House of Representatives passes spyware legislation

Legislation has been passed by the House of Representatives to fight the rising tide of Internet spyware and other scams.

Gaining unauthorized access to a PC in order to carry out another federal offense will now be a criminal offense in its own right and could incur http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifa five-year prison term. And stealing or transmitting personal information in order to defraud somebody or damage a computer could be punishable with a prison term of up to two years.

The bill was sponsored by Democrat Zoe Lofgren, who claimed that 90 percent of Americans have spyware on their computers. Ms Lofgren said that spyware "is one of the biggest threats to consumers on the internet". Co-sponsoring the bill was Bob Goodlatte, a Republican, who said that it "protects consumers" and online businesses.

Included in the bill is an allocation of $10 million to help the Justice Department fight various computer scams, including phishing. Levels of malware have skyrocketed over the last year at a greater rate than in preceding years, according a recent report. In their most recent report, IBM's internet security systems researchers found over 7,200 vulnerabilities, most of which could be exploited by attackers.

For a free service availability check go to www.dsldance.com

Yahoo! Eyes Social Networking Site

The internet giant Yahoo! is rumoured to be mulling over the purchase of the social networking site Bebo, the Daily Telegraph has claimed.

It is thought that Yahoo! could pay up to $1 billion for Bebo, which is about a quarter of the size of the world's most popular social networking site, MySpace. Last year, rumours were rife that Bebo turned down bids from both British Telecom and Viacom.

The founder of Bebo, Michael Birch, has stated in the past that he would rather float the company than sell it outright. This year has seen a rash of internet takeovers which has caused the stock of fast-growing internet companies to skyrocket. The latest takeover was by Microsoft, who last week paid $6 billion to take over the digital marketing company Aquantive.

Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! are the main players in the race to acquire these lucrative companies. In April Google won a major coup by acquiring the internet advertiser DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash.

Microsoft To Acquire Aquantive

Software giant Microsoft is to acquire the digital marketing company Aquantive for $6 billion, it has been announced. The move is part of a wider effort from the company to expand its presence in the lucrative world of online advertising.

After the acquisition, Microsoft will acquire Seattle-based Aquantive's Atlas Media Console and Drive PM solutions for advertisers and publishers. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer said: "The advertising industry is evolving and growing at an incredible pace, moving increasingly toward online and IP-served platforms, which dramatically increases the importance of software for this industry.

"Today's announcement represents the next step in the evolution of our ad network." Microsoft will also gain control of Aquantive's own interactive advertisement agency, Avenue A Razorfish. In April, Google won the race to acquire the ubiquitous internet advertiser Doubleclick, paying $3.1 billion for the company.

The New York-based Doubleclick was founded in 1995 by Kevin O'Connor and Dwight Merriman.

Google Warns Of Drive-by Downloads

Google Warns Of Drive-by Downloads

Internet sites which contain malware that can infect a PC are becoming increasingly prevalent, the internet search giant Google has warned.

A full one in ten web pages is capable of launching a "drive-by download", meaning that it could place malware onto a PC. Using such software, hackers can steal sensitive information and infect PCs, Google cautioned. Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at the security company Sophos, said: "They [hackers] used to spread malware by email attachment. What they do now is spam out URLs.

"You cannot protect users by restricting what sites they go to. You need to start protecting your web access, as well as your email gateway." Such malware present on websites is becoming "a considerable problem" for both businesses and personal users, Mr Cluley added. Meanwhile, companies have been warned to be aware of a worm which inhabits removable drives like floppy disks and USB sticks.

Sophos has stated that the W32/SillyFD-AA copies itself onto removable drives and then infiltrates the computers they are subsequently hooked up to.

Windows Updates Hijacked

Windows Updates Hijacked

Malware could be installed onto a PC in the security updates issued by Windows, experts have stated.

There is currently a program in circulation that is capable of hijacking Windows Update and installing malware that could leave a computer vulnerable to attack. The program works by bypassing a user's firewall and then downloading damaging files that then remain undetected.

A Microsoft spokesman stated: "Microsoft is aware of phttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifublic reports that Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is being used by TrojanDownloader:Win32/Jowspry. "The bypass most commonly occurs after a successful social engineering attempt lures the user into inadvertently running [Jowspry], which then utilizes BITS to download additional malware."

Speaking to the BBC, security consultant Robert Schifreen said that the way to avoid infecting one's PC is to not click on any links or attachments unless one is sure that they are not infected. Meanwhile, management company Fortinet has joined the Microsoft Virus Information Alliance (VIA) to collaborate on monitoring the distribution of internet viruses.

www.dsldance.com

Broadband users spend half of free time surfing the net

People who have broadband end up spending almost half their free time surfing the internet, according to recent research.

During the week, users with high-speed internet spend approximately 48 percent of their free time on the net, a survey from Media-Screen shows. And 48 percent of young users of the broadband go on the internet to find out information about the entertainment sector, compared to 25 percent who rely on TV, the survey discovered.

Josh Crandall, managing director of Media-Screen, said: "Many broadband consumers go online for entertainment and to talk about entertainment with other fans. "Marketers need to leverage that interest and focus on catalysing a conversation now, instead of just talking to their fans via traditional advertising channels."

Of the time spent on the internet 27 percent is spent communicating with others, while 12 percent is spent shopping and nine percent searching for news or information. Meanwhile, a fake version of the next book in the popular Harry Potter series has hit the internet and fooled thousands of readers.

With a length of 250,000 words, the fake version of the book is similar enough to the real books that it took in legions of fans of the teenage wizard.

A win for the little guy!

Cable TV battles to heat up

Lawmakers OK bill that will widen franchise options
By JIM SAUNDERS
Tallahassee Bureau Chief

TALLAHASSEE -- With supporters saying more competition will drive down prices for consumers, Florida lawmakers passed a plan Monday that will help telephone companies get into the cable-television business.

The measure, which set off a lobbying war in the Capitol, will allow companies to get statewide cable franchises and avoid having to negotiate agreements with individual cities and counties.

Phone companies hope that will clear the way for them to compete with cable companies, which have entered local franchise agreements in the past and dominated markets.

The phone and cable industries fought about the issue for more than a year. But the bill passed Monday reflects a compromise that allows cable companies --- along with phone companies --- to get statewide franchises.

Officials of both industries said the bill is part of a major shift in which phone and cable companies will compete to sell "bundled" packages that include home-phone, cable, high-speed Internet and cell-phone services.

"We're entering an era of the battle of the bundles," said Steve Wilkerson, president of the Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, a cable-industry group.

To check for service availability go to www.dsldance.com

Yahoo! Expands Online Music Library

Internet giant Yahoo! has substantially expanded its music library, the company has announced.

Now music fans will have access to a database of the lyrics to over 400,000 songs, the largest online lyrics library in the world. Songs from approximately 9,000 different artists, including the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Beyonce and Radiohead are featured in the library. While many other websites offer the lyrics to songs, most have not obtained the permission of those that own the copyright and so are technically breaking the law, Yahoo! stated.

Ian Rogers, general manager of Yahoo! Music, said of the service: "It fills a huge, gaping hole out there." Yahoo! is to share revenue generated by the ads that will be shown next to the lyric with those that own the copyrights to the songs. Meanwhile, online music site Napster has announced that it is to start offering a subscription service for access to its online library of songs. Napster has allied with electronics retail giant Circuit City to deploy the service, which will be called Circuit City + Napster.

"Music and video continue to drive the Internet," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative website. "With companies like Apple, Yahoo, Napster and Rhapsody this trend will continue to grow along side video, VoIP and IPTV"

For more information on broadband and other digital related products and services visit www.broadbandnatinal.com

AT&T To Offer Free Napster To Go

Communication giant AT&T has offered its wireless and broadband Internet customers a year free access to the Napster To Go service.

From April 1st broadband subscribers that add wireless phone service, or vice versa, will be able to use the Napster service, which offers over three million songs. Currently AT&T's wireless unit, Cingular, is America's largest cell carrier, boasting in excess of 60 million subscribers.

