Category: Distribution

BT and Bulldog are mounting an SDSL trial in 41 exchanges around London in late Autumn. The advantage of SDSL is the first S, Synchronous rather than the Asynchronous with ADSL, allowing both sending and receiving at 1.9Mbps.

Although it’s been announced, it doesn’t look like they really going to be pushing the service, as they estimate upwards of only 500 customers by the end of March 2004. I would have thought any company with a leased-line would seriously consider changing to this, given what will be a significant cost saving but I’m sure BT are very aware of this, hence their lack of ambition for it.

[This story, somewhat old now, was highlighted to me a while back but I somehow didn’t write about it. Thanks Andy for the initial highlight]

802.11a bring the huge advantage of speeds up to 54Mps but a severely reduced range of around 60 feet. Currently anybody wanting to use 802.11a equipment in the UK needs to have a licence from the Radio telecommunications Agency but sadly the RA appear to be sitting on their hands and not issuing any licences.

Sony have announced a broadband-enabled 160Gb PVR device that will join their ‘Cocoon’ range. It’s expected to be available in Japan from 1 Nov.

At the same time Microsoft announced their Windows XP Media Center Edition. A derivation of XP it features PVR functions as well as handling digital music, photo’s and video editing and play back all via a TV-style remote – as well as keyboard. Interestingly the recorded TV content will be copy-protected to stop it being viewed on other computers and can’t even be burnt off on to CD for archiving.

It’s only going to available via OEM’s as MS don’t think the average Joe can put the required cards in and make it work – given any and all of my experience with PC’s over the past fifteen years or so, I’d say it a wise move.

Further details on the Starbucks shops in London that currently have the T-Mobile WiFi access. They are 32 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1AA (020 7583 4163) and 90-94 Old Broad Street, EC2M 1PR (020 7588 4882). First report stated that access would be free for a trail period, as it does on the t-mobile site but the StarBucks site say you can get a free day pass – I’m not sure which is correct. There are another 1,200 shop Worldwide with WiFi access.

Public news is seeping out about Starbucks putting WiFi into their shops (or lifestyle venues – depending on your take). Excitingly the JV with T-Mobile and HP, called T-Mobile Hotspot will initially be free, so get yourselves down to the London Fleet Street or Broad Street branches.

BT is halving the £60 ADSL activation fee until the 20 September.

They’ve also done a lower priced ADSL deal with the UK bank firstdirect, which they anticipate will bring them an extra 25,000 users over the next year.

More delays in 3G roll-out as Vodaphone duck announcing the launch date for the UK.

UK cable company NTL recently claimed to have 300,000 residential broadband customers, which they estimate gives them the largest share of the market at 37%.

As discussed previously, the large telecom companies are going to try to stop broadband users from freely sharing their connection via WiFi. They want to launch their own pay-for services and why would the public pay for something they could have for free.

The first approach was to threaten some of the users who were doing this, today we see the second approach, rolling out PR stories designed to make the general public think twice about sharing their broadband connections via WiFi.

They are using an old favourite trick of IBM, FUD – Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. The story is put in a friendly adviser way, in fact AT&T Broadband say they’re starting an “educational effort” for their customers.

Clearly there can be benefits to the use of encryption but by encouraging people to turn on their encryption, they are, as a by-product, closing that WiFi network to public access. How fortunate for them.

The inevitable merging of WiFi with cellular phones has moved on another pace as Qualcomm announce their intention to include WiFi functionality in their CDMA chipsets. They haven’t announced any dates as yet.

One thing I hadn’t considered before is using the WiFi for Voice Over IP (VOIP), providing vastly improved receptions within buildings and the potential for much higher audio quality phone calls, due to increased bandwidth available.