Thursday, February 22, 2007

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

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

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

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

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

Monday, February 19, 2007

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.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

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.

Friday, February 09, 2007

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.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

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.

YouTube May Pay Users For Content

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

Last year the search engine company Google bought YouTube for $1.68 billion. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chad Hurley, YouTube's cofounder, said: "In terms of paying users revenue against content they're uploading, we're definitely going to move in that direction.

"We didn't want to build a system that was motivated by monetary reward. When you start giving money to people from day one… the people you do attract will just switch to the next provider that’s paying more" YouTube is at the stage now where they could conceivable pay and retain a community, added Mr Hurley.

Last week YouTube was subpoenaed by Fox Television regarding episodes of 24 and the Simpsons that appeared on the site.

Founded in 2005 by 3 pervious PayPal employees 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.

www.comcastspecial.com www.timewarnerspecial.com

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Internet (IPTV) To Revolutionise Television

The internet is to completely change the way we watch TV, according to Microsoft founder Bill Gates. In a mere five years, the internet will have completely revolutionised TV and the two mediums will have merged, Gates said on Saturday.

The popularity of sites like YouTube and the increased availability of high-speed internet are precursors of what is to come, the multi-billionaire stated. Speaking to business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Gates said: "I'm stunned how people aren't seeing that with TV, in five years from now, people will laugh at what we've had. "Certain things like elections or the Olympics really point out how TV is terrible. You have to wait for the guy to talk about the thing you care about or you miss the event and want to go back and see it."

Accessing such events on the internet is vastly superior, added Mr Gates. Meanwhile, Telephony Online has reported 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.

For more information check out the Consumer Deals at www.broadbandnational.com

Broadband Changing The Face Of Advertising

Advertising is being fundamentally changed by the increasing usage of broadband TV, according to a new report from Nielsen Analytics. Television programmers and advertisers are finding fresh and profitable opportunities to advertise over the new medium, the report found.

Broadband TV viewers are young, wealthy and educated to a high standard, the report stated, therefore allowing advertisers to access a more lucrative demographic. Larry Gerbrandt, general manager and senior vice president of Nielsen Analytics, said: "By researching controlled broadband access, this study concludes that programmers have the opportunity to create new revenue models to benefit content owners and their affiliated stations.

"Such ad-supported models are uniquely adaptable to the broadband environment and are potentially superior to existing models because they can take full advantage of the digital environment." With broadband streams, the capability to fast-forward through commercials can be disabled, which forces viewers to engage with them, added Mr Gerbrandt. Of the US households with broadband connections, 34 per cent fell in the 18 to 34 age group and 45 per cent were in the 35 to 52 group, the report found.

For more information on broadband television (IPTV visit the consumer deals at www.broadbandnational.com

Monday, January 22, 2007

Verizon Invests To Enhance Michigan Network


Prolific broadband provider Verizon invested nearly $195 million in 2006 in order to upgrade its digital network in Michigan, the company has announced.

Building new cell sites, upgrading existing cell sites and increasing coverage area were all among the upgrades made by Verizon. The company is also seeking to expand its high-speed wireless broadband network.

Greg Haller, the president of the Michigan region for Verizon, said: "Network reliability is the number one reason that customers choose and stay with Verizon Wireless. "Getting through on the first try and maintaining a connection are important to our customers. We continue to optimize our network so that it remains dependable." Verizon has invested $923 million over the past seven years in improving its network in Michigan alone. This includes installing 209 backup generators at cell sites to make sure that service continued even in times of crisis. The company has also recently launched FiOS TV in 106 communities in New Jersey.

For more information visit www.broadbandnational.com

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Comcast Steps In For Adelphia

Philadelphia-based Comcast, America's largest cable provider, is to step in and provide service to former customers of the ill-fated cable company Adelphia in Florida.

Some 550,000 former Adelphia customers in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast will now receive programs streamed from Comcast. Customers will have over 6,000 hours of shows to choose from, according to Comcast.

Mike Paxton, a cable analyst for In-Stat Research, based in Arizona, told the Palm Beach Post: "Compared to some of the cable horror stories I've heard about Adelphia, customers would find they [Comcast] are much more responsive. "They've done a commendable job in taking over Adelphia's systems and transferring those customers into cable customers."

With Comcast, customers will see their broadband speed increase from four to six megabytes per second, the company said. Meanwhile, Comcast and TiVo demonstrated the TiVo service for Comcast DVRs at the recent consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.

Comcast has also announced it’s newest offer of bundled digital services also known as “The Triple Play.” The offer combines VoIP or digital voice products, high-speed Internet connectivity, and digital television.

