High Speed Internet Providers - Making An Educated Choice

New Verizon Internet Service 4G Subscribers Get Limited Double Data

Need for Speed — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:47:55 +0000

A limited time offer by Verizon internet service has got tongues wagging and people scrambling to purchase a 4G smart phone. The deal includes double the data limits for the price of any mobile plan. So for example, those who choose a 10GB plan for $50 will receive 20GB of data for that price. But the offer is also extended to existing customers who have either upgraded their service or purchased a 4G smart phone in the last fourteen days. With this promotion, the company is attempting to address the issues that seem inherent to the 4G network – customers exceeding their data caps much faster than with their 3G phones. The double data deal is expected to be available through the holiday shopping season, and those who get in on it will be able to continue using double the data as long as they are using their 4G LTE smart phone on the Verizon network.

ATT Uverse Collaborates With Intuit To Improve Growth Of Small Businesses

Need for Speed — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:37:52 +0000

Easier credit card processing will soon be available to small businesses who want to accept credit and debit card payments from anywhere and at any time. ATT Uverse and Intuit have come together to offer Intuit GoPayment, a mobile application and credit card reader that allows for the processing of customer payments via their smart phone or tablet. The application is available now from AT&T call centers, and includes pre-approval and automatic sign up for AT&T customers. The move comes in response to the rapid growth of the mobile payments market, illustrated in a recent forecast by the Yankee Group which stated that worldwide mobile transactions will top $1 trillion by 2015. Small business can use this application to increase cash flow, save time and use their existing mobile devices, especially businesses providing mobile services such as landscapers, locksmiths and photographers.

Analysts Say That Former Quest Internet Territory Is Responding Well To CenturyLink Model

Need for Speed — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:05:02 +0000

Urban markets appear to be reacting well to former Quest internet territories where the new CenturyLink operating model has been applied. The company’s model involves the localizing of marketing, pricing and product decisions. In some areas, key product decisions are the job of mid-level managers, who base their decisions on local competition. April marked the month when CenturyLink acquired Qwest for a cool $24 billion in assumed debt and stock. The company now boasts 14.8 million land lines across 37 states. There was some concern with its third-quarter profit reports, released on Wednesday, which showed a 40 percent drop. But the company says that this decline in profit was due to the higher operating expenses after its Qwest and network operator Savvis acquisitions. And it appears the profit decline hasn’t worried investors, as the stock was up almost 4 percent the day following the profit report release.

Former Qwest DSL Explains Its Post-Acquisition Drop In Subscribers

Need for Speed — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:46:35 +0000

Market watchdogs were alarmed after the former Qwest DSL was acquired by CenturyLink in April of this year. An obvious drop in broadband subscribers was evident in their Q2 earnings report. But CenturyLink CFO Stewart Ewing knew what the culprit was, and explained it at a technology and communications conference in August. And it all had to do with the DSL packages that Qwest had discounted as part of a promotion. Standalone sales of these packages occurred over Qwest’s last few quarters, which resulted in higher-than-expected broadband ‘churn’, or customers leaving the service. According to Ewing, a higher churn has been the result when company attempted to sell customers broadband products only when a promotion has ended. CenturyLink plans to actively pursue those customers who only have internet subscriptions with other products such as the opportunity to include wireless service in a bundle.

ATT Uverse Offers News, Shows, Games And More On Interactive Page

Need for Speed — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:37:16 +0000

Did you know that ATT Uverse customers can access all of the information they need via the att.net home page? Powered by Yahoo, the page gives access to the latest news reports from around the world, in addition to easy access for subscribers. If you’re an AT&T customer, you can access your account right from the page, in addition to your email and a number of subscriber-only features, such as AT&T Extras, Fan Zone, Offers and U-Verse Online. Even if you’re just looking for a deal on something you want to own, the AT&T Marketplace will scour several sites to show you who has the best price. This company was ranked best by J.D. Power and Associates for its offerings, promotions and numerous network upgrades, and subscribers give it high marks for its efforts to improve the customer experience.

