family member lives. This way if they call you it is like a local phone call to them, and you’re not charged anything over your monthly fee for the virtual number, or your normal calling plan fees. I.e. If you have an unlimited calling plan you don’t get charged for the call if it’s within your calling region.

Call Quality

You can be online, and make a call at the same time; However, the quality of your phone calls over VoIP whether using a client, or broadband telephone can depend on a number of factors. Since you’re using your Internet connection for your calls, the speed of that connection can effect your call quality. Generally the higher your speed, the better call quality you’ll experience. If you’re using your Internet connection for other things while your on your call like uploads, or downloads, this can decrease your call quality. If you’re using a VoIP client, applications that take up a lot of system resources such as online games, or other media can also decrease your call quality. Factors such as wireless connections, or other people using the same Internet connection can also play a role.

Quality is more often effected when using a client vs a phone since with a client you’re actually using your computer and its resources. Generally broadband phone service phone calls are just as good if not better than traditional landline calls, but if you do experience an issue with quality, it may be one of the aforementioned scenarios, and is often easily corrected.

Availability

VoIP clients are available anywhere you have a computer, and broadband Internet connection. Broadband telephone service is available anywhere you have a broadband connection, but that doesn’t mean a phone number for your area is available from all providers. You can get a phone number for any area code covered by your provider regardless of where you live, so if you ever check availability, and your area code or town is not listed, try a surrounding local town that would normally be a local call, or just try a different provider to see if they have your area code.

James Dyson asked:


You are sure now that broadband is for you but not on what term or basis you want to have it. Better understanding of the packages and their norms offered by the providers and by calculating them along with you needs and other aspects, you can find out a better option.

Are you flexible with your broadband deal?

In the competitive market, you will be hearing of new services launched every month, in which you may find one to be a better deal for yourself. So switching to that provider may sure save your money and for it, your existing broadband connection should allow it without charging in volume for disconnecting the service.

Who should not have a broadband contract?

If you want a broadband for your short-term requirement or if you are planning to move your house soon then you can just ignore the contract broadband option at very first.

Moreover, there is lot to benefit from a package having no contract because you can cancel your broadband connection whenever you want and most providers charge only up to the last month of using the service.

Suppose you sign for a long-term contract package and in mid of the contract time, you are forced to leave the service because of any of your reason then you might need to pay the monthly charges for the whole contract time. For example if the service is of 12 months contract then you have to pay charges for 12 months even if you do not make use it.

Broadband on monthly contract

In the UK, most of the ISPs ask to sign for a 12 months contract and demand to pay additional charges in case of discontinuing in between. So if you really want ease in having the service then you have to look for other available packages and recognize them before.

Broadband on monthly contract is one that you can sign up. This gives you the flexibility of canceling your service any time with prior one-month notice to the provider. Many ISPs in the UK offer this type of broadband.

Still you need to be well clear with the charges like monthly subscription charges in which providers charge more if you have not signed it for long term. This is mainly done to cover their overall costs. A low priced 12 months contract and 10 months contract under monthly contract basis may cost same. So if you are in need to have a broadband connection for 11 months only, you can sign up for a year time contract instead.

Pay as you go broadband

For home users, pay-as-you-go broadband option should be the preferable choice. As home users doesn’t use much for downloads and uploads, the option serves their exact needs as the users pay only for the actual usage which is calculated in terms of uploads and downloads.

Therefore, users who are very much cautious about their spending can have the pay-as-you-go broadband. Some providers even make available the cost capping facility to the users that the users can have a control on their monthly charges.

How well you require being clear with yourself, to have a broadband or not, to that extend you need to be well clear on what fee basis your broadband should be. For the most part, it depends upon the circumstance you are going to be with and planning accordingly will help you in choosing the broadband package for you.

Milind Deshmukh asked:


Owning a car is one of the most common needs of people today

BSNL is on the way of commissioning of a multi-gigabit, multi-protocol, a world class, convergent IP infrastructure with the help of national internet backbone, which will offer convergent services through the broadband access network. This BSNL broadband service can be available on DSK technology.

BSNL broadband is one of the best broadband services of BSNL. This service is being offered on existing copper wire infrastructure. This service is known as the best technology, which provides you high speed internet service and in addition to it also provides you some other services like video conferencing, broadcast application, multicasting, VPN and video on demand, interactive gaming, audio conferencing, IP Telephony. The subscribe can access the services which are mentioned above through subscriber service selection system portal.

BSNL broadband is start up plan is available for home and business users. This plan include particulars and their price like download upload limit every month is 1.0n GB, additional usage charges are 0.90, free E-mail IDs limited to 1/5 MB.

VPNoBB is offered as a separate service in two versions like low cost basic version and high cost premium version. There are some key objectives of this BSNL broadband like it offers you fast speed internet connectivity, virtual private network service for broadband customers. Other key objectives include providing dial VPN service for MPLS VPN customers, providing multi-cast video services through broadband remote access server, providing both kinds of broadband services like pre-paid broadband service and post paid broadband service.

