Saturday, January 31

Ranching with Wildblue

All across the country are working ranches where you will find cattle being herded, horses broken, fences mended, and a lot of hard labor going on. Many of these working ranches are in desolate locations with expansive land. This western lifestyle is not only something that some people enjoy, but also something necessary for the rest of us. Thanks to the cattle ranchers, we have T-bones steaks to enjoy, horses to ride, and more. However, many ranches are so isolated that making connection to the rest of the world is difficult.

Obviously, a rancher needs to be able to contact labor, family, friends, veterinarians, suppliers, emergency services, and more. However, because of the isolated area, this is often not a possibility, an expensive possibility, or a slow possibility. Well, ranchers living in isolated places can continue running a successful business while enjoying immediate connection to anyone they need to get in touch with. The solution is Wildblue, a new high-tech service that can create a connection from the most remote location to anywhere around the globe.

This state-of-the-art Ka-band communications system has helped people all over the country with this same problem. Using a Telesat?s Anik F2 satellite with 31 spot beams, ranchers in the middle of the country can email family and friends or research information. With this, ranchers have the option of searching for better prices on supplies, locating horse auctions, or purchasing cattle medication online and in a matter of minutes. This particular satellite was actually built by Boeing and launched by Arianespace.

Ranching is a lifestyle that requires hard work but sheer enjoyment. Because of being in such a remote location, having a connection to the outside world is imperative. Unfortunately, ranching means an occasional accident. Having the ability to gain information or contact someone immediately, is exactly what Wildblue offers. In this case, should the normal veterinarian not be available, having immediate internet connection provides avenues to other help.

Using the Wildblue satellite, you can access the internet at high speeds, opening up a world of information. If you have a horse or some cattle to sell, you can post photographs with written information so people can see for themselves what you have to sell. As you can imagine, your business will continue being successful and grow to staggering heights. However, remember that Wildblue also opens up a world of entertainment. With this, after a hard day of ranching, you could sit down and enjoy streaming radio, download music, watch a movie, all with lightning fast speed.

Jacob Minett has been in the satellite communications industry for over 10 years and is currently standing strong behind the Wildblue brand. Jacob has been following Wildblue's every move very closely for over 4 years and can say with confidence that Wildblue is the best satellite broadband solution for the money and that Wildblue is here to stay.

If Wildblue wasn't the best, I would not be here. -Jacob Minett - http://www.mywildblue.com

Friday, January 30

CNN Partner Hotel Specials

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SINGAPORE
Singapore is the smallest nation in SouthEast Asia and yet, it is one of the most prosperous and rich countries. This melting pot of Chinese, Malay, Indian and other ethnicities is a haven for shopping, recreation and scrumptious food fests. Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam have their own unique and enticing appeal. The compact size makes for easy transportation from one area to the other via their rail service or the MRT, buses or by walking!

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Grand Hyatt Singapore
Relax at the new Damai spa at Grand Hyatt Singapore with their Special Package. Rates from SGD410.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Trea yourself to these luxurious offers at the following Shangri-La hotels: Rasa Sentosa Resort, Singapore, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore and Traders Hotel, Singapore. Rates from SGD215.


The St. Regis Singapore
The St. Regis Singapore offers Stay 5 nights and receive 25% off.

 

WORLDHOTELS
Enjoy sunny Singapore by staying at these 3 luxurious member hotels with their Miles Promotion Rates. Rates from SGD195. Participating hotels are: The Carlton Hotel Singapore, Goodwood Park Hotel Singapore and York Hotel Singapore.

 
 

 

  1. Oberoi Hotels and Resorts – offer Exotic Vacations and Wellness in the Himalayas
  2. Trident Hotels – have the best family vacation with Trident Holidays
  3. Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi - Enjoy Premium Service at Value Rates
  4. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces – 10% discount on their Packages

 

 

 
If your hotel does not offer CNN to its guests yet, sign up now and we will feature your hotel in the next issue of CNN Partner Hotel Specials.
 
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Thursday, January 29

What is Exactly is Broadband?

These days, broadband is a word that is thrown around easily in telecommunications and internet lingo, but the average consumer may not have a clear understanding of how broadband is defined. It's easy to understand why; the technology industry defines it in different ways as well.

So how is broadband defined? The online Webster's dictionary defines broadband as A class of communication channel capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies, typically from audio up to video frequencies. A broadband channel can carry multiple signals by dividing the total capacity into multiple, independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates only on a specific range of frequencies. Let's take a look at each part of the definition.

The first part of understanding broadband defined in straightforward terms is to think about the phrase a class of communication channel.

So, we can gather that it is different from the normal class of communication channel that we use - our regular phone lines. Phone lines, also called baseband lines, normally carry 29.6kbps of analog data when used for voice communications. But with the advent of the internet, people began to demand faster data transmission. A regular, baseband phone line can carry up to 56kbps of data with the help of a high-speed modem, but without additional technology, that is its maximum capacity.

That wasn't nearly fast enough to keep up with the average person's demand for and dependency on the internet. Which brings us to the next portion of broadband defined; a broadband connection is capable of carrying a wider range and type of frequencies, meaning different types of data. Not only that, it can carry it faster.

If you imagine your connection to the internet as a tunnel that links your computer to the internet, a regular phone line can allow only a small amount of data to pass through at a time. In comparison, a broadband is a wider (or broader) tunnel, allowing a greater amount of information to pass through your connection at one time. With broadband service, you can download different types of frequencies as well, such as audio and video files.

The FCC's (Federal Communications Commission) has broadband defined in their publications as any internet connection with a download speed that is greater than 200 kbps. However, some companies don't consider a connection to be broadband unless it runs at a minimum of 256kbps.

Also, many companies only consider a connection to officially be broadband if it is always connected. In other words, if you don't have to dial-up to make the connection.

Usually, the connection is made with either DSL technology, which runs over your existing analog telephone wire, or by a cable connection, which runs over the same coaxial cable that your cable television service does. So broadband defined, while somewhat debated by industry professionals, does include some agreed-upon points.

It allows you to use the internet to its potential by permitting you to download a wider range of data types. And because the download speed with a broadband connection is faster than a regular, baseband connection, it is also called high-speed internet service. So you'll also be able to use the internet faster and more efficiently.

