An article in PC World recently addressed a question that many people probably are wondering; can you share a wifi connection with your neighbor so that you are both only paying half of one subscription. It sounds like a great way to save money, especially if you are only a casual internet user and don’t want to pay the current rates for a broadband subscription. But the author makes some valid points as to why this is not a very good idea. For starters, what if your neighbor downloads something illegal, such as child pornography, on a subscription with your name on it. All of a sudden, the onus is on you to convince federal law enforcement agencies that you’re innocent. Or what if they hacked into your computer and stole important personal information? Finally, it’s simply a bad idea because you would be violating the internet providers’ terms of service. If you are caught, the consequences could be serious, including legal action.
Speed and Savings with Internet Providers by Zip Code
Saving money has become a priority for many American families, and checking out internet providers by zip code is a great way to get great internet services for lower prices. These promotions are only available online and in many instances come with extras that would never be available anywhere else. Taking a look at what type of service you wish to get and doing a quick search of current promotions will insure that your investment in your internet connection is the best match for you. As these promotions change frequently, keeping up to date on what the latest offers are for your services will keep you saving.
Qwest Review of CenturyLink’s Department of Defense Job
On December 19, 2011 CenturyLink announced via PRNewswire that they have won a job from the Department of Defense Information Systems Agency/Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization valued at more than $250 million to setup private line services between various military installations. The secure private Networx Program lines will be dedicated for military use, and will be protected with multiple applications with flexible network configurations. SVP and General Manager Diana Gowen said “CenturyLink will deploy its optical network infrastructure to deliver highly reliable and capable private line services to support the critical and growing needs of our Defense customers. CenturyLink’s private line services have extensive geographic coverage that will ensure fast, direct, and secure communications between U.S. militar bases, posts, camps and stations.” News like this solidifies the positive Qwest Review that CenturyLink, formerly known as Qwest, deserves.
A Mother Laments Amazon Does Not Provide Parental Controls like ATT Uverse
A blogger by the name of Caryn Talty recently wrote an entry on HealthyFamily.org about her Kindle Fire, the new e-tablet she purchased from Amazon. She said she was concerned because it was very easy to access R-rated content using Amazon Instant Videos — a program that is, at least for the time being, free to new Kindle Fire owners. “I wish Amazon would provide parental controls that are as easy to use as the controls that are on ATT Uverse. We should protect our children from inappropriate content” said Talty. Other parents have expressed that Amazon should provide parents the option of using a pin number to screen content for kids. Instead, the Amazon Fire offers a one click default option when making a purchase. Magazines, books and comic books are purchased with one click — with no parental controls in place.
Verizon Review: Verizon Teaming with Redbox to Compete for Online Entertainment
The Hollywood Reporter, in an article this week, reported that a new subscription service designed to compete with online streaming giants Hulu and Netflix has caused the stock of Coinstar to jump up 8% in value. The shares rose on Thursday after published reports revealed the company’s Redbox Movie-Kiosk company will team up with Verizon to start an online business to compete with Amazon, Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, and others. The Verizon review indicated the telecom giant previously considered purchasing Hulu. Lowell McAdam, Verizon CEO, said: “We looked at Hulu, and some other alternatives — and we will continue to look at all available options.” The Hollywood Reporter article said that Verizon & Redbox should be ready to launch their new venture by the middle of 2012, and will provide various types of entertainment content via live streaming and downloading.
Will Rain or Snow Affect My Satellite Internet Reception?
Satellite signals are frequently affected by precipitation like snow and rain. This occurs when moisture invades the signal path that stands between the satellite and the ground station, or satellite dish, being used by the end-user. This condition, in fact, is frequently referred to as rain fade. Today, however, large satellite Internet companies employ special techniques to help reduce rain fade. There have been technical advances in residential-type satellite signals which have greatly enhanced their effectiveness in precipitation. If you have a question, check with your satellite provider who should give you honest answers. If you require a constant, dependable Internet signal in a geographical location that is known for particularly heavy rain or snow, it is recommended you go with a C-band satellite system. The C band (4/6 GHz) with a circular polarization satellite is a common solution for folks who need reliable Internet service in the tropics.
The Internet Service Providers in Your City Can Get You Hooked Up to Some Very Funny Websites!
Want to have some fun online? There are thousands of Internet sites that have been set up for no other reason than to make you laugh! For instance, how would you like to watch some very funny cat videos? One such website is called funnycatvideos.net and it features hilarious videos of kittens and cats doing some amazing things — most of them are pretty funny. Naturally, there are similar websites for dogs, like funnydogvideos.org with great videos of dogs performing some bizarre and zany behaviors! Of course while we are at it, let’s not leave out funny babies, funny jokes, funny dancing, funny singing — well, you get the picture! Whenever you are feeling a little blue, just log onto one of these entertaining websites and you will instantly have your spirits lifted. Is watching videos a problem with your current Internet connection? If so, you can check with the Internet service providers in your city to get your connection up to speed in no time!
