IT (Intimidating Technology)

MTV is preparing to launch the online equivalent of its Music Television channel, called MTV Overdrive. The service will offer free music videos and film trailers, both streaming and video-on-demand (VoD), via a broadband connection.The six channels will be split between  programming, news, music, television, and movies, and will be supported by advertising. One of the advertisers is Microsoft so it's no coincidence that the content will be delivered using Windows Media with digital rights management. A version optimised for Microsoft Media Center Edition personal computers will follow at a later date.“Like our audience, we are always evolving, finding new ways to create compelling content for breakthrough technologies, and Overdrive is a powerful new platform that allows users to have more control over the way they experience MTV,” Van Toffler, president of MTV NetworksThe service and website are currently in testing, but a full launch date has already been set for 25th April 2005.

A report by the Trade and Industry Select Committee (TISC) into the Telecoms Review, by the industry regulator Ofcom, concluded that they are "unconvinced" that the break-up of BT would benefit consumers.The TISC agreed with Ofcom that there is no need to split BT's retail and wholesale divisions, as Ofcom itself had warned, but said that BT might decide to divide itself sometime in the future."We reiterate our opinion that the case for forcing BT to structurally separate has not been made, and that Ofcom's pursuit of genuine equality of access is the best way forward. It may be that equality of access prompts BT to voluntarily separate; however, that is a matter for BT's management and shareholders." Martin O'Neill MP, Chairman of the CommitteeHowever, TISC raised some alarm at the recent proposals by BT to vary prices that are currently applied nationally, so that it can compete in areas where LLU takes off. The cuts of around 8% will only be applied in areas where there is "a combination of high customer demand, high take up and lower costs".While this may seem good news, this means that BT can change it's pricing on it's on products without any intervention from Ofcom, with the effect of changing the economic viability of LLU. Operators planning to install LLU equipment in BT exchanges would have no guarantee of BT's prices, with the threat of BT dropping wholesale prices to undercut them. "BT's decision to 'de-average' wholesale prices - vary them from area to area - has created uncertainty which may jeopardise future LLU plans."""...in the absence of substantial investment in end-to-end networks or alternative access networks, Ofcom's pursuit of Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is the best way of introducing a more varied broadband market." TISC

BT Openzone, BT's Wi-Fi arm, and Broadreach Networks , have reached an agreement to allow customers to roam on across each others Wi-Fi hotspots in the UK.Under the agreement, Broadreach customers will be able to use any of  Openzone’s 1,500 hotspots in the UK and Openzone’s customers can roam across Broadreach’s network. The 350 ReadytoSurf  fixed and Wi-Fi wireless internet locations include many major train stations.The deal will add to Openzone's roaming network, taking the total to over 7,800 hotspots in the UK, although Broadreach customers can only use Openzone's network and not any of it's partners.“This agreement with Broadreach is another step towards Wi-Fi access in the UK being similar to the cashpoint system whereby everyone can access Wi-Fi through everyone else’s networks at no extra cost. In order for Wi-Fi to work effectively, companies must work together and offer reciprocal roaming to customers.""This partnership will broaden the appeal of Wi-Fi for our customers so they will be able to access their networks when travelling on trains. It also takes BT one step closer to achieving its Mobility and Convergence vision - providing its customers with access to all their applications and information on their choice of device, utilising the best network available with one customer experience.” Chris Clark, chief executive, BT Wireless Broadband

UKOnline will drop the price on their flagship 8Mbps broadband service from today, to

uSwitch.com the website which compares broadband suppliers, has cynically dismissed BT's recentannouncement of it's 5 millionth broadband connection, claiming it to be a smokescreen for it's falling market share. "BT’s actual broadband market share has decreased by 10 per cent in the last five months. 65 per cent of BT Wholesale’s five million customers are actually with other providers such as the likes of Tiscali, Wanadoo and AOL, who all offer more competitive packages.” Jon Miller, director of uSwitch.com, Research from uSwitch has found that over a third (35%) of internet users surveyed, cited cost as the main reason for not having broadband access at home. This figure shows an unawareness to the general public of broadband costs, as many broadband connections actually cost less than some dialup packages.The research, conducted for uSwitch December 2004 found that: More than half (52%) switched from dial up to broadband because they want to use the phone line at the same time as the net Two fifths (42%) watch music videos and movie trailers One in four (25%) download mp3 files Eight out of ten (81%) use the phone at the same time as being online One third (34%) listen to radio stations around the worldThis differs for a Homecall survey earlier in 2004 which showed that the main reason for UK broadband was porn, with 35% saying that was the main reason or their getting broadband.  12% cited access to music videos, 8% access to movie trailers, and 9% for radio, and only 5% cited social factors."lies, damn lies, and statistics." as Benjamin Disraeli used to say.