Van Theodorou will help you slash your telecom expenses by 43% and assist or even become your telecom department at no cost to you. For a free analysis or phone consultation go his site at business long distance

Tuesday, January 27

What If There Was No Internet?

What if the Internet never came to be? What if there was no Internet? Do you remember life without the Internet, without search engines and without email? It was not all that long ago. Some say the change came too fast and it has affected our nation and society of our civilization in negative ways. Of course such comments are perspective based, they do come with good arguments and in fact some people have disappeared from society and no longer enjoy the companionship of others and do not socialize as much as before.

Some say this is a choice and others tell of how they have opened their horizons and met people online, which they may have never met had they not had this great tool called the Internet. Many compare the Internet as the greatest single advancement in communication in the history of mankind. That is indeed, difficult to refute. But what if it did not exist? Would people travel more or less? Many say they travel less now with online video conferencing but also say they have developed long-term relationships with people the have never met and hope to meet them one day. Some of these people live on the other side of the planet and there is a good chance they will never meet. Yet they both enjoy a camaraderie that could not have ever existed without the Internet and World Wide Web. Have you thought recently about how the Internet has changed your life? Think on it.

Lance Winslow

Sunday, January 25

VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol

Voice over internet protocol or VoIP is beginning to come into it?s own. The promise of cost savings over traditional phone lines is driving this technology into the mainstream. Leveraging your existing broadband connection to save on your monthly phone expense at first glance makes sense. Let?s take a closer look.

First off, can your existing broadband throughput handle the additional strain of digital voice transfer? You can use your favorite search engine (google, msn, yahoo, etc.) and search for ?VoIP broadband test? to get a general idea of the speed of your connection. This is only the first consideration.

How is your existing broadband access coming into your home? If you?re using DSL then using VoIP for your ?primary? phone line may not be an option. DSL availability without existing phone service is not generally available. You should check with your local phone company before canceling service. You just might end up with no phone service, VoIP or traditional. Check first.

If you?re using cable internet access and your connection speed test looks good, find a VoIP provider that allows for a trial period. You may find a good provider that offers up to 30 days for you to cancel if you are not satisfied with voice quality or service.

A VoIP converter and a router will be required to setup your VoIP service. Your modem would plug into your router. Next your converter plugs into your router and your phone base plugs into your converter. Most normal phones should work fine. There isn?t any ?special? phone required to use this type of service. The entire process is pretty painless, but if you should run into any issue, your provider should be ready to help.

If you?re looking to leverage your existing broadband internet access to save money on your monthly phone expense, VoIP can be a great option. Just remember to check your connection, check with your local phone provider (for DSL users) and find a provider that offers a money back trial period. This can be a great way to save money, but don?t be pressured before you know the facts. Even if it doesn?t work out for you now, keep your eye on this technology.

The FCC is already involved in the apparent conflict between VoIP service providers and DSL access. E911 service (Enhanced 911 service) is already being mandated and additional steps will be made to bring this technology further into the mainstream. Make no mistake about this technology. It has arrived and is here to stay.

Michael Weaver - http://www.fullservice-broadband-provider.com

The full service broadband provider is a service offered by Try Right Technology, Inc. This service provides unbiased informative information on broadband technology as well as local/long distance and cellular service. Copyright 2005 ? Michael Weaver. This article can be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Broadband Versus Dial Up Internet Access

Broadband Internet service has become a must have for those already enjoying the high speed Internet provided by cable broadband, DSL, or T1 services. Still, many dial up Internet users are reluctant to make the switch to broadband due to the increased cost in Internet access, and fail to recognize broadband's money saving potential.

Broadband Internet is so much more than lightning fast web browsing. Along with broadband Internet emerges opportunity to take advantage of new money saving technologies not available to dial up Internet users. Broadband phone and the up and coming IP TV are just a couple examples of the newest technologies dial up users are missing out on.

Broadband Internet users also save money by downloading their own music, games, and even movies instead of renting or purchasing them for a much higher price from a retail outlet. Of course dial up users can do this as well, but not in a very timely fashion since it could take up to a couple of hours just to download a simple song.

Broadband Internet rates have reduced dramatically within the course of the last five years. High speed Internet can now be purchased for as little as fourteen dollars a month in some places, and usually has a top end comfort level of around fifty dollars or less per month. This means broadband can sometimes be even cheaper than dial up ISP.

Broadband Internet is probably one of the few services that end with the customer never having buyers remorse. Broadband is just one of those things that people find many useful and even practical applications for. An entire book could be, and probably has been written about the usefulness of broadband Internet access.

If you have been considering making the switch to broadband, you'll find many vendors these days offer incentives such as reduced cost for service, free equipment, and rebates to ease the burden of any start up cost for high speed broadband Internet service. In the end, broadband is just as affordable yet better and faster than dial up Internet.

Daymon Hoag is the Editor for Cheapest Service and provisioner of Cheapest-Service.com High Speed Internet

Friday, January 23

Broadband over Power Lines

Hi-Speed Internet Access Through Your Power Plug!

It's called BPL and it's being tested right now. Is it coming soon to a power plug near you?

Imagine this: You plug your BPL modem into any power socket in your home and you're instantly connected to a high speed broadband ISP. Sound too good to be true?

Maybe... maybe not.

BPL does seem to have more than its share of pros and cons.

The Pros

Aside from the fact that nearly every home in the country is connected to the power grid, this exciting new technology offers several other advantages over current broadband Internet service connections.

First is the fact that no professional installation or additional wiring would be needed in your home. True 'plug-and-play' technology.

Another interesting aspect of BPL is that every electric device is connected to the electric distribution network. That means that BPL could let chips in every electric device talk to each other. Much simpler and more cost effective than putting a wireless chip in every appliance.

Imagine the possibilities if your alarm clock, light switch, water heater and coffee maker could talk each other! Or how about this scenario: You unpack and plug in your brand new flat-panel TV and it automatically connects to the cable box, DVD player, your Home Theater system and the Internet.

Even more than the communications aspect, electric utilities are interested in BPL because it could give them an intelligent electric grid that is both more secure and more reliable. That in turn could lead to less pollution and lower electric power costs.

The Cons

The above-ground utility wires that carry BPL signals can also act as antennas and cause radio frequency interference with airplane radios, emergency, military and police radios, HAM radios and short-wave broadcasts. This possible interference is central to the debate over whether or not the FCC should allow BPL to exist.