New Launch Will Enable Satellite Internet Service Providers To Offer Faster Rural Speeds

Need for Speed — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:34:43 +0000

A new satellite, launched on October 26 will give those living in rural Canada and 1.5 million customers in North America access to faster download speeds from their satellite internet service providers. The satellite will provide the capacity to support 4G download speeds of up to 25 megabits per second, far more than the 1 megabit per second reported by most rural areas. As well, this new satellite, named ViaSat-1, has a greater capacity than all other broadband satellites in North America combined. It is expected that the cost to obtain satellite service will be lower once all is said and done, and that 100% of Canada will have access to fast and better quality broadband satellite service by the end of 2012. The satellite was launched from Kazakhstan on a Proton rocket on Wednesday afternoon.

Connection With DSL Providers All That’s Needed To Mount Malicious Attacks

Need for Speed — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:13:44 +0000

Denial of service attacks or DoS, are a tool commonly used by hackers. The goal of such an attack is to render a web resource completely unavailable to visitors. The potential for damage to a web site or corporation is real and frightening, as this type of attack can effectively paralyze even the most secure of networks. And recently, a new DoS tool was released which only needs a laptop and a connection from DSL providers to bring down SSL (secure sockets layer) servers. SSL represents the level of security commonly found in online shopping carts where personal information like credit card numbers are required. The tool exposes a security flaw in the SSL system and then exploits it. Information that can be obtained from bringing down an SSL server can include not only credit card numbers, but login details from sites that use SSL encryption.

Why AT&T Internet Service Is Acquiring Another Major Carrier

Need for Speed — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:28:16 +0000

On October 15th, AT&T internet service filed a Public Interest Statement with regard to their proposed acquisition of a major wireless carrier. Among the numerous benefits of the merger will be the deployment of the company’s reach for 4G LTE to almost 100% of the United States population, fulfilling the Administration’s pledge to connect all Americans to the digital age and create new jobs. Because smart phones generate 24 times the mobile data traffic of conventional wireless phones, and tablets generate even more, the company is quickly reaching the limits of its network capacity; bad timing, considering we are just in the beginning stages of the wireless revolution. With data usage from this company expected to skyrocket over the next five years, a merger presents an all-around solution, both for the company’s capacity issues and for customers wanting interrupted usage.

ATT Uverse TV Goes Social With New TV Apps

Need for Speed — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:37:57 +0000

These days, everyone’s using social media. And ATT Uverse is no exception. On Monday, the media and internet giant announced that it would be integrating its U-verse TV product with no less than four social TV apps: TV Foundry, BuddyTV, Miso and Wayin. Available for smart phones and tablets, the new integration will allow customers to chat and share information about what they’re currently viewing. The apps are available from Apple’s iTunes Store. A user needs only to open the apps on a tablet or smart phone, and then connect to the Wi-Fi network located in their home to begin receiving feeds and information. Currently, approximately 40% of those who own a smart phone or tablet in the United States uses their device daily while they watch television, according to a Nielsen poll.

Researchers And Educators Receive 100GBps Connection From High Speed Internet Providers In My Area

Need for Speed — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:20:42 +0000

Upgrades are happening in residential networks from high speed internet providers in my area and across the country. But a new network announced recently will be available only to scientists, researchers and educators. The incredibly high speed of this new network will serve those working at universities and National Laboratories, and is clocked at well over ten times the speed of the fastest residential connections. Intended for research use, the network will reach speeds of over 100 Gbps, and vastly increase the efficiency of labs who need to share information. However, this link of networks could have much greater implications to commercial applications if it drives innovation that turns into widespread use. The new connection, an upgrade to the Energy Departments existing Energy Sciences Network, or ESnet, has the ability to download 20 years of Hubble space telescope data in the time it takes for the average residential internet connection to download an HD movie.