Rick Welday, chief marketing officer of AT&T Consumer, said: "By tying Napster To Go to AT&T's robust communications network, we're turning up the volume nationwide on both consumer value and added convenience." By joining communication with entertainment, AT&T is showing that it is committed to delivering content at home and "on the go", added Mr. Welday.

AT&T has also announced that residents of Kansas City will now be able to its U-verse services. U-verse features AT&T's fiber-rich network with television and high-speed Internet services available on demand.

"Napster concludes their fiscal year 2007 with over 830,000 paid subscribers, which many believe makes them the largest on-demand music service in the industry," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative website. "This would make Napster larger than Rhapsody, and larger than all of the other remaining competitors combined."http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

For more information on broadband and other digital related products and services visit www.broadbandnatinal.com

One Third Of Americans Do Not Want Internet

Less than one-third of American households have access to the Internet and do not want it, according to recent survey.

Most of these people do not see the Internet as being able to help their lives in any concrete way, the research from technology research firm Park Associates found. Some forty-four percent of households without the Internet said that they were not interested in anything it had to offer, while 22 per cent said they could not afford a computer or the service.

And 17 percent said that they did not have the Internet because they did not know how to use it and three percent said that the Internet did not reach their house. John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates, said: "The industry continues to chip away at the core of non-subscribers, but has a ways to go. "Entertainment applications will be the key. If anything will pull in the holdouts, it's going to be applications that make the Internet more akin to pay TV."

Meanwhile, new research from the Pew Hispanic Center in the U.S. has found that Hispanics are falling behind other cultural groups in the use of the Internet because their English skills are lacking. A full 56 percent of Hispanics in the US use the Internet, but this figure is well below that of other groups, the rhttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifeport from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet Project found.

We've identified two groups of people that are resistant to the Internet," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative website. "Hispanic's that don't speak or read English and the elderly that feel computers are too difficult and complicated to use. The industry needs to take greater steps to embrace theses market segments because the growth potential is enormous."

For more information on broadband and other digital related products and services visit www.broadbandnatinal.com

FCC To Examine Broadband

The FCC is to launch a study into whether different broadband providers can offer different rates for services of varying capabilities and speed.

However, many have expressed doubts about the "notice of enquiry", as it is an academic study of the situation, not a decisive action. In addition, the regulatory body will also look at how providers manage Internet traffic and if the FCC should differentiate between providers that charge for content and those who do not.

Democrat Michael Copps, who sits on the FCC, said a notice of enquiry is "not the way to sail boldly forward." "I want an FCC that unconditionally states its preference for non-discrimination on the Internet." Of late, net neutrality has become a controversial issue among regulators.

FCC chairman Kevin J Martin said that the FCC "remains vigilant" in protecting consumer's access to Internet content. Meanwhile, the FCC has classified wireless broadband as an information service, which puts it in the same bracket as cable modem service, wireline broadband internet access service, and broadband over power line.

To compare broadband prices of over 50 providers visit www.broadbandnational.com

Verizon Business Named Top Service Provider

Verizon Business Named Top Service Provider

Verizon Business has been named the best service provider to big companies and the government by a consulting firm.

Frost & Sullivan awarded Verizon Business its Product Line Strategy Award for enterprise wide area networking (WAN) services. The company was recognized for its ability to introduce new WAN products in a strategic way to compliment the products already in place. Nancy Gofus, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Verizon Business, said: "Our product set underpins the next-generation services our customers require to do
business better around the world. http://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

"As a global networking and IT leader, we will continue to invest in and lay the right foundation for large businesses and government agencies to communicate and operate reliably and seamlessly around the globe." In rewarding Verizon Business, Frost & Sullivan particularly highlighted the company's 2006 expansion of its Ethernet Virtual Private Line service from the US to six countries in Asia as a crucial improvement of its Enterprise WAN portfolio.

Meanwhile, a jury has ruled that the Internet phone giant Vonage must pay Verizon Wireless $58 million for infringing three patents. The patents were among the technologies that made it possible for Vonage to offer its much-touted low-cost telephone service over the Internet, Verizon contended.

For more information on Verizon Business Products and other broadband services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Slacker.com Makes Internet Radio Mobile

San Diego-based Slacker.com has debuted its own satellite-based radio service, which combines Internet radio, portable music and satellite distribution.

Currently the service is only in the testing stage, but when it is fully functioning could provide over 10,000 stations to users.

And by using the Slacker DJ function, the service also makes it possible for listeners to devise their own stations based on the kind of music they like.

Slacker co-founder and chief executive Dennis Mudd, said: "The only problem is that until now, personalized radio has been stuck on the PC.

"Slacker solves that problem."

Though Slacker is ad-based and therefore free of charge, the company is set to launch a premium service costing $7.50 per month, which will be ad-free and provide more flexibility to users.

In addition, the company is also to release the Slacker Personal Radio Player, which will be Wi-Fi enabled and able to play the user's personal playlists.

“Slacker has a taken a unique approach to the radio business,” states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National whose website broadbandnational.com is considered the industry leader for users shopping for broadband and related digital products and services. “It’s much like an MP3 player but instead of play lists of songs Slacker.com offers customized radio stations.”

For information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

NBC And MobiTV Ally To Provide Wireless Primetime

For the first time viewers will be able to watch primetime shows over a wireless network, thanks to a recently announced deal between NBC Universal and MobiTV. In addition the two companies will also choose short form programming from Bravo, SCI FI Channel, USA Network, Telemundo and mun2. The programs will be available over five new channels, all of which are to be available to subscribers. Jean-Briac Perrette, president, NBC Universal Digital Distribution, said: "This is an extraordinary partnership with MobiTV and we're excited to be the first major network to offer our viewers wireless access to their favorite primetime shows on demand. "In addition, this groundbreaking deal with MobiTV will create another platform for NBC's partner advertisers to reach their audience." And Jeff Bartee, vice president content and programming for MobiTV, called the deal a "significant milestone in the history of television". The current seasons of popular shows like The Office, Heroes, Monk and Battlestar Galactica will be available on the new service. "The expansion of broadband networks makes these types of partnership possible," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National. "We have millions of people coming to our website and comparative shopping the more than 50 providers we represent." For more information on broadband and other related products and services, or to comparative shop for the best possible broadband deal visit www.broadbandnational.com

iTunes Most Recognizable

Apple's popular music downloading site iTunes was the most recognizable music brand among teenagers in the US in 2006, according to a new survey.

A full 66 percent of people aged 12 and over were aware of iTunes last year, according to the Tempo Digital Music Brandscape study from Ipso Insight. This number is up from the 57 per cent who knew about the site in 2005. Matt Kleinschmit, author of the Tempo study, said: "While iTunes' awareness gains in 2006 have been salient, many industry watchers had anticipated them."

Social networking site MySpace also had a good year in 2006, with recognition rising from 16 percent in 2005 to 54 percent last year. Napster was not so fortunate however, with its recognition declining from 79 percent in 2005 to 68 percent in 2006. The Tempo study surveyed 1,501 downloaders over the age of 12 from August 21st to 30th.

"Music continues to be a driving force behind the Internet," states Mark Weibel the EVP of Marketing for Broadband National who operates the leading comparative shopping website for broadband and other digital related products and services. "Due to the expansion of broadband Internet users can quickly download and start to enjoy music and videos."

For more information on broadband and downloadable music visit www.broadbandnational.com

U.S. Hispanics Avoiding Internet

Hispanics in the U.S. are falling behind other cultural groups on using the Internet because their English skills are lacking, according to a recent report.

A full 56 percent of Hispanics in the U.S. use the Internet, but this figure is well below that of other groups, the report from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Pew Internet Project found. By contrast, 60 percent of black people in the US reported being on the Internet and 71 percent of white people said they regularly used it.

Susannah Fox, one of the co-authors of the report, said: "For many people living in the U.S., the Internet is the go-to source for information and for staying in touch with friends and family. "We find that significant portions of the population are cut off from online resources." The study also found that while 32 per cent of adults who only speak Spanish use the Internet, 76 percent of those who are bi-lingual use it regularly.