How Broadband Over Power Lines Works

There are two different technologies under development: Access BPL and In-house BPL.

Access BPL

Access BPL combines the technological principles of radio, wireless networking, and modems. It uses medium voltage power lines carrying about 7,200 volts (the ones that you see at the top of electric utility poles) to carry broadband Internet traffic. It can send data over power lines and into homes at speeds between 500 kilobits and 3 megabits per second which is currently comparable to cable and DSL modem speeds.

But turning the power grid into a stable, high-speed system of data transmission is tricky.

Those medium voltage power lines lines are just one component of a power grid. In addition there are generators, high voltage lines, substations and transformers that help carry electricity from the power plant all the way to your plug. And all of them interfere with data transmission.

So first BPL bypasses high-voltage power lines using either fiber-optic or telephone lines to inject the data into the medium-voltage power grid downstream. However the data can only travel so far before it begins to degrade. So special devices (called repeaters) are installed on the lines to take in the data and amplify it for the next leg of the journey.

There is also no way to run a clean data signal through a transformer. To overcome this, one BPL model uses two other devices, a coupler and a bridge to distribute Internet traffic. These are attached at the power pole and allow the data to bypass the transformer and enter the low voltage lines attached to your home. There are also wireless systems that bypass the low voltage lines altogether.

From there Access BPL uses a special modem that is about the size of a common AC adapter. It simply plugs into a 110 volt wall socket and has an Ethernet cable that connects to your computer (wireless versions are also available). BPL modems use silicon chips specifically designed to send signals over medium voltage power lines and separate data from 110 volt electric current. These are available right now and several electric utility companies in over 26 states are quietly doing pilot programs.

In-house BPL

In-house BPL networks machines within your home or office. In-house BPL products can easily comply with the radiated emissions limits listed in Part 15 of the FCC's Rules, because they connect directly with the low voltage electric lines inside your home or office. This technology has little to do with actually connecting to the Internet and is available in stores right now.

Is BPL coming to your neighborhood soon?

Bottom line... Don't count on it! At least not soon. The radio interference issue is serious enough that at least one utility company was forced to terminate its pilot program prematurely.

Is the idea going to die? Don't count on that either. The concept has enough merits and profit potential that BPL developers and investors alike refuse to give up. And that attitude will most likely persist until the FCC finally says no way.

Dave Oetter is the managing editor for http://www.CheapandFreeISP.com who have been helping people find the best affordable Internet access and other TelCom products and services since 2001.

Wednesday, January 21

T1 Lines

A T1 line is used for carrying information and other data between Internet service providers and private networks. T1 lines carry a variety of services from one carrier to another or customer. T1 lines are usually fiber optic cables, but some are made of copper at the ends. It can carry voice, data, images and other information through four copper wires. With multiplexing, all these can also be carried through a single circuit on a T1 line.

With a bandwidth of 1.544 megabits per second, it acts as a digital communication link and is usually supplied by a telephone company. T1 lines are the most common way of high speed Internet access and are uninterrupted by traffic from other lines. But these are not meant for individual users or for personal computers. T1 lines are used by large business concerns and some medium sized businesses which can afford them.

A T1 line is split into lesser kilobits per second communication channels to carry voice and data over networks. Also known as a DS1 line, a normal T1 line contains 24 different channels to be used for data transfer over the Internet. Typically, this will be 24, 56 or 64 kilobits per second and data transfer will be at a rate of 1.5 megabits per second. This is almost six times more data that can be transferred through a residential modem.

For normal Internet browsing, these lines can manage hundreds of users and still maintain high speed of data transfer. Even for more complicated Internet activities, these can handle multiple users without any difficulty. T1 lines typically terminate at the customer?s premises and ends as channel banks, TDM Mux or D/I Mux.

T1 lines have many advantages over any other means of high speed Internet access. It is universally available and has a guaranteed 24\7 uptime with very little chances of breakdown. They cut down on your phone bills by placing 23 phone lines for long distance service apart from high speed Internet service.

T1 Lines provides detailed information on T1 Lines, T1 Line Prices, How To Test T1 Lines, Cheap T1 Lines and more. T1 Lines is affiliated with T3 Bandwidth.

Monday, January 19

How to Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection for DSL or Cable Service

One of the common problems among internet users is testing their internet connection to pinpoint the exact problem. There is a big number of internet users who use DSL, and cable modem service.

You set us your connection the way your ISP (internet service provider)instruct you to. Sometimes, it doesn't work for numerous reasons.

You service is not ready, your hardware in not connected properly, or your ISP is having problems.

Whatever the cause of the problem maybe, there are some diagnostic tools you can use in Windows XP, in order to identify the problem.

If you are not exact in your diagnostic, you will get a good idea at least.

Before we get to the diagnostic tools, let us discuss what is involved in an internet connection.

The information travels over the internet to your computer through your ISP service. This is done through a High speed modem then to a network card installed in your computer.

Your computer is called a host, your service provider will give you the DNS IP address, and you get your login and password. That is all what you have from your ISP.

Sometimes, your internet connection fails, and you want to find out the problem. You may be able to fix it, or at least get some information about the problem to advise your isp for help.

You will start by accessing the command prompt by going in sequence to:

Start menu, program, accessories, then command prompt. A window will open where you type commands from the prompt.

At the command prompt, you type: IPCONFIG. This command will give you the active network connection on your computer. Here is an example:

PPP adapter Copy :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.239.158.45
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 68.239.158.45

The above output was produced when I ran the Ipconfig command on my own computer running Window XP OS, and A DSL connection. The IP address is my computer address assigned by the ISP.

Please note, you can add an option to this command, in order to get more detailed information about your connection. Here is the output, when I ran the same command with the all option.

Ipconfig /ALL

PPP adapter Copy :

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.239.158.45
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 68.239.158.45
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 151.198.0.39 151.197.0.39 NetBIOS over TCP/IP. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Notice now, the output includes the phisycal address of the network interface card installed in my computer. Also, you see the DNS IP addresses. With the above information, I didn't have any problems.

Supposed ,I disconnect my DSL connection and ran the command again, this is the new result:

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Notice in this case, where I disconnected my connection, you don't get a DNS server. This tells you that I am not connected to the internet.

Also, notice the IP address starts with 192.168, which is the default address whenever your computer is not connected to the internet.

Another command is the ping command. It will allow to check if a computer is connected to the network and ready to communicate, whether intranet, or internet.