Who is the largest broadband provide in the UK? It depends on who you ask!NTL have laid claim to the prize as it announced the results of a survey, which it commissioned, claiming over 200,000 more punters than it's nearest rival BT Retail. They quickly dismissed the claim stating it actually had 150,000 more than NTL. NTL 1,335,000 (inc 61,000 with Virgin.net) BT Retail 1,100,00 AOL UK 725,000) Telewest 698,000 Wanadoo 569,000 Tiscali 380,000 NTL survey

Zen announce earlier today that it will make it easier to move an existing ADSL connection after relocation.Existing customers will have their

Hi-Velocity have released details of it's new product range which includes for the first time a capped service.While most ISP's have opted for a very low data usage cap with additional data transfer being needed most months, HV have gone for a whopping 50GB before capping comes into effect. Only download data is measured and users can check their usage on the data meter which goes live next week.Current uncapped connections will continue to remain unchanged, with another new range of 'light' connections being announced shortly."Hi-Velocity are pleased to announce the introduction of the capped products as part of our goal to maintain our position as excellent value for money provider in the Industry" Anthony Bennett, Sales Director at Hi-VelocityThe new products will be available to be ordered from April 26th, with first delivery commencing on May 4th. Product Cap (GB) Price (ex VAT) Price (inc VAT) Home 1000 50

A number of Madasafish customers have now been selected to assist in testing the ISPs 8Mb broadband service, expected to launch later this year. Obviously its early days, but there's no word on numbers, or location (by exchange) of the trialsts.Are you a trialist ? Let us know how things are going, by contacting us.

The bods at Google don't like any competition in the e-mail storage arena.Just over a week ago BTYahoo!announced that it was increasing it's mailboxes to 1GB of storage, the same a google's gmail service.Google email subscribers will now get 2GB of storage space, but have the promise that they will continue to add more capacity over time. But the service is currently in testing mode rather than being fully deployed.

PlusNet have finally launched Broadband Plus offering users a fixed monthly bill for their broadband access, but with some application limitation during certain hours.Such limitations (throttling) of some applications use is not a new concept, although traditionally reserved with products with very low price points. Starting from

BT has reached it's target of 5 million ADSL customers, well ahead of it's 2006 target date.The target, when it was set nearly three year ago, seemed to be very optimistic, but with nearly 99.5% of households being able to get broadband and the ever falling cost due to competition between ISP's it has been reached early."Three years ago when we set a target of five million by 2006 it seemed a daunting task. To have reached this milestone so early into 2005 is a massive achievement for the whole industry. The momentum of broadband is continuing to build.""The latest million connections have come in just four months, and BT is connecting a customer every ten seconds. But now the focus needs to move from broadband availability towards the ways in which broadband can improve people’s lives. At work through greater productivity, and at home by delivering a whole range of new services." Ben Verwaayen, BT CEO The BT boss also outlined the benefits and his vision for the future. The UK economy could be boosted by up to 7.5 billion pounds through productivity gains attributed to broadband Up to 16 billion fewer miles could be driven as broadband enables more people to work from home and shop online Every school child in Britain will be able to learn via broadband More than 18 million people in the UK will be shopping online Millions of hospital outpatient appointments will be booked over broadbandWith an election looming there was no delay in quick praise from the Prime Minister.“It is great news for the whole communications industry that BT has been able to make this announcement a year ahead of target. It is also of vital importance for everyone in the UK - businesses and consumers. Broadband has the ability to transform the way we live our lives - whether in business, education or in how we use our leisure time. Most significantly of all, the adoption of broadband technology will enhance the UK's ability to compete in the modern knowledge economy.” Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair MP

MetroNet have revealed that the will be joining the BT Wholesale regrade trial with is due to start on 7th April 2005. They join Freedom2surf who announced their participation in the scheme earlier today. The purpose of the trial is to allow ADSL users to migrate and regrade in a single order, rather than the current practice of migrating to an identical service and then regrading five days later. An additional benefit is the migration of DataStream products, which wasn't possible before.MetroNet have also announced financial benefits with a one-off price of

Easynet are planning to offer broadband with speeds of up to 24Mbps to parts of the UK this year.The new service will be based on ADSL2 and ADSL2+ technology which is already installed in it's LLU enabled exchanges which currently number 240 exchanges across the country. Trials will commence immediately, although no firm dates have been set for the commercial rollout of the service.An added advantage of ADSL2 is that as well as faster speeds, it should work for some locations which are currently too far from their local exchange to use ADSL services."Whilst we await the process of ADSL2+ approval for commercial use, we are undertaking a technical trial of ADSL2 and ADSL2+ capability that is already embedded in our LLU network," "Our intention is to make sure that our customers and partners are at the forefront of the technology curve and we anticipate full commercial launch of ultrafast broadband services in the second half of 2005." Justin Fielder, Easynet's business development director

Fancy WiFi for free? PlusNet are offering just that for new customers who sign-up during April to it's recently trialled wireless broadband scheme.They have teamed up with BT Openzone to provide hotspot access in over 1500 UK locations and new customers can use the service until 1st May 2005 without paying a penny.If customers don't wish to continue and pay a monthly subscription from May, the service can be simply cancelled.Full details are on the PlusNet Wireless Broadband site.