Sirius, XM and Wild Blue Internet: A Discussion About Satellite Radio and Satellite Internet
Sirius – XM are most well known for satellite radio programming, but a large portion of its future success will actually be tied to the Internet. Aptly, this portion of their programming is being referred to as Sirius – XM Internet Radio. You might assume that the programming on Sirius – XM Internet Radio is the same that they broadcast over their satellite and listened to on special satellite radios, but that’s not the case. The company currently features dozens of channels on the Internet not available with their satellite radio programming — and a number of channels available via satellite that can’t be streamed on the Internet. Also, there’s a large group of channels associated with Satellite Radio 2.0 which can be heard only on the Internet or using the latest satellite radio receivers. Satellite radio has been around for several years now, but should not to be confused with satellite Internet, such as WildBlue Internet, that transmits your Internet signal, not just a radio signal, via satellite to your own satellite dish.
It’s Time Once Again for the Annual Holiday ATT Uverse Review!
Well, according to the Sacramento Bee, it is once again time for the annual ATT Uverse review so we can find out what goodies are in store for us this year. Once again Uverse is offering some great holiday treats such as the Santa Tracker on channel 98. The Santa Tracker provides families with an assortment of holiday games, the famous “naughty or nice” poll, seasonal sing-a-longs with holiday stories and music and Rudolph Radio. Naturally, on Christmas Eve you will be able to watch real-time reports on the whereabouts of Santa as he makes his annual circle around the globe! The Santa Tracker app is available to Uverse subscribers free of charge. Another AT&T holiday offering is the Yule Tide Log, which appears on channel 800. Turn to this channel on Uverse TV and instantly convert any room in your home into a cozy greeting card — if you have a fireplace or not!
Verizon FiOS Customers Get New Tool for Real Time Stock Quotes
The Media Daily News reported this week that customers of Verizon FiOS no longer need to be tuned into CNBC in order to follow the financial markets. A new app, which was recently launched, enables customers to receive charts, stock quotes and financial news in a ribbon on the side of their TV screen — no matter what program or channel they are watching. The app, which employs the Fidelity Market Monitor, permits viewers to monitor a maximum of 25 stocks and/or mutual funds. It also provides an option, via the remote, that lets viewers receive specific quotes. The app is free and it is being made available to the more than four million Verizon FiOS subscribers. Sean Belka, Senior VP of Fidelity, said his company is “assertive in our efforts to introduce technological innovations that let investors keep in touch using the platforms and services they use each day, such as FiOS, Facebook and Twitter.”
Record Retail Holiday Sales for 2011 Shows Analysis from Qwest Internet & CenturyLink
According to reports released yesterday, retail online sales for the 2011 holiday season have already kicked off and are in high gear. Many feel that this year will see sales that will be 15% higher than last year. According to a recent analysis by Qwest Internet, Verizon, AT&T and CenturyLink, retail sales for the first three weeks of November have already exceeded $9,000,000,000 and it is believed that by the end of December that figure will have grown to close to $39,000,000,000! More and more companies are now offering their Black Friday sales to online customers — and customers are reporting better sales and larger discounts in 2011 that they found last year. Several of the big box stores actually opened up their after Thanksgiving Day sales early to online shoppers — many by two or three days.
Comcast Review: New Xfinity Wireless Gateway Is a Stress Reliever for the Holidays
Comcast today announced plans to offer its subscribers an all-in-one remedy to power all of the WiFi-enabled devices they are expected to receive over the holiday period. The Xfinity Wireless Gateway, which will be maintained by Comcast, thus eliminating concerns about repairing or replacing modems or routers. It will also eliminate electronic clutter on tabletops by combining three devices into one. Cathy Avgiris, Comcast Senior V.P. of Communications, said: “As individuals bring more and more wireless devices into their homes, the Xfinity Wireless Gateway will ensure our subscribers will be delivered the speeds they must have to have a really great experience.” According to a recent Comcast review, the Xfinity Gateway will provide users with a simple, fast and convenient way to get connected — just in time for the holidays.