Once you run it,it will sent a packet to the computer specified and gives the time it took for the packet to travel. This is an a output when I tried to ping www.yahoo.com:

C:>ping www.yahoo.com

Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [216.109.118.66 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 216.109.118.66: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=55
Reply from 216.109.118.66: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=55

Ping statistics for 216.109.118.66:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 35ms, Maximum = 39ms, Average = 38ms.

That shows that the host was reachable, and connected to the internet.

A very important command is the Nslookup. This will let you check if DNS (domain name server) is working properly. The function of the DNS server is to translate ip addresses to domain name of the networked computer. Here is an example:

C:> nslookup www.yahoo.com
Server: home5.bellatlantic.net
Address: 151.198.0.39

Non-authoritative answer:
Name: www.yahoo.akadns.net
Addresses: 216.109.118.67
Aliases: www.yahoo.com

So, you enter the name after Nslookup, it will give you IP addresses and vice versa.

In summary, there more commands in Windows Xp, but using the three above commands should give you a good idea about your internet connection problems. You can find where the problem is occurring. Is it your machine, or the ISP.

Thanks,
George Chamoun

For tips about your Windows XP computer, visit our new website: http://www.ResolveWindowsXpProblems.com

Saturday, January 17

Google Talk Reviewed

So you're sick and tired of AOL Instant Messenger. You're looking for something fresh and new that will just work. Well Google feels the same way. On Wednesday August 24th they released their version of AIM, Google Talk.

Although Google Talk and AIM do basically the same thing, Google Talk is very different. For starters anyone can join AIM, in order to use Google Talk you need to have a Gmail account. AIM will also let you make a profile, Google Talk you can't. However there are more features on Google Talk that are left out in AIM.

Google Talk's main feature is being able to call friends that are on your list. Call means being able to talk through a microphone to them and they respond through theirs, much like the service Skype. There is a similar feature in the current version of AIM; however it's not as easy to use.

Let's say you're talking to someone in the conversation window. You decide that this conversation would work a lot better over the phone. Well don't get up and dial a number, simply plug in the microphone and headphones and guess what you're connected, just like a phone. All you have to do is press the Call button in the window, you'll hear a dial tone, and when the other user accepts you're connected.

At the top of the window, when call is activated, you'll see a volume meter for your friend and one for you. All it takes is a click of a button, how easy is that?

The other easy thing about Google Talk is the simplicity behind making a customized message. When you're online you'll have a small snippet under your name. You can customize that to whatever you want, that could be considered somewhat of a profile. You can also see peoples' away messages right under their name. Making an away message is just as simple as changing the text under your name. Just go to the drop down list under your name in the window (not the friends list) and go to the Custom Message with the red circle next to it.

Google has also added a feature to make it easier to sign up for the service. When you select to add a friend you can insert an email address that isn't a Gmail one. All it does is email the person letting them know about the service and offering a download link. This makes it really easy to convince your friends to make the switch.

Another feature that is greatly appreciated in Google Talk is the way it works directly with Gmail. You can add people on your contacts to the service within the Google Talk interface, plus it will notify you when a new email has been received. You can also go directly to your Gmail inbox via a link from the interface.

This next feature won't mean much to the average user, but to some misfortunate geeks with low RAM it may. Google Talk consumes around 3MB of RAM. AOL Instant Messenger takes around 9MB. If you have a lot of other programs open and you can't afford to waste RAM Google Talk will work great.

Google Talk is also much cleaner looking than AIM. There are no ads and no added crap like a stock ticker or news ticker. However the one thing that I'd like to see in Google Talk is notifications that tell you when someone logs on or off. This feature has been available in AIM for about 2 years.

There some other things that could be enhanced. In the settings menu I'd like to see a setting to customize how often it checks the Gmail mailbox, customize sounds, and more customization for notifications.

Staying on the topic of customization I'd like to see, in later versions, the option to add categories in your friends list. Something so you could put all your family under one list, friends under the others and so on.

Overall I wouldn't rush out and download Google Talk quite yet. Right now I'd think that it would be more convenient to corporations so that employees can interact with each other. It won't take down AIM, because AIM is just too popular, but it might steal some Yahoo! Messenger or MSN users.

This article was originally posted on http://www.p2btech.com

Although this is the full article, screen shots are avilable at http://www.p2btech.com/googletalk.html

p2btech.com offers just about everything. We've got music, games, on demand video, podcasts, sports, and of course technology.

If you've got a tech problem we also offer a technology podcast and a detailed Help Center with answers to just about anything.

Thursday, January 15

The Basics of the Comcast Cable Company

Comcast Cable has grown to become the largest cable service provider in the United States. It was founded back in the 1960s as a local single system cable television provider and is now available almost anywhere that cable TV is offered. With an ever growing array of competition it is interesting to note how Comcast Cable is able to lead nearly all its markets.

Available in over thirty states, it?s a safe bet that if one of those state?s residence subscribes to cable that they are using Comcast. Born as a television company, home entertainment is still its primary concern. Overall they service over twenty million homes with cable television. Furthermore they provide digital cable service to almost another ten million homes.

During the last decade the technology that?s been made available to homes has grown at such a staggering rate that it has allowed companies like Comcast to expand into providing other services. Personal computers, for instance, never would have offered a market to Comcast cable when they first began entering homes. Then came the advent of the internet. Faster computers and larger amounts of data called for speedier internet connections that dial up providers couldn?t possibly provide. Taking advantage of this new market, cable companies were able to offer their own brand of internet service which can currently offer speeds a hundred times faster then its dial up predecessor.

Comcast cable internet came to exist and it now provides high speed cyberspace access to almost eight million customers. That number represents over one third of their television subscribers which is quite staggering given how fresh the technology really is. Just think how slowly cable grew when introduced as a television service; no one wanted to pay for something that they were already getting for free. Initially cable internet had the same reaction with people not wanting to pay double the price for faster data transfer. But those numbers clearly show that the idea has definitely caught on.

Another boost for their consumer base came with the advent of the cable telephone alternative. While that idea has yet to catch on with most people being satisfied with their existing services, Comcast has still managed to attract over a million clients to this service.

Other business ventures from Comcast Cable includes several of their own channels. These include the Golf Channel, PBS Kids Sprout and TV One. Comcast even has four Comcast Sportsnets. Outside the communications ring, they also have a majority ownership in a company that has a lot of holdings. Some of these are sports teams in hockey, football and basketball; also they own two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia where Comcast is based.