West Glacier, Montana To Benefit From Qwest Internet Expansion

Need for Speed — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:44:56 +0000

Those living in the Northern Montana community of West Glacier have been waiting a long time for better internet technology. And as of September 14, they’ve been able to connect to the world without needing dial-up or satellite service. Former Qwest internet company CenturyLink has expanded its high speed internet service to those living and running businesses in the area. The reason for the long wait involved being unable to connect to an outside-village line due to its distance from the connection. Educational institutions are also excited, as better internet access will provide better access to educational tools. In a world where most internet connections allow for downloading of web pages only takes a fraction of a second, the Montana community was forced to wait minutes, resulting in long periods of down time for students and teachers.

ISPs in the UK Ready To Force Users To Make Choice About Blocking Unsavory Sites

Need for Speed — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:39:33 +0000

A group of major internet providers in the United Kingdom made the recent announcement that it would no longer be offering customers the option to block unsavory sites; instead, it would begin to force customers to choose whether or not they want access to them. The family advocate driving this attempt has stated that this will force families to give real consideration to what their children are viewing on the internet. But civil libertarians say that this only opens the door for families to get used to online censorship. Although British ISPs have been offering customers the option to install parental blocks for some time, existing controls whose default is the off position are left up to parents to initiate, which family advocate Reg Bailey sees as a major issue. No date has been set for the new measure to be put into place.

Verizon Teams Up With Microsoft In Latest Of FiOS Promotions

Need for Speed — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:19:23 +0000

This Wednesday marked a banner day for both Microsoft technology and Verizon FiOS promotions. Both companies are planning to team up and offer a new option to Verizon customers: the ability to watch TV from your Xbox 360. A number of content providers will be participating in the new venture, including VEVO, HBO, Bravo, SyFy and Crackle. Customers will be able to search for and watch content from any number of providers, but will also be able to interact with content in new ways. The move comes from a realization that today’s console game players are more social and interactive than ever, along with being on the cutting edge of technology. The offering of channels via their Xbox360 provides a familiar environment in which to watch their favorite shows. Users can get more information about how content is controlled via the console by viewing an online video.

Lawsuits Against Web Trolls Using Best Internet Providers To Post Comments Becoming More Frequent

Need for Speed — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:08:56 +0000

Even the highest security from the best internet providers cannot stop a type of nasty web user. Called a web troll, the offending individual could be an ex-employee or disgruntled customer. Whichever the profile, a person posting malicious comments about a company can help to ruin its digital reputation beyond repair. But there is hope, as more people are realizing that legal action can be taken against these individuals. The main advantage for web trolls has been that their comments can be posted anonymously just about anywhere on the web, using the right to human privacy and calling on acts like Britain’s Data Protection Act as a defense. But a plaintiff in the U.K. can now take their cases to the High Court, where trolls can be unmasked. Although it can currently cost up to $15,000 U.S. to obtain such an order, an e-petition has been prepared which will attempt to illustrate the need to make the process cheaper and easier.

High Speed Internet Use Exploding In China

Need for Speed — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:26:26 +0000

The largest online population in the world just keeps getting bigger. Xinhua news agency says that the number of internet users in China has recently reached over 500 million, with over 15 million joining the online community with a high speed internet connection since July of this year alone. Web users are enjoying more strength and influence than ever, which has become worrisome to officials in Beijing, who see the internet as a possible tool for orchestrating social unrest in China. In response, surveillance in recent years has increased, with politically sensitive content being blocked by the government. Although the system, called “The Great Firewall of China” has achieved some success, microblogs, which are similar to Twitter, have created a new avenue for large numbers of people to express their opinions.