"This is precisely why we created our Spanish language website 'comprabroadband.com," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National whose website broadbandnational.com is considered the industry leader for users shopping for broadband and related digital products and services. "There's a void that we're filling," states Vinny Olmstead CEO of Broadband National. "Our providers haven't been moving fast enough to address the market pressures so we saw and opportunity for us."

For information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com or www.comprabroadband.com

AT&T Announced $750 Million Global Investment

Communications provider AT&T is to invest more than $750 million this year in delivering global IP services and solutions to businesses across the world.

The extra money will help the company to extend its global IP network and capabilities, allowing it to provide more services to business customers in the US and elsewhere. It will also allow for the extended deployment of key access technologies, such as DSL, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and satellite, to help companies connect to AT&T's global IP network.

"In a global environment where IP network and convergence trends continue to transform companies and whole industries, we're well-positioned to meet our customers' needs," said Dick Anderson, AT&T group president for global business services. The company will focus its investment on key markets in fast growing economies in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America, as well as developed markets in Europe and Canada.

AT&T offers, among other things, IP-based business communications services, high-speed wireless Internet access and voice services.

For more information on AT&T broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Internet Advertising Not Enough For News Sources

News organizations in the U.S. are facing a worsening financial struggle as they look for alternative sources of revenue.

A new study from the Project for Excellence in Journalism, dubbed State of the News Media 2007 has found that the Internet has not garnered new sources for revenue as they had hoped. Internet advertising especially has not lived up to the high hopes that news organizations, especially newspapers, have held for it.

"The hope that Internet advertising will someday match what print and television now bring in appears to be vanishing," the study stated. Charging web users to access news is one possibility that could garner the extra income needed, the study suggests.

In the last few years, newspaper stocks have been steadily declining as consumers turn to other outlets to get their news. Newspaper analyst John Morton told Reuters that newspapers must invest more heavily in new technology and devising ways for it to pay off.

"What we have discovered is that newspapers have moved quicker than broadcast TV stations in adapting to the online video advertising marketplace," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "Estimates are that the local online video advertising marketplace will reach $371 million this year or about 5% of total online ad spending. And that traditional media, especially newspapers are playing a significant role."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

EU Pressure On iTunes Grows

The EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection has recently condemned the relationship between iTunes and the iPod.

Meglena Kuneva told the magazine Focus that iTunes forces consumers to use the iPod rather than have a choice of mp3 players. The commissioner also called for more competitive pricing and sales contracts that were all uniform. Ms. Kuneva said: "Do you think it's fine that a CD plays in all CD players but that a song purchased from iTunes only plays in an iPod? I don't. Something has to change. " In the past France, Germany and Norway have all demanded that iTunes open up its online music store to other devices.

Last month, the chief executive of Apple, Steve Jobs, said: "Those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. "For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard."

"Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a controversial topic. Advocates argue DRM is necessary for copyright holders to prevent unauthorized duplication of their work to ensure continued revenue streams." states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "Some critics of the technology, including the Free Software Foundation, suggest that the use of the word "Rights" is misleading and suggest that people instead use the term Digital Restrictions Management."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

U.S. Still Number One In Online Audience

The U.S. has more people online than any other nation on earth, according to a recent survey.

However, last year the population of Internet users increased the most in India, Russia and China, the survey by comScore Networks shows. There are now 747 million Internet users over 15 years of age around the globe, the wide-ranging survey found.

Bob Ivins, managing director of comScore Europe, said: "The importance of the worldwide internet population continues to grow. "Internet users outside the U.S. now account for 80 percent of the world's online population, with rapidly developing countries experiencing double-digit growth rates year-over- year."

The Canadians spend the most time online, the survey found, averaging 39.6 hours per month online. Israel, South Korea, the U.S. and the UK follow Canada as the users that spend the most time online. These countries all have extremely high broadband penetration rates, which account for the longer time spent online, the survey found.

Meanwhile, Telephony Online has recently discovered that the U.S. is not among the top ten countries with the most Internet protocol television (IPTV) subscriptions. With 896,000 IPTV subscribers, France tops the list of countries with the most IPTV subscriptions, a new report from the marketing researcher Dittberner has found.

"We're seeing tremendous growth in all areas of digital products and services," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "As providers expand and upgrade their networks the user base continues to expand."

For more information on high-speed broadband access visit www.broadbandnational.com

AT&T Integrates Homezone Service

As part of the company's ongoing efforts to deliver media through the PC, TV and wireless phone, AT&T have debuted the Homezone service.

Using the service, customers can control their television recordings via their wireless handsets. AT&T also claims to have widely expanded the service's content via the Internet to include multiple new program titles.

Rick Welday, chief marketing officer for AT&T Consumer, said: "When consumers think TV, we want them to think AT&T and compelling features, like wireless remote access and thousands of downloadable titles, give us an entertainment service that goes beyond others on the market today." Homezone also lets users look at listings as well as set off video-on-demand downloads, the only service that offers this capability.

Users' can also take advantage of Akimbo, one of the largest video-on-demand services in the U.S., with over 15,000 titles. And Akimbo adds over 150 new titles to its library every week. Meanwhile, AT&T has announced a major expansion of its worldwide Wi-Fi hotspots for business customers. Up to 13,000 new hotspots, available to AT&T Remote Access customers, will be added at hotels, restaurants and airports worldwide.

"We’re seeing growth spurred by the introduction and sale of hardware devices that can convert videos downloaded from the Internet into signals that can be played on high definition television sets," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website.

For more information on wireless networks and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Joost To Offer JumpTV Programs

Joost To Offer JumpTV Programs

New Internet television outfit Joost has announced that it has forged a deal to offer content from JumpTV over the Internet.

Under the agreement, Joost will be able to offer Spanish-language programming from Chile, Peru and Colombia, in addition to Arabic-language shows. JumpTV is the world's most prolific broadcaster of ethnic television over the Internet and its content library features programming in Spanish, Arabic, Romanian, Turkish, Russian and Bengali.

Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, president and chief executive officer at JumpTV International, said: "We see Joost as a unique and important distribution/programming partner. Like us, the Joost team innately understands the power of viral, high-affinity long-tail content - for example, JumpTV's ethnic TV programming. Because of the high success rate of its founders Joost could completely transform online television, added Mr. Tuzman. Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, the duo behind the highly successful Internet phone company Skype, founded Joost.

"The target audience would be expatriates and ethnic audiences interested in watching TV from their homelands," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "The news that online TV platform Joost will be adding more programs to its growing inventory of TV shows with international YV program distributor JumpTV has surely had the media buzzing with speculation of its growing threat to YouTube."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Video Game Soundtracks To Be Sold On iTunes

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that it will be selling music from its most popular video games on iTunes.

Soundtracks from the biggest-selling games will be available, including those from such titles as Madden NFL and Burnout. Music from Need for Speed will also be sold, including the infamous Snoop Dogg remix of The Doors' classic Riders on the Storm.

Steve Schnur, worldwide executive of music and marketing at EA, commented: "Our game soundtracks have now officially transcended their consoles. "All songs, all mixes and all exclusives from all nations: if it’s in the game, it's now available for fans to own. We consider this to be the next major step in evolving the music discovery experience." The EA website gets more than six million hits per month, with songs, scores, beats and ringtones to be made available in coming weeks.

"The iTunes Music Store is the perfect platform for videogame soundtrack sales," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "The collection available on iTunes will span music from the sounds of the first available consoles to the latest orchestral compositions."

For more information on online gaming as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

18 Million U.S. Fiber Subscribers By 2011

The three million U.S. subscribers with home fiber links in 2007 will skyrocket to 18 million by the year 2011, according to recent research.

Over the next five years the amount of fiber subscriptions will rise to rival cable and DSL connections, a report from Parks Associates has shown. A combination of telecom companies pushing the connections and consumer demand for new information and video services will see use of fiber lines rise exponentially, the report states.