The layer one of this network contains a fast speed backbone having twenty-four powerful core routers connecting with fast speed 2.5 Gbps links. The routers are established on national DWDM network interfacing at STM-16 optical level for providing fast transmission speeds

MPLS VPN is an excellent technology which has advantage over some other technologie4s like it permits a service provides such as BSNL for having total control over parameters which are very critical to offer its customers service guarantees related to latencies and bandwidth throughputs. The BSNL broadband service includes fast speed internet along with phone service on the same telephone line.

The detailed description of the services of BSNL broadband is given below





Content based services: It provides you some content-based services, which include lice and time shifted TV and interactive gaming.



Dial VPN service: This kind of service permits users fir accessing their private network in safe way over the NIB-second infrastructure.



Multicasting: This offers video multicast services for application in distance telemedicine and distance education.



What kind of requirements is necessary for customers to use broadband?





BSNL’s basic phone connection



Your own computer with 100 Ethernet port



ADSL customer premise equipment



How can you apply for the connection of BSNL broadband?

If you want to apply for a broadband connection then first you have to download the form and then submit that form in the BSNL custom service center. There is facility of online applying also.

When the BSNL broadband service has launched?

The broadband service has launched in Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad from 14th January 2005.

Andrew Peterson asked:


Broadband has the potential to permit you to browse the Internet at a very fast pace. As a matter of fact, it basically allows the business or individual users to instantly access the Internet which can be used for 24 hours a day.

It usually provides more speed which is usually ten times faster than other. Its high speed power facilitates the user to transfer large files of text or graphics at great speeds and provides instant access to web pages to facilitate the users.

It is also considered as one of the cheapest sources for accessing the Internet. The broadband schemes, offer different facilities and features. Thus, it would be much more beneficial to find out the most befitting broadband plan. There are certain people, who may plan to use the broadband for browsing the web only or online banking , someone else may wish to view a live music program or download a movie, video etc. Thus it is considered very sensible to find out the best broadband package, which would effectively suit all your requirements. Precisely, there are a large number broadband offers in the market. It is recommended that people should go through various online sites, which are providing detailed information about these broadband plans. Thus, one can easily find out the best broadband deal and can avail it from online portals as well.

The broadband has so much potential for home entertainment and communication. It is worth finding out the best broadband plan, to ensure complete satisfaction in the long run. Before choosing any package, you should compare the broadband packages, so as to know the exact features and conditions of these packages. There are certain things, which you must keep in mind while making the final purchase of broadband scheme, such as what extra benefits would be offered to you. The contractual terms and conditions are also to be scanned properly because most of the ISP Broadband providers would compel you to enter into a contract of 12 or 18 months. There are some broadband packages which impose restrictions on the amount, one can download limited data or there may be time-bound restrictions. Thus, if someone is planning to download lots of data and information, then he should search for the cost-effective broadband offers, which are not subject to any kind of restrictions.

At last, it can be opined that one should refer to various online shops, which are giving thorough information to compare broadband packages. It will help you to find out the best package for you. You can save ample amount of money by this method.

Andrew Peterson asked:


In these days, a personal computer can be found in almost every home. Internet, has also become the need of the hour and many users weigh their options on how to access the Internet. Earlier, the dial-up connections were used access the Internet. But they soon faded out, because of various problems which come associated with them such as slow speed, dodgy connection, limited feature and cost ineffectiveness. In such a situation, Broadband is offering new ray of hope and that too in a very cost-effective manner. Most houses are now connected via broadband. Broadband offers high speed Internet and good connectivity options to the user at very affordable price tags. Moreover, there are various UK broadband deals which offer great services. A large number of broadband service providers exist in UK, which offer a great array to chose from.

Any user, who is willing to enjoy high speed Internet connectivity via broadband connection, then he needs to analyse the services and various associated factors, before choosing any broadband provider. There are various broadband service providers in UK, which are offering different schemes at different prices. Broadband services can be availed for both a computer or for mobile phone. Both the mediums have different uses with different schemes available. To compare Broadband providers, one must first know the use of broadband and how it can help him to access Internet at a high speed. As numerous companies have different plans for different users, deals where the download limit is emphasized can be determined for occasional or extensive Internet users. Then there are deals, where speed grabs much more importance. The services and network availability of different companies in different areas should also be looked upon.

In the broadband market, there are almost 20 companies fighting tooth and nail in UK to provide their lucrative services. Companies like O2, 3mobile, Vodafone, Pipex, BT and AOL etc., are available in the market which are offering broadband services at very cost-effective rates. However, you must also compare the rates to get the most cost effective services.

The UK  broadband deals are available in mainly two mechanisms. First, is on contract basis, where the user can get the broadband connection for a certain fixed period of time. The other is pay as you go broadband deals, where the users need to pay only for the Internet usage. They are not obliged to use the services for any fixed time in these type of deal.