Comcast cable has become a staple of the American communication world. Their employees are numbered at over seventy thousand people. As a company they continue to look to the future for new opportunities and ventures to offer their customers.

Christopher M. Luck has an extensive background in working exclusively at comcast cable and is now offering his free personal cable advice to the public. If you are at all interested in Christopher's cable advice, tips, or secrets, you can visit his cable tips blog

Tuesday, January 13

How Does Broadband Work?

These days, broadband is a word that is thrown around easily in telecommunications and internet lingo, but the average consumer may not have a clear understanding of how broadband works. It's easy to understand why; the technology industry even has trouble defining it clearly. So how does broadband work? The online Webster's dictionary defines broadband as A class of communication channel capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies, typically from audio up to video frequencies. A broadband channel can carry multiple signals by dividing the total capacity into multiple, independent bandwidth channels, where each channel operates only on a specific range of frequencies. Let's take a look at each part of the definition to understand how broadband works.

The first part of answering the question 'how does broadband work' is to think about the phrase a class of communication channel. We can gather from this that it is different from the normal class of communication channel that we use - our regular phone lines. Phone lines, also called baseband lines, normally carry 29.6kbps of analog data when used for voice communications. But with the advent of the internet, people began to demand faster data transmission. A regular, baseband phone line can carry up to 56kbps of data with the help of a high-speed modem, but without additional technology, that is its maximum capacity.

That wasn't nearly fast enough to keep up with the average person's demand for and dependency on the internet, which led to the demand for broadband. So how does broadband work? If you think of a baseband line as having one channel to send information, you can think of a broadband line as having multiple channels that you use at the same time. Not only that, but a broadband connection is capable of carrying a wider range and type of frequencies, meaning different types of data. And what it can carry, it carries faster. When you drive on the interstate, what happens when there aren't enough lanes for the number of cars on the road? Everyone is forced to go slower.

The same happens with the internet. Think of your connection to the internet as a tunnel that links your computer to the internet. A regular phone line can allow only a small amount of data to pass through at a time. In comparison, a broadband is a wider (or broader) tunnel, allowing a greater amount of information to pass through your connection at one time. The breadth of this tunnel is called bandwidth. The more bandwidth you have, the faster you can move data. With broadband service, you can also download files that require a great deal of different types of frequencies as well, such as audio and video files.

This is a partial answer to the question 'how does broadband work,' but the other has to do with the way that broadband services can compress and transmit that data that you're sending. Go back to the cars on the interstate analogy. What if suddenly all of the cars could be miniaturized? What would that do to the traffic jam? Or if they could use all of the space available in the tunnel - above your head, between cars, etc. Broadband technology not only widens the channels you have, but it uses them more efficiently. Meaning you can get more out of the bandwidth that you have. Broadband makes your internet experience faster and more efficient overall.

Van Theodorou will help you slash your telecom expenses by 43% and assist or even become your telecom department at no cost to you. For a free analysis or phone consultation go his site at long distance rates for your business.

Sunday, January 11

The Basics On T1 Line Solutions For Small Business

T1 Lines have been the primary source of mission critical bandwidth for companies of all sizes for nearly 20 years. With so much history, a basic understanding of the T1 line should be common knowledge among business owners who are looking for reliable bandwidth for Internet access, data communications, or multiple telephone lines. However, it was not until the late 1990s that the market for T1 lines became very competitive and prices began falling to more reasonable levels, causing the demand to rise sharply among small and medium sized businesses. Even today most small business owners and managers still do not know how a standard T1 line works or what it is capable of providing.

Each section below includes a description a T1 line solution and an example of what problems you could solve for your business with the solution described. There are 7 basic types of T1's explained, which include Full T1, Fractional, Voice (standard), PRI, Integrated Voice and Data, Voice Over IP(hosted), and Point-to-Point T1's.

Full T1 Line:

Full T1 Line is a term typically used to describe a circuit that provides 1.5 megabits per second of high speed Internet access, which is the most common type of T1. A Full T1 can also be used to carry telephone lines and/or VoIP calls, both of which are covered within the Voice?, ?PRI and Voice Over IP sections here. Nearly all office-based and modern retail businesses require some type of Internet access in order to perform their daily operations, and many have mission critical Internet needs that allow them to continue business operations at all. There are many choices to fulfill this need for Internet access, including Dial-up connections, ISDN, DSL, Cable, Wireless applications, a T1 Line, or something larger like a DS3 or OC-3 (far less common due to high cost).

A T1 Line consists of 24 channels that transmit data at 64Kbps each, therefore giving a Full T1 Line the capacity to transmit 1.54Mbps of data synchronously (upstream and downstream). Using today's standard email applications and common Internet searching, this amount of bandwidth could support anywhere from 1 to approximately 75 users depending on their needs, preferences, and the company's budget. Most commonly Full T1 Lines are used in offices with 5 to 50 employees. A T1 circuit provides the most reliable bandwidth available when leased from a high quality T1 Provider, which is why businesses are willing to pay more for a T1 than for other services like DSL or Cable. In some applications, a T1 can save money for a company who uses a less reliable bandwidth connection. Since multiple services can be combined on a single T1, cost efficient solutions are often available if you know what service to ask for (see Integrated T1 below) and which providers offer those services in your area.

Internet T1 pricing starts at approximately $400 per month, but can cost more than $1000 per month if the location of the installation requires a long loop to connect to the network of your local phone company to the network of the T1 provider. This is usually only the case in very small towns or rural areas where facilities are less dense. Most metropolitan areas have many choices of T1 providers, at least one of which will usually be closer and cheaper than the rest. Pricing will fluctuate dramatically depending on the Provider and the location of your business, which is why it is sometimes safer and easier to use an experienced Telecom Consultant such as DS3-Bandwidth.com to guide you in finding the best solution. For example some companies that do not require much bandwidth or have a small budget might need to opt for a Fractional T1 Line.