"While fiber is a small percentage of total US broadband household subscriptions today, it will achieve a faster growth rate than DSL and cable did after their inception," said research analyst Chris Roden. Large communication companies like Verizon and AT&T are intending to beat the broadband deals offered by cable companies and their plans to improve their copper networks, added Mr. Roden. Additionally, rising consumer demand for bundled services including IPTV and video-on-demand are also pushing the demand for fiber links, the Parks Associates report stated.

"An intensely competitive communications market is making deployment of new services, like IPTV, a critical objective for many service providers," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website, "But service structure and payment models used to deliver IPTV vary widely by region and service provider."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

NHL Planning To Broadcast Live Games Over Broadband

The National Hockey League (NHL) could soon be streaming live games over broadband, it has announced.


According to Keith Ritter, president of NHL Interactive Cyber Enterprises, the league's satellite and cable package could be available to high-speed Internet users before the end of the season. He said that the NHL wants to ensure the broadband package is secure in order to protect broadcast partners Versus, NBC and the regional sports networks, reports Multichannel news.


"We've been testing it, but our primary concern is the security of the gating and the ability to make sure our broadcast partners are protected," Mr. Ritter said. "So far, the test is going very well, and I'm hopeful that we'll be able to offer it in the not-too-distant future." Established in 1917 with five teams, the NHL has now grown to 30 teams. The majority is based in the U.S., although there is a small presence in Canada.


National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and ESPN already offer broadband packages, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "It's our understanding that NHL will charge a fee for the service but an exact cost has not been determined yet"


For more information on high-speed broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Fast Internet For Fast Food

When grabbing a bite to eat, business professionals increasingly want a high-speed Internet connection with their fast food, companies believe.

Marriot, Starbucks and Panera Bread are among brands that have promoted themselves as places where business people can expect to connect to wireless Internet while on the go. In response to this growing trend, Indianapolis-based firm eWireless is unveiling its brand of remotely managed, "no-hassle" Wi-Fi hotspots to members across the state.

Henry Kurkowski, vice president of business development for eWireless, said that the company was looking forward to working with The Restaurant & Hospitality Association of Indiana to ensure that members receive the service. "With our managed Wi-Fi in place, restaurateurs will not only be able to offer their customers free Wi-Fi access, but we would be able to connect their patrons with targeted information, track repeat visits, track length of stay and gain an advantage over their competitors who may not have such an amenity to offer," he added.

eWireless claims that its remotely managed equipment offers a reliable wireless Internet solution that allows restaurant workers to concentrate on the core affairs of running their business. As the mobile consumer market grows, laptops continue to outsell desktops in the US, according to Mr. Kurkowski.

These wireless 'Hotspot' are quickly becoming the norm for not only restaurants but gyms, country clubs and just about anywhere else that people congregate," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "They are easily incorporated into a business and are completely customizable"

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Rockefeller Looks To Safeguard Broadband Discounts

Senator Jay Rockefeller is proposing legislation to safeguard federal discounts for broadband Internet provision at schools.

The senator wants to keep the program, called E-rate, exempt from new government regulations, which state that discounts cannot be handed out to schools unless the federal government has the equivalent value as cash in hand. Mr. Rockefeller is making the calls after a report released on Capitol Hill on Wednesday showed that since 1998, the program has paid for about $18.8 billion worth of discounts on internet and communications services for schools.

Joining others who have expressed concerns, Mr. Rockefeller is saying that since the program is based on forecast federal income, a requirement needing money in hand would seriously jeopardize the extent of the program's reach. Paid for by several major telecommunications companies, including AT&T, Verizon and Cox Communications, the report shows Internet access in public school classrooms grew from 14 per cent in 1996 to 95 percent in 2005. In addition, more than 90 per cent of classrooms in rural, high-minority or low-income districts now have Internet access, up from below ten per cent in 1996.

"The types of services and products eligible for E-rate discounts fall into four broad categories. These are telecommunication services, internet access, internal connections, and basic maintenance," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "Also, if the applicant is requesting service for Internet access or internal connections, the applicant will be required to comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act."

For more information on broadband Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Real-time VoIP security for INSI clients

A leading business VoIP solutions provider has teamed up with a VoIP security firm in order to expand the market presence of both parties.

INSI has partnered with Sipera Systems in a move that will enable customers to access comprehensive VoIP security solutions for all-encompassing, real-time, unified communications. Sipera's comprehensive approach to VoIP security was praised by INSI, especially as it means that enterprise networks will be protected from service abuse including DoS/DDoS floods, fuzzing, stealth and VoIP spam, in real-time.

"We believe secure, corporate communications is crucial to ongoing business operations," said INSI chief Lloyd Rochon. "Sipera IPCS products extend beyond existing security products to combine VoIP VPN, firewall/SBC, intrusion prevention, anti-spam and compliance functionality in a single device."

According to ABI Research, there will be over 267 million VoIP subscribers worldwide in 2012, compared with 38 million last year.

"You also want to make certain that you have intelligent IPS deployed between VoIP gateways and near your call manager," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "This is a key area of attack that contains a lot if not all of a companies critical information."

For more information on VoIP and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

SMB Demand A Unique Opportunity For VoIP Firms

Internet telephony pioneer Texas Instruments has claimed that the market for delivering VoIP to small and medium businesses (SMB) is ready to expand.

As the number of businesses turning to VoIP increases, manufacturers and service providers have a "unique opportunity" to deliver advanced products, it said. Although SMBs are in a position to reach a wider audience thanks to broadband, prohibitive long-distance telephone costs have limited their ability to offer the best services.

"Now, however, with the cost-savings and rapid availability of VoIP, SMBs can reach out to customers multi-nationally and globally like never before," said Texas Instruments in a statement. The firm said that VoIP products for SMBs "must be easy-to-use and affordable, while offering the features and quality expected in traditional phone systems and an added layer of security to protect critical business resources". Earlier this month, AMI-Partners said that SMBS are likely to drive further growth in the broadband VoIP market.

"Small businesses are increasingly choosing VoIP hosted business phone packages instead of conventional telephone systems. VoIP can mean a lot more than just savings to a small business," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "The greater versatility of hosted VoIP allows each business to tailor a telecommunications package, regardless of geography, specifically to meet its needs without spending heavily on equipment, installation, maintenance or an IT staff."

For more information on how your small or medium sized business can take advantage of VoIP technology visit www.broadbandnational.com

Skype Teams With Nokia To Provide Broadband Calling Experiehttp://www2.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifnce

Popular Internet calling service Skype has joined with Nokia to develop a new mobile calling function. Announced at the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, the collaboration basically consists of making Skype mobile on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. As long as there is a wireless Internet connection available, customers can use Skype wherever they so choose, under the new service.

Ari Virtanen, vice president, convergence products at Nokia, said: "Skype is the recognized leader of internet communications with over 136 million registered users worldwide. "Nokia's new N800 Internet Tablet is designed for mobile Internet. Together, we can develop communications devices beyond expectations." The Nokia N800 is to become available sometime in the first half of 2007.

Meanwhile, special software has been developed as an add-on for Skype, which can tell whether a person is lying. The software analyzes the voice stream of the person and shows their stress levels to the user. Skype is currently the most widely used Internet communication service and is available in 28 languages. Users of Skype can avail themselves of free voice, video and instant messaging over the Internet.

"Digital voice is one of the fastest growing broadband services," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. For more information on VoIP and digital voice visit www.broadbandnational.com

Next Generation Wireless For Washington

Verizon is rolling-out its new wireless network to customers in greater Washington, the District of Columbia, Baltimore, North Virginia and Maryland.

Residents will now be able to enjoy even faster download and upload speeds thanks to developments in its CDMA 1x Evolution-Data Optimized Revision A technology. Furthermore, the company's flagship business service, BroadbandAccess, offers average download speeds of 450-800 kbps and average upload speeds of 300-400 kbps.

Verizon Wireless regional president Tami Erwin said: "Our existing wireless broadband network has enabled customers to work remotely and stay entertained in unprecedented ways. "Now we're taking wireless to the next level by introducing technology that helps them send data from their mobile devices even faster." Verizon is also planning to implement the same technology to customers in Illinois. T J Fox, president of the Illinois division, said customers "will applaud" Revision A's faster data uplink speeds.