High Speed Internet Providers In My Area Coming To Rural Illinois

Need for Speed — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:38:15 +0000

Soon, the residents of Rockford, Illinois and surrounding areas will no longer have to ask, “How long will it take before there are internet service providers in my area?” That’s because high speed internet will soon be a reality. And it’s all thanks to a grant received by N.I.U. last year. The grant’s purpose was to build a broadband network across northwest Illinois that would stretch almost 900 million miles. Called I-Fiber, the construction is now taking place in Belvedere and Rockford, among other areas. The work is reported to be continued through to the end of the year. The introduction of high speed internet to these areas will have many benefits to residents, including the provision of more opportunities for education and jobs. This project is just one of many occurring in rural areas across the U.S. to bridge a widening digital divide.

Clear Wireless Internet Aims To Be Neutral Provider

Need for Speed — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:25:06 +0000

Where most other ISPs are growing their coverage by expanding or upgrading their networks, Clear Wireless Internet is taking a different approach. The major supplier of 4G to Sprint Nextel sees itself becoming the ‘Switzerland of the broadband industry’, supplying wireless capacity to other companies who need it. But this will only occur once Clearwire’s technology moves from its current WiMax to LTE, a newer version of 4G. The shift will require up to $300 million to balance company books, along with $600 million to make the switch. In addition, smart phones, which have enjoyed an exponential increase in usage, use networks more sporadically which translates into lower average revenue per user. But Clear’s Chief Financial Officer is confident that the situation will stabilize and improve in the coming year.

Internet Service Providers In My Area May Soon Have A New Industry Standard For Botnets

Need for Speed — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:52:16 +0000

In an effort to curb the efforts of hackers to flood corporate and government networks with unwanted traffic that shuts down systems, the Homeland Security and Commerce departments are asking for feedback about a potential standard that would alert subscribers of internet service providers in my area to computer virus infections. Botnets are malicious programs created by hackers and sent to users via a hidden link or email attachment which then allow these cybercriminals to operate an infected home computer remotely and without the user’s knowledge. In a case where a corporate or government computer has been infiltrated, hackers can conduct searches for passwords and company secrets. Cybersecurity research firm Damballa Inc. reports that at least eighteen percent of the home computers around the world are being controlled remotely by cyberthieves.

Former Qwest DSL To Be Included in 2011′s Information Week 500

Need for Speed — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:52:16 +0000

InformationWeek has been identifying and honouring information technology’s most innovative users since 1988. This year, CenturyLink (formerly Qwest DSL) and Savvis, one of its acquired companies will be included on that list. While the list does include companies that are innovative, Information Week’s editor-in-chief says there’s much more to getting on the list these days; companies are recognized who exhibit the ability to innovate at a rate that keeps them a few steps ahead of not only their competitors, but their customers and partners as well. In CenturyLink’s case, the company’s ability to develop and deliver technology at the same rate as its continued growth is the reason it is being recognized. Savvis’s reason for recognition came as a result of its development of Jive software, which connects internal employees with external strategic clients.

Comcast Specials News: Internet Essentials Program Quickly Spreading Across U.S.

Need for Speed — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:53:52 +0000

Just yesterday, the newest of Comcast specials had been announced: a low-cost alternative that would allow low-income families in the Greater Boston area to have an internet connection for a dramatically-reduced price. Today, news outlets report that Minnesota is the next state to offer the discounted connections and computers via the Internet Essentials program. Affecting nearly 2 million children enrolled in the National School Lunch program, the initiative will give kids and their families an opportunity to get high speed internet for just $10 per month. Also offered is a free 90-minute training session so that these families can learn how to use the internet. The program offers many benefits and hopes to make families aware of the value and importance of the internet to the education of people of all ages and walks of life.

FCC Legislation For Internet Providers Clears Another Obstacle

Need for Speed — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:42:29 +0000

Late last year, new internet rules were adopted by the FCC which caused some controversy. Now that the rules are slated to be officially published in the Federal Register, it may also set off a series of legal entanglements. Although the document’s rules have the goal of balancing the need of internet providers to manage their networks with fair treatment of competing content, many feel the FCC has overstepped its authority. Currently, network operators are allowed to block lawful content in order to trim the access load on their networks. The new rules would see operators prevented from blocking content while still allowing rationing of network loads. This has only served to highlight the divide between those who feel the internet should continue unregulated and those who feel it needs to be restrained.