Fractional T1 Line:

A Fractional T1 line typically describes an Internet circuit that uses a piece or a fraction of a Full T1. Fractional T1's are also used for telephone lines or even integrated T1?s, but less often then for Internet access. A Fractional T1 can be sold in nearly any fraction of a 24 channel, 1.54Mbps circuit. For example, out of the 24 channels in a Full T1 line, 12 channels might be used in a Fractional T1 to provide a 768k connection, which is half of 1.54Mbps. Other Fractional sizes include 1.1Mbps, 512k, 384k, 256, 128k, and even 64k, although the smaller sizes are very uncommon. As T1 Providers have become more competitive, prices on Full T1s have come down so much that Fractional T1s have become less cost effective. For example, a Fractional T1 of 768k carries only half of the bandwidth of a Full T1, but usually saves only 5% to 15% of the price of a Full T1. This doesn't make much sense in applications where only 1 or 2 T1 lines are needed, unless the budget is extremely tight. However, this can add up to significant savings when using hundreds of T1's across a large company's multi-location VPN or frame relay network.

Voice T1:

Voice and PRI T1 lines are extremely common among businesses and call centers with multiple telephone lines and large call volumes. They are far less expensive and more efficient than installing dozens of POTS (plain old telephone service) lines. Each of the 24 channels on a T1 line is versatile, allowing it to be used for either bandwidth or for a single telephone line. So, a pure Voice T1 line will have 24 telephone lines with reliable service, good reception, good long distance rates (depending on the carrier), and a wide selection of calling features. Voice T1 lines use digital or analog transmission, so it is an excellent choice in situations where a company's equipment does not allow for the use of a PRI line, which is always digital.

PRI T1:

A PRI (Primary Rate Interface) line is somewhat different and more popular than a standard Voice T1 because it is true digital trunking, which allows for even more advanced calling features. A PRI line provides 23 telephone lines per T1, because the 24th channel is used to carry useful data for signaling and other features like special caller ID information called ANI (Automatic Number Identification). Since the transmission is digital, the quality of a telephone connection over a PRI line is unsurpassed, providing crystal clear reception that is noticeable to the user. The use of DID (Digital Inward Dial) numbers, and calling features like hunting and rolling, allow you to use 23 digital telephone lines to provide service to potentially 30 to 40 employees, depending on how often they will need to use their phone. Instead of guessing on the number of DID's to put on a PRI line, it's important to figure out the maximum number of simultaneous calls that could be placed at any given time. Having too few telephone lines causes costs more in a loss of productivity than it would cost to simply add more phone lines to keep your employees busy. This is why it is important to figure out the proper balance of telephone lines vs. DID numbers. The cost of a PRI is also typically lower than other forms of telephone service (except Voice Over IP in some applications), with actual pricing depending on the Provider of the service and your business location. Between the features, price, and quality of a PRI, it is the primary choice for businesses large enough to take advantage of it's multiline functionality and benefits.

Integrated T1 Line:

An Integrated T1 Line is one of the most popular T1 solutions for small businesses because it provides local telephone service, long distance, and bandwidth all on a single connection and a single bill. The consolidation of these services with one company is more convenient and more cost effective than purchasing them from separate providers. Just as a Fractional T1 line only turns on a portion of a T1 Line for Internet access, special equipment allows some of the T1 channels to be allocated for telephone lines, while others are used for data transmission and Internet access. For example, a Full Integrated T1 line could be divided in half using special equipment, providing 12 high quality telephone lines and using the other 12 channels for 768k of bandwidth. Fractional Integrated T1 lines are also available, but most companies have minimum levels such as 4 phone lines and 512k of Internet access, which only uses 12 channels combined. Many offers even include blocks of free long distance, usually based on the number of telephone lines being installed. A typical offer might include 6 phone lines(6 channels), 512k (8 channels), and 600 minutes of free LD each month (100 per telephone line). This entire circuit could have a total cost as low as $400 to $500 per month, which is a tremendous all inclusive bargain for small businesses. This is a perfect total solution for literally thousands, if not millions, of small companies across the nation. One thing to keep in mind is that not all providers can offer Integrated T1 Lines, so the ones that do typically focus a great deal of their sales efforts on this service.

Voice Over IP (VoIP):

Voice Over IP is considered to be the ?next big thing? in the telecommunications industry. It has already begun the powerful growth that has been expected for many years by experts and early adopters. Although VoIP services can and will be used across all types of high bandwidth connections, the business class services are primarily being offered on T1 lines. This is extremely important in the world of bandwidth and telecommunications, because it again validates the T1 line as the most cost efficient delivery method of the most reliable bandwidth. In other words, a company cannot afford to trust a volatile Internet connection like DSL or Cable to carry VOIP because they risk losing 100% of their communication capabilities.

Voice over IP is revolutionizing telecommunications because it is cheaper for the user and the infrastructure requirements are better for the providers. Rather than requiring a telephone line and all of the switching on the back end to complete a call, VoIP uses equipment to break down a telephone call into packets of data, then sends those packets across the internet to be decoded where the receiver answers the call. This dramatically reduces the bandwidth that is necessary to complete a call because it eliminates ?dead? times when no one is speaking into the receiver. Since the calls also bypass the normal telephone switching network, they also escape FCC charges (for now). Every major Provider and most small providers are starting to offer residential and business class VoIP services. If you're in the market for a business VoIP solution try the free consulting services of Business-VoIP-Solution.com.

Point to Point T1:

Point to point T1 lines do not provide T1 Internet access or telephone lines, but act as a ?transport? for either or both. A point to point T1, often referred to as a P2P, provides a very secure and reliable connection, usually from a corporate office to any number of satellite offices. Although a P2P does not actually provide Internet access or phone lines, corporations use P2P T1s to share these services. For example, a company?s home office in Los Angeles might have hundreds of telephone lines and huge Internet access pipes installed at one location to get the best available rates. This company can use a P2P T1 to transmit any combination of telephone lines, Internet access, and data between offices to share software systems, and provide in-office dialing from locations across the country! The variables are endless because there are no restrictions on how a point to point T1 can be used, assuming you have the right equipment and a source at one end of the P2P. This can be a great way to save money, because a satellite or branch office might have to pay huge prices to have telephone and bandwidth services installed directly, whereas the home office can get better rates because of bulk buying and location. Although it can sometimes be used to save money, a P2P network is usually not very cost efficient compared to other options. Frame Relay and VPN (Virtual Private Network) are other options to consider depending on a company's needs and business applications. The primary advantage of a P2P line is that it is truly private, making it top choice for those demanding a circuit with a dedicated connection to only their business, therefore offering the highest security available.