"Future broadband products and services will benefit greatly from these added speeds," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "This will aid in the expansion of future applications that businesses and consumers require."

For more information on VoIP and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

City To Get Wi-Fi Technology

AT&T has announced that it is to roll out its wireless broadband network to the city of Napa, California.

The company will deploy the wi-fi technology, which will allow residents and businesses to access the network anywhere in the city. Users will be able to choose from several connectivity options, including higher-speed access tiers or a free, advertising supported access choice.

A parallel system is to also be installed to support municipal and public safety communications requirements. This means that communications for public sector workers and emergency service vehicles will be improved. For example, ambulance crews rushing to the scene of an accident can have information such as medical records transmitted to them instantly.

Commander Jeff Troendly, from the Napa Police Department, said: "This city Wi-Fi network will increase broadband Internet choices within the city and provide new dimensions of mobility for broadband users in Napa." He added that the project would enhance quality of life for residents, businesses and visitors.

This new Wi-Fi network will open up a new world of digital products and services for the citizens of the bay area", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "They'll also reap the benefits of faster download speeds, and access anywhere, anytime, 24 hours a day".

For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Restaurant Chain Offers Wi-Fi Access

A restaurant chain is to offer complimentary wireless Internet access at all its outlets across the country.

Daytime diner First Watch Restaurants is rolling out the technology after finding that more than one in ten customers consider WiFi Internet access as a factor in choosing one cafe instead of another. The system has been designed to be user-friendly and easy to access without complicated login processes. Chris Tomasso, chief marketing officer at the company, stated that the Wi-Fi systems would enhance the overall experience for guests and encourage more frequent visits. He said: "First Watch already appeals widely to the business community and is the frequent recipient of 'Best Power Breakfast' accolades and recognition.

"Complimentary Wi-Fi internet access will only enhance the relationship with this audience." The chain is currently planning to open more than 15 new restaurants throughout the year, which will all be equipped with Wi-Fi.

"The Internet has become completely intertwined with our daily lives," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. " Now you're able to access email, instant messaging, social networks, or download music, news and video almost anywhere there is a broadband connection."

For more information on Wi-Fi Internet access as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Recording Industry Tackles Illegal Downloads

Recording industry groups have announced a crackdown on illegal music downloading in universities.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has complained to a number of universities across the US and has called on them to take action against the offending students. While it is possible to identify which computer is being used, the RIAA does not know which individuals are illegally downloading copyrighted material.

Jonathan Lamy, a spokesman for the RIAA, said: "We know piracy is most acute on campuses. "Students have high-speed access and have more time than money." The RIAA wants universities to take action against those who illegally download music through various means, such as forcing them to watch an educational video on piracy.

It has also suggested that universities revoke students' rights to use computers on campus if they are found to be downloading unlawfully. In the past year, the number of complaints sent out by the RIAA has increased three-fold to 15,000.

"Illegal downloading is certainly not a new story," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "People must remember that along with your music, you are most likely downloading hundreds of nasty viruses that will cripple your PC. They embed themselves right in the music files and begin to go to work damaging your PC while you listen to the music."

For more information on music downloads and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Online TV Download Market Set To Grow

Online TV Download Market Set To Grow

Multimedia providers have been advised to consider testing out the Internet television download market.

Adams Media Research estimated that annual consumer spending on video downloads via the Internet would reach $4.1 billion dollars by 2011. Last year, the Internet TV download market generated revenues totaling $111 million. Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, commented: "The internet is going to revolutionize the distribution of video."

The firm believes that the release of new products from names such as Wal-Mart, Apple and Amazon could result in a dramatic increase in consumer spending on downloads. These companies already offer consumers the chance to download premium movie and TV content.

Adams Media Research stated that new devices to download and view high-definition content will also play a part in boosting the sector, as many consumers will want to be able to purchase the latest gadgets.

"Most likely you'll see the growth spurred by the introduction and sale of hardware devices that can convert videos downloaded from the Internet into signals that can be played on high definition television sets," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website.

For more information on wireless networks and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Online TV Download Market Set To Grow

Online TV Download Market Set To Grow

Multimedia providers have been advised to consider testing out the Internet television download market.

Adams Media Research estimated that annual consumer spending on video downloads via the Internet would reach $4.1 billion dollars by 2011. Last year, the Internet TV download market generated revenues totaling $111 million. Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, commented: "The internet is going to revolutionize the distribution of video."

The firm believes that the release of new products from names such as Wal-Mart, Apple and Amazon could result in a dramatic increase in consumer spending on downloads. These companies already offer consumers the chance to download premium movie and TV content.

Adams Media Research stated that new devices to download and view high-definition content will also play a part in boosting the sector, as many consumers will want to be able to purchase the latest gadgets.

"Most likely you'll see the growth spurred by the introduction and sale of hardware devices that can convert videos downloaded from the Internet into signals that can be played on high definition television sets," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website.

For more information on wireless networks and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Vonage Could Sell Broadband

Vonage could be set to diversify into wireless Internet and broadband access, according to Business Week magazine.

The publication has fuelled speculation that the VoIP provider will move into the wider communications field after the firm announced it would start reselling other carriers' wireless services. Analysts in Business Week believe that this could be taken further and that Vonage will start offering services under its own name and with its own content. This, it said, would give the firm a better chance at being more profitable.

It continued: "Rival (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that already use other carriers' networks to market wireless services under their own brands have been steadily making gains selling to youth and young professionals." Business Week cited Virgin Mobile USA and Helio as examples of firms that have made profits by selling wireless services under their own names.

The magazine suggested that since Vonage caters to the same market of young, early adopters of the latest technology, it could benefit from a similar strategy.

"Millions of consumers use our website because we're totally unbiased and offer them the best possible deal, no matter what product or service they need," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "Our platform instantly searches over 50 national providers and provides the user with multiple pricing options for their area of the country."

For more information on high-speed Internet connectivity, VoIP phones and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

South Carolina To Get Free Wireless Broadband

A House resolution in South Carolina regarding plans to give residents and businesses free broadband access has been approved.

The South Carolina Wireless Technology and Communications Commission will now implement a wireless network across the state and will assess any feasibility issues, reports Greenville Online.

South Carolina will be the first state to have statewide wireless broadband Internet, said Greenville Rep Dwight Loftis, who was behind the proposal.

"Creating a wireless cloud over our state would be a step in the right direction in continuing to move South Carolina toward a knowledge-based economy," said state House speaker Bobby Harrell. The state already owns Internet infrastructure and will work with private Internet providers, which could charge if users wants faster speeds. According to ABI research, the number of broadband subscribers across the country is expected to climb by nine per cent every year for the next five years.

"The idea is to leverage the state infrastructure and work with private Internet providers, states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "A basic level of service would be free inside the state, but the providers would still charge fees for faster speeds and other add-on services."

For more information on wireless networks and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

TV Network Sites Uninteresting And Out Dated

Although television companies are streaming content over the Internet and broadband video is proving a hit with consumers, TV network sites are failing to live up to the standards of more interactive sites, a new study has said.

According to an industry report by Broadband Directions, TV network sites are less interesting because they fail to engage the user and are much less attractive than popular file-sharing sites.

Other problems likely to divert traffic away from these sites are out-of-date videos and promotional clips and their inability to upload video, download clips to portable media players and create personalized playlists.

Broadband Directions has said that TV stations need to realize that online video is not merely promotional but is a self-sufficient medium, reports MediaPost Communications. "Most networks still have not embraced the value of building out robust, deeply interactive, short-form clip properties," the report said. "The most common interactive element we found was the ability to email the clip along to a friend."

Broadband Direction's report follows a warning from Google that the Internet is not capable of supporting TV broadcasts and that the popularity of services like YouTube could bring the infrastructure down.

"If networks want to broadcast, interact and engage viewers over the Internet there needs to be a serious upgrade and build out of existing networks", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "The high data transfer rates required for such interaction is why fiber to the premises (FTTP), also called fiber to the home (FTTH) is the preferred technology that many providers are already intorducing."