HughesNet Satellite Internet May Receive Competition in Rural Areas from FCC
CBS News reported this week that one third of American families do not have high-speed Internet available in their homes — and that creates a challenge in their daily lives. From job searches to school work, more and more of the daily functions of life are now performed online. The federal government is attempting to make high-speed access available to more families with a new program that will provide families with two years of Internet service for just $9.95 per month. Julius Genachowski, Federal Communications chairman said, “There is the challenge of deployment. Rural America has over 20 million residents that simply don’t have broadband infrastructure available where they live.” To date, the only broadband available in remote areas has been via satellite, such as HughesNet satellite Internet. Genachowski continued: “We have adopted some major reforms to our rules. We plan to update current phone programs to broadband programs. We are focusing our attention on low-cost broadband for those who don’t currently have it or cannot afford it.”
Evaluating the Internet Service Providers in Your Area
The Sacramento Bee today reported that comScore, Inc., a company that measures the digital world, released its most recent analysis of market share for business Internet usage. The analysis indicated that AT&T was the leading business ISP during September, with a 20% market share. Verizon came in second with a 12% share and CenturyLink was ranked third with a 7% share. The five biggest business ISPs accounted for about 50% of all business Internet traffic in the United States. “The ISP market reveals that the field is led by a just a few top providers. However, even though small carriers contribute just a fraction of the total traffic handled by the top providers, the business marketplace is still much more competitive than the residential market when it comes to ISPs,” according to comsScore VP, Greg Mishkin. Are you familiar with the Internet service providers in your area? They can easily be found with a simple online search using your zip code.
Rules Prohibit Cable, Wireless & DSL Providers from Blocking Online Services
Rules designed to prohibit cable, wireless and DSL providers from interfering unfairly with internet traffic managed to survive an attempt by Republican senators to throw them out. The rules allow DSL and cable subscribers to use websites, online services and programs of their choosing. They prohibit Internet service providers from blocking services, like online Internet phone calls or online video sites, which compete with the ISP’s own offerings. Mobile providers, like Sprint and Verizon are given more leeway, but cannot block competing services such as Skype and must be transparent in the way they manage their networks during congestion. Democrats were able to defeat the measure in a vote which followed strict party-lines. The measure, which was introduced by Kay Bailey Hutcison of Texas, sought to undo the net neutrality rules which go into effect November 20. The final vote was 52 to 46.
Millions of Americans Still Use Dial-Up — Check for Internet Service Providers by Zip Code
Last week MSNBC reported that AOL has over 3.5 million customers that are still using their dial-up service! It appears that there are a lot of people in the USA that still are not enjoying a high-speed Internet connection. A recent Pew Research project revealed that about 7% of Americans were dial-up users — down from 14% two years ago. Of those using the slower dial-up service, about half said they didn’t think they would be changing anytime soon. They were asked what it would take to get them switch over to a broadband connection and 32% said the price would have to come down — which seems amazing to those of us who have reasonably priced broadband service. Sadly, 17% said said they would upgrade if faster service were available where they live. It is simple to find out if high-speed broadband is available in your area. All you have to do is search for Internet service providers by zip code.
Internet Service Providers in Your Area Make it Possible to Listen to Online Radio Programs
An interesting editorial at Radiosurvivor.com, a website dedicated to friends of broadcast radio, was published this past Tuesday. It said that each time a new format to distribute audio programming is introduced people still associate it with the term radio. For instance, when the first audio streams came on live during the mid 1990s, they were referred to as Internet radio. Later, when programming began being beamed from satellites for Sirius and XM, the medium was referred to as satellite radio. The term podcasting is an amalgam of the words iPod and broadcasting — the second word being a direct reference to broadcast radio. What all of this means is that radio continues to thrive, even as it evolves into different forms. Today, more than ever before, there is a massive variety of radio programming available — much of it online. Check with the Internet service providers in your area to find out more about how you can listen to online radio programming.
Miami Herald Reports Shell Oil Using Internet to Help Catch Pipeline Thieves in Nigeria
The Miami Herald reported yesterday that Shell Oil is using the Internet in an effort to stop thieves that are stealing oil from Shell pipelines in Nigeria. Sabotage and crude thefts have been a way of life for Shell in Nigeria and have resulted in massive oil spills that Shell gets blamed for. In yet another example of how the Internet is being used to benefit people, Shell has developed a special website that it hopes will aid in exposing the thieves. The petroleum giant is posting hundreds of photos and detailed reports about each and every oil spill on the new website which can be viewed from anywhere in the world.
“There is no other company in the Niger Delta that is coming close to our level of transparency” said Tony Attah, Shell Vice President. “But despite how efficiently we run our company, until this sabotage and these thefts are stopped, oil spills will continually blight Nigerian land and pollute its rivers and farms.” The website will show proof that the spills result from thefts by displaying photos of evidence such as hacksaw marks. It is unlikely, however, that Shell’s latest PR move will help the company’s long-term image which has been severely attacked by African environmentalists. Experts estimate that the amount of oil spilled over the past 50 years is equal to 50 Exxon Valdez disasters. Shell is hoping that the website will let the world see and understand what is happening in Nigeria.