There is no question that the same type of T1 Line that was being used back in 1984 by the US Government and world leading technology companies like IBM is still the best source of reliable bandwidth for all sizes of companies today. Despite the competition of newer technologies, price reductions on T1?s plus the fact that these circuits are so trustworthy have allowed the number of T1 Lines being used in the United States to continue to grow at a rate of 15% per year, even in recent years. Since there are so many uses for the T1 Line, including the explosion of new technologies like VoIP, these circuits are poised to remain a key ingredient to the success of businesses who rely on Internet, Telecommunications, and Data Connectivity for years to come.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Friday, January 9

Just What Is MPLS What Does It Do And Where Can You Get It?

Your boss has put you in charge of finding a replacement for your frame relay. Your service is slow, expensive, and inflexible. Someone in your IT department mentions MPLS, but those initials are foreign to you.

Don't panic...read on to learn what MPLS is and what it can do for you:

* Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) was invented to solve the problem of bridging multiple disparate protocols such as Frame Relay, ATM and Ethernet.

* Over the last few years, MPLS has won the battle within core networks and has become the dominant internetworking technology.

* Carriers have deployed IP/MPLS core routers in order to support existing legacy networks more cost effectively.

* Fundamentally, MPLS employs an encapsulation technique providing internetworking between different technologies, coupled with signaling protocols necessary to discover, configure and manage connectivity.

* In addition to signaling protocols, MPLS uses resiliency protocols, such as Fast Re-route and Bi-directional Fault Detection, to determine failures and in turn switching to standby links.

* The strength of these protocols combined with the popularity of MPLS core networks have made MPLS a logical choice for extending into metro networks.

* Vendors have responded by creating MPLS-enabled multi-service platforms with a mixture of legacy port options.

MPLS combines the multi-service and traffic management capabilities of ATM with the scalability of packet networks to create a best-of-breed service provider network. Key drivers towards MPLS deployment include:

* Cost reduction through data network convergence: MPLS facilitates the convergence of disparate Frame Relay, ATM, Ethernet and IP networks onto a single infrastructure to reduce capital and operational expenses.

* Integration of voice, video and data services: MPLS's traffic management capabilities enable this services triple play on a common backbone.

* New high-margin revenue opportunities through MPLS-based service offerings: MPLS's flexibility, high availability and multi-service support enables service providers to offer strict SLAs, increasing revenue and margins.

MPLS can lower operational costs by integrating multiple services onto a common backbone; has integrated capabilities which enable service providers to offer strict SLAs and thereby increase revenue and margins; and facilitates the convergence of disparate Frame Relay, ATM, Ethernet and IP networks onto a single infrastructure to reduce capital and operating expenses.

Next question.....which providers offer this service and how do you find out if it is available in all of your locations?

Easy answer....take advantage of the free consultative services of a bandwidth broker such as DS3-Bandwidth.com. They specialize in finding just the right bandwidth solutions to fit any business application requirement. They'll do all the research for your company including negotiating the best rates from available vendors in your area.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Wednesday, January 7

A Review of DSL Internet Service

Everyone wants DSL Internret service these days. Dial-up is just too slow for the way we use the Internet today. We want our DSL service fast and we want it for a reasonable price. There are many companies that now offer broadband DSL service. There are plenty of advantages with using DSL.

The standard package for most DSL service includes things like a choice of online services, such as Yahoo and MSN. They offer technical service that is live all the time, they usually have a standard 30 day guarantee for services, so that if you are not happy with them as your ISP, you can ask for a full refund if it is within thirty days. Many also offer you the option of having multiple email addresses, so that everyone in the family can have their own. They also give you 10 MB of web space for you to use. All this can be yours for a fairly reasonable price if you choose to sign up for a one-year contract. If you prefer to have a monthly service, it will cost you more per month.

Make sure that you compare the various facets of DSL Internet service. These areas are all important and complile a composite image of how good the Internet service is. Overall cost is one area. This is measured by how competitive the prices really are, and that your bill is accurate. How quickly they respond to and fix any billing problems or changes are also part of that category.

Another area that is measured includes image. You want to go with a company that appears to have a good reputation among ISPs, and represents their services and prices honestly. Their performance and reliability is also considered to be very good. As for customer service, which rates how quickly problems are solved, how friendly and helpful their customer service reps are and the satisfaction of customers, they are considered to be as good as other ISP providers. They are also comparable in their email services, which measures how quickly you can send and receive email.

Overall, you want to choose a DSL Internet service that appears to be working to provide a good service to their customers and seems to care about making sure that service is one of the best available.

The key is to find the plan that best suits your needs for a price that you can afford. If you think that you have the right DSL service for you, check out their website and find out if they offer DSL service in your area. However, it always makes sense to comparison shop before making a final decision.

Bob Hett has extensively covered the Internet Service Provider industry as an analyst and has researched the various companies for factors based on price, reliability, support and overall quality. Learn more at DSL Internet Service.

Monday, January 5

Challenges And Solutions For Medical Imaging Bandwidth Requirements

A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) is integral to the smooth, timely, and quality delivery of health care in every medical setting today. Not only are they integral but they are crucial to the clinical and business aspects of radiology practice as we know it. However, PACS have long faced challenges in delivering this digital imaging support to such diagnostic modalities as X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging [MRI, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Teleradiology. The main issue has always been the availability of sufficient bandwidth (load and speed).....at a reasonable cost.....to support the growing demand for quick easy web-based access by medical providers. As Medical Imagery becomes more and more digitalized....with bandwidth improvements, communication will be faster and easier, and it will be possible to transmit heavier studies in less time and with high quality.

An internal (facility owned) PACS leverages a common infrastructure for all the digital imaging modalities and provides image storage and archiving....with recall as needed....for an entire medical facility or campus. By instituting a web enabled distribution system a facility PACS is able to provide ready image access to the immediate radiology department as well as the full range of clinicians and specialists, especially surgeons and referring physicians. To ensure functionality at the high level required means facing the heavy bandwidth appetite of the modalities supported.

Even an Application Service Provider (ASP) company that hosts applications, manages them and rents access to images from a centrally managed facility is not immune to the bandwidth concern. ASP providers allow an institution to outsource information technology applications infrastructure, management, support and maintenance. As defined by the ASP Industry Consortium, ASP service is designed to ?deliver and manage applications and computer services from remote data centres to multiple users via the Internet or a private network.? therein lies they're challenge....a high bandwidth requirement delivered over often a subtantial difference on an on-demand basis.