For more information on IPTV and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Costs Prevent Young People From Downloading On Phones

Many young people are not downloading music on their cell phones because of the associated cost, according to a new report.

A survey of youngsters in the UK found that around half pay for downloading music, but are deterred from doing so on their cell phones as it is more expensive. Although the study by Q Research found that three-quarters like to listen to music on their phone, 97 per cent actually download on their computers.

Dr Liz Nelson, chairman of Q Research, commented: "This survey shows that while there is already a very buoyant market for paying for MP3 files from the internet among young people, they are very aware of the cost of downloading files to their phones." She added that many young people are also opposed to watching video or receiving video ads to their mobiles because of the cost. The company has urged mobile operators to understand the attitudes of younger people if they intend to keep rolling out new services, such as social networking, advertising and music.

"Cost is most definitely an issue when it comes to downloading MP3 and video files," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "We've been successful in integrating providers with special offers from music and video producers to help offset these associated costs."

For more information on MP3 and video files as well as other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

U.S. Could Do More To Boost Broadband Penetration

The U.S. still has more work to do to boost broadband penetration across the country, according to industry experts.

Mark Milliman, principal consultant at Inphotonics Research, wrote on the Seeking Alpha website that the U.S. still has a long way to go to make broadband a mainstay in domestic homes.

He stated that proportionally, the U.S. is still lagging behind other countries with its broadband penetration, as there is a greater take-up in places such as the UK, Denmark and Canada. Mr. Milliman added that the U.S. still lags behind some countries in terms of its number of fiber connections, as it has just over 500,000 compared to more than six million in Japan.

The comments came in response to research by Parks Associates, which predicted that residential broadband penetration would exceed 50 percent before the end of the year. This means that more than 60 million people will live in broadband-enabled households.

"Providers are well aware that fiber to the premises (FTTP), also called fiber to the home (FTTH) is the future of broadband," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "We're already seeing implementation of the technology. A good example of which is Verizon's new FiOS Internet service."

For more information on high-speed Internet connectivity and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

VoIP Is Evolving

Voice over Internet technology (VoIP) is constantly evolving, according to the head of a technology firm.

Dan Hoffman, chief executive of M5 Networks, stated that VoIP technology is still changing and developing in order to meet consumer expectations. Speaking to the Daily Herald, Mr. Hoffman compared newer forms of VoIP technology to the difference between TiVo and a VCR. He said, "With the VCR, you have to do everything that's needed to record a show, click the buttons and insert the tape. "With TiVo, it was one click - we're that one click."

Since the systems are now improving and offering better sound quality and ease of use, more service providers are marketing the technology, including Skype and AT&T. M5 Networks has also entered the market and provides all the hardware, software and maintenance necessary to operate the systems, which allows consumers to avoid dealing with different providers.

"Soon you'll see VoIP and other types of IP communications being embedded directly into business software," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website. "This will aid in the expansion of future applications that businesses require."

For more information on VoIP and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Broadband Penetration To Hit 60 Percent

Up to 60 percent of U.S. homes will have broadband by the end of 2007, according to recently released research. And cable operators will see a reduction in their share of the market, the report from legal and business information company Pike and Fischer shows.

Cable companies will have just slightly over half of the broadband market in the US by the year's end, the report predicts. Scott Sleek, Pike & Fischer's director of broadband advisory services and an author of the report said: "We also know that cable operators want to draw users away from the computer screen and back to the TV set, so they'll be developing ways to let customers access web content through their set-top boxes."

The report also forecasts that digital cable subscriptions will represent the majority of the industry's main video customer base. Because digital cable costs more than analog, it also generates more revenue.

"Broadband in the home has grown twice as fast in the year prior to March of 2006," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "African Americans and middle income Americans accounted for much of the increase along with new Internet users coming online with broadband. At the end of March 2006, 42% of Americans had high-speed access at home, up from 30% in March 2005, or a 40% increase."

For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

San Francisco Cements Wi-Fi Deal With Earthlink

The city of San Francisco has finalized a deal with Internet giant Earthlink to provide the largest free municipal Wi-Fi service in the US.

After over seven months of negotiations, mayor Gavin Newsom agreed to the contract. However, the Board of Supervisors and the city’s Public Utilities Commission must still approve it.

The president of EarthLink's municipal networks unit, Donald Berryman, said: "We look forward to working with the board of supervisors to gain approval of the agreement so we can begin building out the network in 2007." Mr. Newsom had assured the city that the network would be up and running by the end of 2006; however many are now saying that it won't be operational until at least 2008.

Earthlink is expected to spend between $14 million and $17 million to install the network. The Wi-Fi zone will consist of two networks, with one supported by on-screen advertisements and the other a faster, commercial-free service costing $20 per month.

This new Wi-Fi network will open up a new world of digital products and services for the citizens of the bay area", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "They'll also reap the benefits of faster download speeds, and access anywhere, anytime, 24 hours a day".

For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

New Multimedia Phone Released

Verizon Wireless and Palm have announced the launch of a new phone, which includes Internet access and other features.

Customers with the Treo 700wx Smartphone will be able to use high-speed Internet connections at speeds comparable to broadband, along with a wireless email facility. The phone uses the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform to get online, while the increased RAM will allow people to download more content and applications. It is also compatible with memory cards, which will appeal to those who regularly access music, video and photo images.

Tim Roper, vice-president of Palm, commented: "People love the Treo smartphone because they are driven by the need to stay in touch and manage a variety of communications and information – both business and personal." He added that the features on the new version would be a "core asset" for mobile professionals wanting to be productive while on the move.

The phone is also able to be used with Bluetooth headsets, while it also contains a 1.3 mega pixel camera and touch screen.

"No one should be surprised that there is a convergence of technology to the cell phone," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "These new phones come enabled with wireless networking technology, instant messaging, picture messaging, digital photo sharing tools, ringtones, gaming, navigation and the ability to store thousands of MP3 files."

For more information on multimedia phones and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

TiVo To Deliver Broadband Video Content

TiVo has announced recently that it has signed Music Choice, America's largest music-related content deliverer.

Through the TiVoCast service, Music Choice is to deliver its catalogue of music videos and programming via broadband to TV. From later this year, TiVo subscribers who have a TiVo Series2 box and broadband Internet will be able to use the service. Tara Maitra, vice president of content services for TiVo, said: "Now TiVo subscribers will be able to get the music videos they want on their TV, not just what a music video channel happens to program.

"Music Choice has the best and widest catalog of music videos along with an extensive collection of original programming, and we expect this service to be extremely popular among the TiVo audience." Recently TiVo allied with digital media company RealNetworks to integrate the Rhapsody digital music service, which gives TiVo subscribers access to over three million songs on demand.

"This cooperation is just another example of how broadband and digital services like music and IPTV are gaining traction with mainstream media and consumers", states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website.

For more information on downloadable music and videos visit www.broadbandnational.com

HughesNet Expands Customer Base

Broadband satellite company Hughes has announced that it will expand the customer base for its HughesNet service. The expansion will be mainly in areas of the U.S., which are underserved, the company said. Performance, rather than price, is the driving factor when it comes to consumers buying broadband, according to Hughes.

Jimmy Schaeffler, a senior analyst at cable conglomerates the Carmel Group, said: "Today's consumers want to download songs and video clips and e-mail pictures to and from family and friends. "Frustrated by slow dial-up, larger percentages of consumers living in areas overlooked by terrestrial broadband providers are choosing satellite for their broadband needs."

Currently Hughes offers five different satellite broadband plans. The highest download speed offered by the company is two megabits per second. Up to 60 percent of US homes will have broadband by the end of 2007, according to recently released research. And cable operators will see a reduction in their share of the market, the report from legal and business information company Pike and Fischer shows.

Although not as fast as DSL or Cable, satellite is a great alternative to dial-up for those without any other high-speed option", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "They'll be able to enjoy downloading music and video much faster than before not to mention the new and emerging broadband products and services."