“Traditionally the three technologies have been kept separate, each with its own dedicated line. Faster Internet connections, and the proliferation of digital media have brought them together,” states Vinny Olmstead, Broadband National’s President and CEO. “This convergence enables users to surf the web, and receive email through a single line. It also allows you to watch regular or on-demand videos, play games, and chat with your friends all at the same time.

“The union of these technologies provides consumers with the convenience of receiving a single bill and generous discounts by getting all their communications services from one source”, says Mark Weibel, Broadband National’s Executive VP of Marketing. “Not to mention the tremendous cost savings associated with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).”

Bundled services have the ability to turn your living room into the entertainment and communications center of your entire house. You’re able to make inexpensive phone calls to family or friends, and talk to them face-to-face using your digital voice phone. You are also able to download your choice of feature films, favorite TV shows or music, and stream them to any room in the home. And all of this can be accomplished with the touch of a button. The offer is available through the website www.comcastspecial.com.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Online Shoppers Reach The $100 Billion Mark

Americans spent over $100 billion purchasing items on the web last year, according to data recently released by a research firm. Last year's figure of $102.1 billion spent was a significant increase of 24 per cent on the figure in 2005, comScore networks found.

During the Christmas season alone holiday online shoppers racked up expenditures of $24.6 billion. Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at research firm eMarketer, said: "E-commerce is becoming more mainstream. "A larger segment of the population is buying online, and people are buying more things than they have in the past."

Investment firm Cowen & Co has estimated that commerce over the internet will grow a full 20 per cent during 2007. And in five year's time, sales over the internet could account for as much as 4.7 per cent of US retail sales, the firm forecast. Downloading media like films and music in particular is set to explode, analysts at the company said.

"Broadband access is the key to the maturation of the downloading of media and music on the internet," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Broadband National. For more information visit www.broadbandnational.com.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Almost 8% of US households Use Broadband And VoIP Phones

Over nine million US households now contain at least one person who uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP), according to new research. A full 7.9 per cent of households use broadband-based phone services, with many reporting more than one service, technology research firm In-Stat found. Using its new Residential VoIP Tracker Service, the firm can access quarterly summaries of trends and usage patterns. Time Warner and Vonage are currently leading the pack of companies which provide broadband phone services, the research showed.

Vonage alone supplies 1.7 million households with VoIP, and the ubiquitous Skype service boasts 2.1 million active households. And a full 49 per cent of those who use VoIP services reported that they had discontinued their traditional phone service soon after. The survey also found that half of those using residential VoIP use it either all the time of some of the time for work-related purposes.

Meanwhile, the use of videoconferencing is also set to expand in 2007, according to Dave Passmore, an analyst at the Burton Group. Cheaper cameras and the growth of instant messaging will make using the medium more popular that it has been in the past, he said.

Broadband National (BBN) a nationwide comparative shopping Web site for broadband products and services, utilizes their unique IBIS technology to give users a chance to choose broadband and VoIP service providers based on a number of factors. The IBIS system compares services from over 50 local, regional, and national providers including Comcast, AT&T, Sprint, Vonage, Time Warner, Verizon and SunRocket.

“Companies benefit through our service as well since the cost of going through Broadband National is far cheaper than traditional sales channels,” states BBN EVP of Marketing Mark Weibel. “It’s great for customers, because the savings which companies see are reflected in the offerings which customers receive. Lower pricing, free equipment, installation management, and other benefits are pretty common.”

Visitors to Broadband National’s site simply enter their current phone number to view a list of competitive service pricing plans. The site works for business customers as well. According to Weibel, the convenience is essential in today’s confusing broadband services market. The company is also beginning to offer the same type of service in other areas, such as home security, automation, music, videos and gaming. Visit www.broadbandnational.com

America Needs More Broadband

America Needs More Broadband

The US needs more and faster broadband connections for the so-called "YouTube generation" to really flourish, industry experts have concluded. At a resent industry forum in Silicon Valley, a panel of tech experts said that US broadband connections are slower than in other regions like Europe.

As users increasingly access full-motion video on PCs and portable devices, connections which are as slow as 768 kilobits per second are simply not good enough, said Walter Mossberg, one of the panellists and a technology columnist at the Wall Street Journal. Mr Mossberg went onto describe US broadband speeds as "pathetic."

Another panellist and technology columnist, Kara Swisher, said: "The government has got to get behind this [broadband], like it did with the public highways." Government investment is needed to spur faster and more plentiful broadband, she added.

And while the US has the greatest rate of broadband penetration in the world, with 80 per cent of households boasting broadband at the end of 2006, it may soon be surpassed by China. In October 2006, 91.71 per cent of American workers had access to broadband, according to Website Optimization.