Charter Communications Targeting DSL Customers of Some of the Best Internet Providers
You might think of Charter Communications as a cable company that specializes in video and cable television. Mike Lovett, President and CEO of Charter, however, also sees his company as an Internet Service provider with a high-speed Internet platform that he thinks can steal DSL business away from some of the best Internet providers in the marketplace. And that is just what his company intends to do. Said Lovett: “We have an opportunity to grow our Internet service, especially in homes in which we do not already enjoy a video relationship.” Charter’s Internet penetration is about 10% in homes that do not have Charter video, as opposed to approximately 60% in those homes with Charter video. “We know that there is plenty of room for growth,” said Lovett. Charter plans on marketing to DSL customers directly with what they believe to be superior broadband service.
How One Reporter was Taught All about His Wireless Phone and Verizon Internet Service
Mel Fabrikant, writing in today’s edition of the Paramus Post (New Jersey) said that, like many users of wireless phones, he finds there are lots of things about applications which he knows nothing about. Mel owns a Droid smart phone but just about everything he knows about his Droid he learned from a friend. So when Mel received an invitation to attend a Verizon Android workshop, he jumped at the opportunity. The free class was conducted by Verizon and was specifically designed for folks like Mel who are not technically savvy. The class taught basics and a great deal about how to use Verizon Internet service on your mobile device.
“The class was really good and educated us in the inner workings of the Droid wireless phone. Verizon personnel were constantly looking over our shoulders to help us locate various features. In fact, they all took great pains to make sure that we understood the subject at hand” said Mel. In no time at all Mel learned how to put the local weather on his screen, learned how to make his phone vibrate, ring, or both — and how to install a barcode scanner! Mel said he learned all of this in a class that lasted just over an hour. Verizon is currently planning similar classes in a number of different areas.
AT&T Internet Service Review to Assist Physicians Manage Patient Records at Baylor University
According to an AT&T Internet service review released yesterday, Baylor University, in Dallas, is deploying ATT Healthcare Community Online to assist over four thousand physicians who are currently on staff at various Baylor Medical facilities. The AT&T program is designed to help doctors exchange patient information securely. “When patients visit various Baylor facilities, they want us to know them and have access to their information. Doctors should be able to get this information easily” said David Muntz, Sr V.P. of Information for Baylor Health Systems.
The problem is that during the year 2010 Baylor medical facilities had more than 2.6 million patient visits. These visits took place at Baylor’s 26 hospitals, 23 ambulatory surgical centers, 50 outpatient locations, 4 senior centers and 156 clinics. The AT&T Internet-based healthcare program will help coordinate all this information and make it accessible. “Baylor definitely honors the sacred trust that exists between doctor and patient. The AT&T networks are designed to share, but also protect, critical patient information,” said Xavier Williams, Sr V.P. of AT&T Healthcare.
Fox Video On Demand Now Available to TV Subscribers According to Verizon FiOS Review
Fox Networks today announced that Verizon FiOS TV customers now have access to Fox VOD (Video on Demand). Fox VOD provides viewers with easy access to programs that appear on the Fox network, including most of Fox’s primetime lineup. Included in the list of Fox programs that are available are Bones, The Simpsons, Raising Hope, Family Guy and Glee. Also included are some of the new Fall programs, including Terra Nova, New Girl, and The X Factor. Programs will be available to view on Fox VOD one day after they appear on the network and will remain available to view for a full twenty-eight days. “The programming on Fox VOD is a very important addition to our offerings” said Terry Denson, Verizon VP of Content in a Verizon FiOS review. “We will continue to offer more and better content to our FiOS TV subscribers. This latest addition will provide them with an extremely convenient way to watch Fox programs in more places and in more ways — whether on their TV, mobile device or online.”
U-Verse Television with AT&T Internet Service Ranked Number One Nationwide
Higher earnings for service providers resulted from new services and equipment being offered to consumers — including HDTV, DVRs and Video on Demand. J.D. Powers & Assocs reported last week that monthly bills for triple-play consumers (families who subscribe to all three: TV, Internet and telephone) have risen to a national average of $150.00 per month, up $10 from last year. In its yearly review of the best service providers, AT&T U-Verse, for the fourth consecutive year, earned the top spot. U-Verse, which combines television, phone service and AT&T Internet service, topped the rankings in the Western, Southern and North Central regions of the United States. East Cost viewers ranked DirecTV as #1 for customer satisfaction. The study revealed that premium channel viewing using satellite TV services has declined over the past 12 months, while that same segment has increased in homes using cable TV services.