For more information on broadband and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com

Skype Teams With Nokia To Provide Broadband Calling Experience

Skype Teams With Nokia To Provide Broadband Calling Experience

Popular Internet calling service Skype has joined with Nokia to develop a new mobile calling function. Announced at the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, the collaboration basically consists of making Skype mobile on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. As long as there is a wireless Internet connection available, customers can use Skype wherever they so choose, under the new service.

Ari Virtanen, vice president, convergence products at Nokia, said: "Skype is the recognized leader of internet communications with over 136 million registered users worldwide. "Nokia's new N800 Internet Tablet is designed for mobile Internet. Together, we can develop communications devices beyond expectations." The Nokia N800 is to become available sometime in the first half of 2007.

Meanwhile, special software has been developed as an add-on for Skype, which can tell whether a person is lying. The software analyzes the voice stream of the person and shows their stress levels to the user. Skype is currently the most widely used Internet communication service and is available in 28 languages. Users of Skype can avail themselves of free voice, video and instant messaging over the Internet.

"Digital voice is one of the fastest growing broadband services," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. For more information on VoIP and digital voice visit www.broadbandnational.com

Corporate Acquisitions Transforming The IPTV Marketplace

Corporate Acquisitions Transforming The IPTV Marketplace

A recent spate of corporate acquisitions is changing the burgeoning Internet protocol television (IPTV) market, recent research has suggested.

The number of independent IPTV providers is rapidly decreasing, which is creating a wide market gap, according to a report from New York-based ABI Research. Recently Swedish communications giant Ericsson acquired the broadband provider Redband Networks and Motorola announced in December that it was to acquire Tut Systems.

ABI Research principal analyst Michael Arden said: "Those first IP video equipment providers were small startups creating cutting-edge technologies that the larger vendors weren't nimble enough to do themselves. "Lately, as IPTV technology becomes more important - not only for telco TV but also for cable and satellite - the big companies need those technologies."

The larger corporations are now acquiring the smaller companies, which were the first on the market, Mr. Arden added. Recently it was found that the US is not among the top ten countries with the most IPTV subscriptions, reports Telephony Online. With 896,000 IPTV subscribers, France tops the list of countries with the most IPTV subscriptions, a new report from the marketing researcher Dittberner has found.

"There's a natural cycle of consolidation in every industry and the IPTV arena is no different", states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, the industries leading comparative shopping website. "I wouldn't be surprised if this same thing doesn't happen in other high growth broadband products and services, VoIP being one of them" For more information on IPTV visit www.broadbandnational.com

Spiketv.com Debuts Eight New Broadband Series

The popular Spiketv.com has announced that it is to launch eight new TV series via broadband.

Freestyle motocross, sexy bartenders, beautiful co-eds/cheerleaders, demolition and stick fighting are some of the programs that will be made available. Furthermore, Spiketv.com will also continue to operate its user-generated content hub along with its Wild World of Spike show.

Steve Farrell, vice-president of digital media at SpikeTV.com, said: "Spiketv.com is the destination for guys looking to feast on non-stop action and beautiful women.

"Our new broadband original series will satisfy their hunger for this genre of programming and keep them coming back for more." Among the new series will be Miss March Madness, a contest in anticipation of the NCAA tournament, where cheerleaders and co-eds from colleges across the country compete to be dubbed the most attractive.

A program currently running on Spike TV is Reality Racing – The Rookie Challenge, which features amateur drivers in stock racing cars.

"SpikeTV.com is one of the first to truly embrace the concept of IPTV," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, creators of the industries leading comparative shopping website. " Their male oriented content is not only original but the production value is also outstanding."

For more information on IPTV and broadband connectivity for your home or office visit www.broadbandnational.com

Music Students Go Online

Berkleemusic.com has become the world's largest online music school, having taught over 11,000 students. The online extension of Berklee College of Music in Boston has over 100,000 registered members involved in the online community. And it is estimated that this year alone another 6,000 students will be taught by the online music school.

David Kusek, vice president at Berklee, said: "In four short years, we have built one of the largest music schools on the planet and our mission is aligned with the general trend in the music industry of everything going online." Several big names from the music industry are studying with the school this year, including Scott Underwood from the band Train and Danny Weinkauf from They Might Be Giants. The school also offers online music scholarships named after great artists like Herbie Hancock and Gloria Estefan. Meanwhile, downloading music online has resulted in more people listening to new music, talking about music and attending concerts, according to a recent survey.

Almost 60 percent of consumers said that since they started getting online they have been listening to more music, a survey from the Digital Media Association (DiMA) found.

"It was the advancement of broadband that really propelled the advent of downloading music online," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for online comparative shopping website Broadband National Inc. "Without a high speed Internet connection the downloading process is just to cumbersome." For more information on connectivity for your home or office visit www.broadbandnational.com

The 411 On TTEM

According to resent studies, from Gartner Group and Aberdeen Group an average of 15% is over-spent or wasted by companies on their monthly telecom expenses. Companies have known this for years, but until now, resources have not been readily available to easily mitigate these variances and resolve billing issues.

Considered a rather new concept, total telecom expense management (TTEM) alleviates the problems associated with managing bills, complex contracts and other management responsibilities associated with voice, data, network, and cellular services.

How TTEM Works
TTEM works behind the scenes managing intricate billing and data management, and at the same time providing companies a wealth of valuable information. Companies are able to effectively leverage back office automation by subscribing to TTEM services, which ultimately provides the following benefits, and services:

* Invoice Management- Audit and reconciling of all your telecom invoices on a monthly basis to ensure proper rates are applied as compared to the contracted rates.
* Assurance- Protect your firm against slamming, cramming, and other erroneous charges that inevitably show up on most invoices at some point in time.
* Budget Tracking- Manage budgeted telecom spending versus actual and provide real-time reports and expense tracking.
* Contract Management- Archive critical contract end dates for all providers and services to protect against auto-renewals as well as enable the negotiation of lower rates upon contract fulfillment.
* Dispute Management- whether it’s billing disputes, or trouble tickets, its all handled and saves your company hours of frustration and fruitless efforts.
* Invoice Approval- Broadband National will absorb the soft costs of your firm having to validate invoices, process and pay them on an ongoing process.
* Telecom Inventory Management- Produce and administer a dynamic, enterprise-wide inventory of telecom resources.
* Telecom and Wireless Provisioning- Manage the move, add, change, and disconnect orders for both wireless and landline services.



Total telecom management combined with the key services described above provides you with a view of the entire “procure to pay” function. Managing the entire process maximizes the cost savings and is the most effective way to manage your telecom costs.

Utilizing a TTEM solution enables your firm to maximize savings by optimizing rate plans and avoiding slamming, cramming and other erroneous charges.

www.broadbandnational.com

Broadband National Promotes Mickey Smith To Chief Operating Officer

Broadband National Promotes Mickey Smith To Chief Operating Officer

Vero Beach, FL—Broadband National announced today the promotion of Mickey Smith from Vice President of Operations to Chief Operating Officer. Smith will be responsible for the operations of the company’s call centers, customer service, and sales.

Mr. Smith has over 20 years of successful management experience in competitive, customer-driven environments. Mr. Smith’s expertise in developing systems and controls that deliver the highest levels of customer service has benefited Broadband National’s goal of becoming the premier online marketing company for digital services and products

“Mickey’s vast experience and management in a customer driven environment makes him the perfect candidate to oversee our fast growing business,” states Vinny Olmstead, President of Broadband National. “His contributions have helped position the company to meet our continued demand which has tripled since his December 2005 start date with the company.”

Broadband National with offices in Vero Beach, Atlanta, Ga, and Orlando Florida is the leading comparative shopping service for digital services such as high speed internet, voip, and cable TV. With a nationwide distribution, Broadband National provides services to both residential and business customers. Broadband National’s proprietary software (IBIS) Integrated Broadband Information System allows customers objective carrier comparisons including service offers, product offers, and guaranteed lowest pricing. Back end integrations with more than 50 companies such as AT&T, Qwest, Time Warner, Comcast, Covad, and Verizon ensures a comprehensive customer solution. Broadband National also licenses the IBIS system to more than 1,500 companies such as retailers, VoIP suppliers, online marketers, and integrators allowing the same robust experience, while monetizing their customer base.