One company has taken it upon themselves to help integrate broadband and digital services for consumers. Broadband National (BBN) a nationwide comparative shopping Web site for broadband products and services, utilizes their unique IBIS technology to give users a chance to choose broadband service providers based on a number of factors. The IBIS system compares services from over 50 local, regional, and national providers including Comcast, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, Time Warner, and Verizon.

“Companies benefit through our service as well since the cost of going through Broadband National is far cheaper than traditional sales channels,” states BBN EVP of Marketing Mark Weibel. “It’s great for customers, because the savings which companies see are reflected in the offerings which customers receive. Lower pricing, free equipment, installation management, and other benefits are pretty common.”

Visitors to Broadband National’s site simply enter their current phone number to view a list of competitive service pricing plans. The site works for business customers as well. According to Weibel, the convenience is essential in today’s confusing broadband services market. The company is also beginning to offer the same type of service in other areas, such as home security, automation, music, videos and gaming. Visit www.broadbandnational.com

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

ATS and Broadband National Team Up To Offer VoIP


American Telecom Services and Broadband National
Team Up to Offer Consumers Easy Access Internet Services

City of Industry, California, November XX, 2006—American Telecom Services (AMEX: TES), a leading provider of expandable home phone systems that are sold bundled with phone services that save consumers up to $500 a year on their phone bills, has signed an agreement with Broadband National, the largest aggregator of broadband service offerings in the country. The agreement enables the two companies to offer consumers a “one-box solution” of high-speed Internet services from the leading brands in America bundled with VoIP services that are configured in the largest line of cordless multi-handset Internet phones in the industry. For the first time in a single packaged bundle, retailers will be able to offer a bundled VoIP/phone solution with broadband access, saving their customers hundreds of dollars a year through this combination.

“American Telecom Services wants consumers to be able to take advantage of the benefits and savings of Internet calling,” said American Telecom Services CEO Bruce Hahn. “Our arrangement with Broadband National contributes to this by offering every eligible retail customer who currently has no service or only dial-up access the option of purchasing high speed services from the broadband provider of their choice. When consumers buy our cordless Internet phones bundled with Internet phone service at retail, there will be an insert in every package with web and toll-free access to order from most major high speed brands, giving them a ‘one box solution’ to save money on their home phone services if they do not already have the required broadband service needed for Internet telephone service.”

“We believe,” Hahn added, “that through this offering, many consumers will realize that the combination of broadband Internet and Internet phone service will save them hundreds of dollars each year compared to dial-up Internet and traditional phone service. In the end, they will not only have a faster Internet connection for data, but also far more calling features than they ever had before with their new Internet telephone service.”

Broadband National is a marketplace for consumers to shop for available cable and DSL services from nearly 40 service providers, including Comcast, Verizon, Qwest, Time Warner Cable, AT&T and many other national and regional providers.

When consumers purchase an American Telecom Services branded Internet phone, they will be directed to a specially branded, private label Broadband National Web site where they will be able to choose from the broadband providers that are available where they live. They can also sign up through a dedicated toll-free number. From the Web site or over the phone, consumers will be able to compare plans, pricing and features for the services available in their area.

Because Internet calling is still a relatively new technology, consumers are sometimes confused about how they can take advantage of it, especially if they don’t already subscribe to broadband service. But with this new bundled offer from American Telecom and Broadband National, the shopping experience is simplified allowing consumers to make one purchase and quickly begin to enjoy feature-rich calling at prices far less than traditional phone services and benefit from faster Internet speeds through their new broadband Internet connection.

American Telecom will make the Broadband National service available with the purchase of a variety of Internet phones. In return, American Telecom Services will receive a fee from Broadband National for each service account that is activated and will share a portion of those revenues with their retail partners. From a retailer’s perspective, the combination of profit on the Internet phones, service fees and residual income from VoIP services plus the service fees for broadband service activation, makes ATS’ Internet phones one of the most profitable bundled solutions for Internet calling for retailers in America.

About American Telecom Services:

American Telecom Services, a leading provider of traditional and internet phones bundled with service offerings, currently offers Digital Clear Internet phone bundles powered by SunRocket (voice-over-Internet-Protocol or “VoIP”) and Pay N’ Talk prepaid residential long distance communications services powered by IDT. These services are bundled with ATS’ diverse line of custom designed digital, cordless, multi-handset phones. ATS sells its phone/service bundles through major retailers under the “American Telecom,” “ATS,” “Pay N’ Talk” and “Digital Clear” brand names.