PACS manufacturers have developed numerous solutions to get around the bandwidth problem. They've compressed images, supported standard network interfaces and protocols such as Ethernet and TCP/IP, and deployed local area networks (LANs) with high bandwidths to link hospitals or referring physicians in a contained environment. But how do they handle bandwidth when institutions are separated by tens or hundreds of miles, especially since images have become larger and more complicated?

Some PACS vendors rely on the communications infrastructure in an area, which varies with the bandwidth that is available from the local telephone company and the price a hospital is willing to pay, said Frederick Wagner, manager of PACS for Toshiba. Other PACS providers offer streaming technology that transports high-quality images in real time over any bandwidth, including telephone lines and enterprise-wide LANs.

Another contributing solution is a technology called Pixels-on-Demand by Real Time Media. This technology speeds processing by capturing images from archives or PACS storage without waiting for preprocessing, immediately streams data from selected regions of interest, and delivers the most visually important features of an image to the viewer first.

The underlying solution to the bandwidth issue goes beyond even system technologies, network interfaces, image compression, and infrastructure protocols. It lies with the provision of the appropriate bandwidth capacity (circuits)....at a reasonable cost....via leveraging the fiber-optic infrastructure available throughout the United States. Enabling direct fiber-optic connectivity internally, or between hospitals and distant data centers, is the most cost-effective application of bandwidth. Use of Optical Carrier (Sonet Ring) bandwidth (likely OC3 or OC48) or Gigabit Ethernet allows a medical facility to optimize it's Local Area Network (LAN). While ASP organizations can scale their application service provider (ASP) service to small imaging centers as well as large, far-flung health systems.

To find a fiber optic infrastructure provider which can deliver the right bandwidth solution for your medical imaging application.....I strongly recommend that you take advantage of the free consultation available from an independent bandwidth broker such as DS3-Bandwidth.com.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Saturday, January 3

Two Enter Internet Battle

Consumers understand that when there is more competition in a market, there are lower prices. This is especially true in the computer industry where it is reported that 68% of households have a computer. According to the Computer Industry Almanac, the worldwide number of Internet users will exceed 1 billion this year with the United States leading with over 185 million users. The number of users will continue to increase as well as competitors, forcing companies to offer faster connections at a cheaper price. Two technologies that will lend a hand in allowing new players into the Broadband market are BPL and WIMAX.

Broadband Over Power Lines, BPL

BPL is a technology that allows Internet data to be transmitted over utility power lines and is also referred to as Power-line Communications or PLC. The technology works by modulating high-frequency radio waves with the digital signals from the Internet. These radio waves are fed into the utility grid at specific points, then travel along the wires and pass through the utility transformers into homes and businesses. One main concern by officials in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), is that BPL will interfere with radio systems including fire, police, short-wave and land mobile. There are other groups who are taking the initiative in realizing this potential including the IEEE which has begun to develop IEEE P1675, Standard for Broadband over Power Line Hardware.

This technology has gained national attention with reports by the Wall Street Journal that industry powerhouses Google and Goldman Sachs have invested nearly $100 million into Current Communications Group, a company that provides high-speed Internet access over electrical power lines. According to Reuters, CCG will use the financing to deploy voice, video and data services in domestic and global markets. IBM is also currently researching the use of electrical power lines to provide internet access by opening a BPL center in Houston with CenterPoint Energy although IBM has declined to put a dollar value on the amount invested.

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WIMAX

WiMAX, also known as IEEE 802.16, is a standards-based wireless technology that provides broadband connections over long distances and is intended for wireless ?metropolitan area networks. It can be used for wireless networking in much the same way WiFi is used today while also allowing for more efficient bandwidth use and interference avoidance. WiMAX has a broadband wireless access range of 30 miles compared to only 100 ? 300 feet for a WiFi wireless local area network.

WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including last mile broadband connections, hotspots, and high-speed connectivity for businesses. Alvarion, a global organization headquartered in Israel that supplies integrated Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) solutions, has announced it will supply satellite provider DirecTV Group Inc. with equipment that uses WIMAX technology in order to enhance customer upstream bandwidth requirements. By implementing ?last mile? broadband connections, DirecTV would then be able to supply faster connections to rural areas where it would cost millions to lay down the cable lines necessary for high speed. Another application under consideration is gaming. Microsoft is looking to make WiMax a standard feature in its Xbox 360. This would allow gamers with similar equipment to interact with other players without any internet access. All the funcionality of WiFi with improved range and reduced network latency makes WiMAX a very attractive alternative.

James Junior is a freelance writer and web programmer for http://www.jccorner.com

Thursday, January 1

Your Internet Connection Provider

Your internet connection provider is one of your major links to the world. The world of websites and information is so vast these days that most people cannot live without it. People use the internet to pay bills, do banking, shop, keep in touch with out of town relatives, plan vacations, and just about anything else. Without your internet connection provider then you would not be able to do all of these things and more.

When trying to choose an internet connection provider, it is best to choose one with a proven record of good service and customer satisfaction. Good service should include fast connections and fewer disruptions in your service. Customer service will include your billing, payment, and service options.

A good internet connection provider will offer many different payment plans, like debit or credit cards and check by phone. They will not tie you to a contract, but allow you to terminate service if it does not meet your needs with a 30 day notice with no penalty fees. They will also offer a 24/7 customer service line that gives quality responses in a fair amount of time.

It is a good idea to visit websites of different internet connection providers to see which ones seem to meet your needs and wants. Look at their web pages to see if they are professional. What does each provider offer with their account? Price does not dictate whether or not you will have a great internet connection provider. Cheaper prices may give you a cheaper connection with more disconnections and disruptions. Call the customer service department to ask them some questions concerning their internet service. This will give you more of an idea of what they are like. Are they professional and answer your questions quickly and without hesitation? Or do they act like you are asking for the moon?

How often are you going to be using your internet connection? If you are only going to use it periodically then you may want to look into a reduced plan that only covers so many hours a month. If you are on it daily, then you will most likely need an unlimited plan.

Choosing the right internet connection provider can mean the difference between speedy and consistent connections and irritating and maddening disconnections. Do your research and the right internet connection provider will move to the top of your list!

Learn the essential information for picking the right Internet Service Provider at NetZero 3G