For more information on platform use, business development and strategic partnerships, please visit www.broadbandnational.com. For Broadband National press inquiries, please contact Mark Ballard at 772-539-0618 or email markb@broadbandnational.com

Cingular Triples Profit

The largest wireless provider in the U.S. has stated that its fourth quarter profit has nearly tripled.

Partly driving the company's growth was an increase of 2.4 million customers during the holiday season. A year ago the company recorded profits of $204 million, which tripled to $782 million in the fourth quarter. Cingular also reported having 61 million customers at the end of 2006.

Stan Sigman, the company's chief executive, said: "Our last quarter as a joint venture operating under the Cingular name was our best ever on a variety of fronts." Recently AT&T as part of its $86 billion merger with BellSouth, the largest telecommunications acquisition in US history, acquired Cingular.

AT&T is to gradually phase out the brand name Cingular and offer its wireless services under its own name. The process, dubbed Raising It Higher, is expected to occur over the next few months, with the speed being regulated by customer feedback.

AT&T will also begin aggressively marketing it’s “Triple Play” programs as it rolls out U-Verse based IPTV. In some regions, customers can expect to get TV, DSL, phone, and cellphone service all under the AT&T brand. To see if these services are available in your area visit comparative shopping website www.broadbandnational.com.

What Is The Difference Between Plasma and Projection TV Screens? Which Is Better?

The trend towards high-def is picking up pace at great speeds. Plasma and projection TVs, both viable options for HD, each have their own pros and cons making them suitable for different types of viewing, different rooms and different programming.

Plasma sets are known for their highly accurate colors, deep blacks and minimal blurring or fast motion. These characteristics make them a great choice for watching action movies and sports. Plasma sets have a relatively wide viewing angle, which ensures that viewers can see the picture from any angle. Look for television sets that have good brightness and contrast. Plasma TVs are thin and can be mounted on the wall or put on a stand. Plasma sets are true flat screens.

Projection sets provide a picture by projecting it onto a screen. The projection is most often done from the rear of the screen. Projection television sets offer an excellent picture quality, however, they have a limited viewing angle. Projection sets come in a variety of resolutions. Resolution is measured in pixels, with the higher pixel density being the best. Displays that are 1080 pixels have 1920 X 1080 resolution and offer the best picture quality. Projection sets may alternatively use Digital Light Processing technology (DLP), which delivers light through a digital chip. This technology is able to produce a highly detailed image while keeping the projector itself small. Projection televisions are usually bulkier than other types but are available in larger image screens.

When choosing a new TV it’s best to compare the pictures in the store. That way you can see which set looks best to you. The most expensive set may not always have the best picture; so test it out watching various programs to see the brightness and contrast as well as the black tones. Watch fast action to check for blurring. Both plasma and projection sets will last through several or more years of constant viewing.

How Reliable Is VOIP Service?

VoIP service has become more reliable in the last two years. Technology is advancing, providing vendors with the ability to provide stable service.
A recent study done by Columbia University determined that net VoIP service availability is approximately 98%. That being said, there is still more chance of line interference and dropped calls than on standard POTS lines, however the gap is closing.

There are many factors that contribute to reliability and service quality. These are generally related directly to the reliability of your Internet connection. Choose a quality vendor and you should have no trouble. Internet providers maintain redundant infrastructure for reliability so widespread failures are uncommon. They also have elaborate backup systems in place, which are designed to immediately take over in the event of a failure.

You must maintain an Internet connection in order for your VoIP service to work. Local power failures are the most common cause of connection problems. In order to keep your connection up you can purchase a power backup system (UPS) to keep your modem, phone and computer connected. This will maintain your VoIP connectivity even in the event of a local power outage.

The speed of your Internet connection also contributes to the quality of your VoIP service. Generally speaking, the higher speed connection, the better the VoIP will be. However, consider the Quality Of Service (QOS) on your Internet connection as well. This is a calculation that measures the consistency of data flowing through your Internet connection and is independent of your line speed.


VoIP is an inherently reliable technology. All in all, VoIP communications are more reliable than cell phone calls. Take into account the considerable advantages and features of VoIP technology and you will see that it offers quite reliable service at a cost savings.

www.voipnational.com

If My Internet Connection Goes, Does My Digital Cable or VOIP Phone Stop Working?

When you’re using your Internet connection for access to digital cable or VOIP there can be issues with connectivity if your Internet connection fails. Your computer needs to be connected to the Internet through a broadband or DSL connection in order for your VoIP phone to work. Although the computer does not need to be turned on, the connection must be maintained.

The connection for VoIP is maintained through the cable connection, which typically requires a modem to function. This modem needs to be powered on to maintain a connection. The actual digital portion of the connection remains available even during a power outage. Internet connections are very reliable and experience few outages. The outages are kept to a minimum because there is usually redundancy in the equipment that supplies your connection.

If you are concerned about power outages you can purchase a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system that you can plug your computer into. Be sure to purchase one that is rated for the amount of amps you want to draw – basically, remember that you will want to plug your telephone into the UPS as well as the computer, modem, speakers and any other peripherals. The more things you plug into your UPS system, the more power you will draw and the less time your system will be kept up.


Some VoIP users keep a cell phone for emergency communications. You may also opt to maintain basic phone service on your regular telephone line for emergency use.

Google Most Recognized Brand

A recent survey has shown that search engine Google is the most recognized brand in the world.

Video sharing site YouTube and Internet encyclopedia Wikipedia were both ranked in the top five by online magazine brandchannel.com. The survey asked 3,625 students and branding professionals; "Which brand had the most impact on our lives in 2006?"

Editor of brandchannel.com, Anthony Zumpano, said: "The dramatic debut of these newcomers – YouTube in third and Wikipedia in fourth – is an indication of a larger trend – the growing impact of online brands built on user-generated contents." Apple was ranked in second place by the survey, closely followed by YouTube, Wikipedia and finally the coffee behemoth Starbucks.

Online social networking site MySpace was ranked 15th in the US rankings and the news channel Al Jazeera advanced to 19th place worldwide.

Meanwhile, YouTube may start to pay contributors for their content, according to the company's cofounder. Video clips on the site would show a short advertisement before starting, creating revenue, which would be shared with the creator.

YouTube’s popularity soared with the proliferation of broadband access. The company is credited with fueling the craze of uploading, and sharing video clips across the Internet. With the U.S. broadband household penetration rate at only 33% it’s safe to say that there are millions of new video clips bound for YouTube. Seizing on this fact a handful of companies have come forward to offer comparative shopping websites that specialize in broadband Internet access, with www.broadbandnational.com consistently rated the best in class.

Wi-Fi Adapter Boosts Range

Wi-Fi Adapter Boosts Range

Technology company Buffalo has released a powerful Wi-Fi adapter that can boost reception by some 210 per cent and expand the range by about 170 meters.

Dubbed the AirStation WLI-U2-SG54HP, the adapter simply attaches to one's computer via USB. The adapter measures 220 x 25 x 10mm and weighs 33 grams, and also comes with two suction pods which can be attached to the top of one's laptop to hold it in place. Buffalo is one of the world's primary providers of wireless technology and has offices in the US, Germany, the UK, Ireland and Taiwan.

Founded in 1975, Buffalo also manufactures memory devices, external drives, multimedia and other technology. Meanwhile, software giant Intel has announced that it has upgraded its Wi-Fi technology to produce faster download speeds. The Intel Next-Gen Wireless N network connection solution is an upgrade that Intel claims will increase connection speeds by up to five times.

These higher download speeds will enable the next generation of broadband products and services such as IPTV, VoIP, home automation and security to thrive and grow. The more traditional services such as video and music downloading will also benefit from these higher speeds. Additional information about current and future broadband related services and products can be found at www.broadbandnational.com. The website is regarded as the leading comparative shopping site catering to broadband access as well as digital products and services.