About Broadband National:

Broadband National’s industry leading IBIS 3.0 platform allows for efficient management of multi-site locations. Through our bulk qualification process we are able within a matter of hours to quickly, and efficiently determine what services are available at all customer locations, maximizing coverage and reducing overall costs. IBIS 3.0 compares services from more than 50 local, regional and national service providers such as Comcast, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, Time Warner, Verizon, Speakeasy, Covad, Charter, Nuvox and New Edge.

Formed in 2003, Broadband National is a private company conceived as a solution to a fragmented and confusing broadband marketplace. Millions have used their Web site to compare services, and purchase broadband, VoIP, video, mobile, digital, and similar services.

For Broadband National press or investor relation’s inquiries, please contact Mark Ballard at 772-539-0618 or visit http://www.broadbandnational.com

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Thursday, November 16, 2006

A Wider Selection Of Broadband And VoIP Phone Services


Broadband National, the leading online marketing company that promotes digital services in the U.S., has announced a new joint alliance with 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), provider of Packet8 (www.packet8.net) residential, business and video Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services.

The agreement will allow Broadband National to offer their residential and business customers Packet8’s affordable and easy to use Internet telephone and videophone services. The Packet8 residential phone service allows anyone with broadband (high-speed) Internet access to use their regular phone to make unlimited calls to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada for only $19.99 per month. Packet8 Virtual Office, 8x8’s hosted IP-PBX service for small to medium sized businesses, gives SMBs access to a powerful corporate-class phone system, complete with unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, for just $39.99 per month/extension.

In return, 8x8 will refer their customers who need broadband to complete their VoIP installation to Broadband National’s online comparative shopping website, or directly to one of Broadband National’s call centers. “Businesses and consumers are well aware of the advantages VoIP phone service offers and will actively conduct research to find the best combination of broadband access and hosted business phone services that will save them the most money while providing the flexibility and feature set that best suits their needs,” says Huw Rees, 8x8 Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“Broadband National is very pleased to partner with 8x8 to offer these amazing values to our growing customer base,” said Vinny Olmstead, President and CEO of Broadband National. “The availability of Packet8 Internet phone service through Broadband National helps complete our VoIP offerings that are quickly shifting towards mainstream consumer acceptance.” Olmstead goes on to state, “Our business customers are looking for VoIP solutions that not only reduce their phone costs, but also offer functionality and features tailored for their distinctive business needs.”

About Broadband National
Broadband National is the leading comparative shopping website for broadband related services and products. Residential and business customers can use Broadband National's IBIS (Integrated Broadband Information System) technology to compare services from more than 50 local, regional and national service providers. Companies such as Comcast, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, Dlink, Time Warner, and Verizon are offered at www.broadbandnational.com. Broadband National utilizes their online marketing capabilities to attract customers and ultimately complete sales for their marketing customers.

The private company was formed in 2003 as a solution to a fragmented and confusing broadband market place. Millions have used the website to compare services, with more than 300,000 consumers and businesses having purchased broadband, VoIP, and similar broadband related products and services.

The robust IBIS system is also utilized by several companies including selected “Big Box” stores such as Office Depot and more than 1,000 others companies that lease the technology to offer broadband products and services on their websites and in retail stores.

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Wednesday, November 15, 2006

New Broadband Cable Website Caters To Exploding Rental Market


Website consolidates digital services and allows renters and those in the process of moving an opportunity to earn money to help defray associated costs.

Broadband National, the nations leading online marketing company that promotes digital services such as broadband, VoIP, and video has launched a Web site targeting the growing rental and moving marketplace.

The new website www.rewards4renters.com allows individuals who are renting or in the process of moving to consolidate their high-speed Internet, telephone service and cable TV and earn up to $260.00 in cash rewards and credits. The new site offers users free equipment, free digital music and video. The site allows new renters to order all the services they will need in one place and receive rewards at the same time.

“In most cases individuals and families that are moving into rental homes and apartments are shopping for digital services. We’ve taken the hassle out of the process by offering them the best possible prices for their Internet, cable and telephone services under one monthly bill,” states Mark Weibel Executive Vice President of marketing for Broadband National. “Renters are often faced with substantial out of pocket expenses before they’re able to move into a new home or apartment. This offer allows them to easily order the digital services they need and at the same time receive money to defray those associated costs.”

Broadband National is the leading comparative shopping website for digital related services and products. Residential and business customers can use Broadband National's IBIS (Integrated Broadband Information System) technology to compare services from more than 50 local, regional and national service providers. Companies such as Comcast, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, Dlink, Time Warner, and Verizon are offered at www.broadbandnational.com.
Formed in 2003, Broadband National is a private company conceived as a solution to a fragmented and confusing broadband marketplace. Millions have used their Web site to compare services, and purchase broadband, VoIP, and similar telecom services.

www.broadbandnational.com

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