Wireless Internet Service Providers Expected To Consolidate

Need for Speed — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:26:42 +0000

4G wireless internet has turned out to be a large and revolutionary development. In fact, it is the biggest thing that wireless networks have experienced in years. Wireless internet service providers are in fierce competition, with many working to expand their networks and offer service to the most customers. Earlier this year, a large acquisition of an internet company by a telecommunications company served to be wildly successful in expanding both the company’s customer base and coverage area. And it’s expected that these kinds of mergers will continue to occur with smaller companies as more 4G networks are created or expanded. For the user, this could result in a larger geographical area of wireless coverage at the highest speeds that wireless has ever been able to offer.

Internet Providers In My Area Cracking Down On Pirates, But Database To Be Decentralized

Need for Speed — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:06:51 +0000

As the result of an agreement between the RIAA, MPAA and all internet providers in my area and across the nation, those who infringe on copyright laws by downloading and sharing copyrighted material will be monitored and regulated. The process contains six steps which include notifying the offender and slowing down their internet speed to curb downloading. But while this same strategy is being employed in France by a central organization that’s responsible for the process, offending IP addresses in the United States will be kept by individual ISPs. An independent technical review will determine whether evidence gathering techniques were properly executed in order to ensure that legitimate data has been collected. Depending on each ISP’s policy, any offender’s ISP notices and copyright alerts may be erased after 12 months of no notices from rights holders.

Quest DSL The Solution For Many Moderate Internet Users

Need for Speed — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:35:12 +0000

Even though it seems the world has been taken over by ultra-fast forms of internet like cable, many are still opting for the convenience and affordability that can be found with a connection from companies like Quest DSL. A DSL connection, while not as fast as fiber optic, can offer plenty of speed for all sorts of online activities. And the convenience comes with the nature of the connection; DSL works by splitting the signal in your phone line to allow for both voice and data (internet). So you can surf and download while leaving your phone line free for those important calls. And DSL has become much more reliable in recent years, so there’s no need to worry about dropped connections that interrupt your downloads and viewing of online video.

Internet Service Providers In My Area Joined By New Hacking Victims

Need for Speed — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 22:42:42 +0000

You may think that ISPs and internet users are the only ones vulnerable to hacking. But hackers may be scoping more vulnerable targets than internet service providers in my area: vehicles. McAfee, the computer security company, recently released a report, the first of its kind to address this potentially disastrous issue. Entitled “Caution: Malware Ahead”, the report warns consumers and auto-makers alike that the security of digital technology in automobiles is almost non-existent, and so is vulnerable to malicious attacks. It has already been demonstrated that automobile computer functions can be easily hacked, both by entering a vehicle physically and from afar with the use of smart phones. In-car Bluetooth connections can also be compromised for the purpose of stealing personal information. Automobile makers appear to be heeding the warnings in the report, as many are allegedly already in the active stages of designing new security measures.

Verizon Internet Service Activates New Cell Site In DeKalb

Need for Speed — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:51:24 +0000

In a move that will improve wireless coverage on the Northern Illinois University campus and beyond, Verizon Internet Service has activated a new cell site, complete with permanent backup generator for emergency situations. With the company’s customers relying heavily on their wireless devices in order to communicate, the need to do this seamlessly is the company’s top priority. With better cell coverage, more customers will be able to take advantage of the features available via wireless, such as internet access, viewing of videos online, sending and receiving e-mail that includes pictures and videos, and downloading media such as games and ringtones. The company says coverage will also greatly improve in the engineering, computer science and psychology buildings which are located on the Northern Illinois University campus.