Browse Articles By Tag: phone packages RSS

Is Unlimited Broadband Really Unlimited?

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:59:00 +0000

// The idea of connecting to a 56K modem to use the internet for half an hour at a time is, nowadays, absurd. These days, we're constantly connected; if you have a broadband connection at home, you probably leave your router turned on all the time, so that you can jump online whenever you need to do so, be it by laptop, tablet or desktop. This is why unlimited broadband packages can seem awfully tempting; it's easy to reach broadband limits, especially if you download and stream a lot of videos online. So why not put an end to worrying about download limits by opting for unlimited broadband? The truth is, 'unlimited broadband' isn't always unlimited. It's a phrase that's often used by broadband providers to tempt customers into signing up, though these packages are only 'unlimited' in the sense that strict limits are applied to, say, a '60GB' package which will charge you after you have downloaded 60GB of data. This isn't necessarily a bad thing; truly 'unlimited' broadband packages are likely to be more expensive than those that aren't, so unless you really need to use up thousands of gigabytes, you may be happy to plump for a ‘somewhat limited’ package of unlimited broadband. The way in which providers enact so-called ‘unlimited’ packages is by including a fair use policy within the terms and conditions. This could mean that your download speed is restricted at certain times of the day, or it could mean that your downloads can be capped if you use an excessive amount of data. In other words, while the provider doesn't attach a numerical limit to your usage, they essentially reserve the right to cut your use down, apply traffic management restrictions or stop you from downloading large amounts of data. There are a few unlimited broadband packages out there which offer 'true' unlimited broadband, though these are likely to set you back a little more. For the majority of users, an unlimited broadband package with a fair use policy included will prove to b... Read more

Phone & Broadband Packages

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:03:00 +0000

// You can communicate in so many ways these days. You can phone, text, email, message via a social networking site or video call from your tablet. There seems to be no end to the new ways we, as a very social human race, are coming up with to communicate. Phone and broadband are two mechanisms for communication that you likely use on a very regular basis. Many of you probably can’t imagine a day when you went without using these two methods yet despite their commonality, many people are paying more than they need to for their phone and broadband. You can make sure you are getting the best deal by selecting a package that includes both phone and broadband together. There are several advantages to picking a package that gives you both phone and broadband together. One, it is generally less expensive than if you were to pay for them separately. The package can usually become even cheaper if you are willing to sign up for a longer contract with the communications company, say a 24 month contract rather than a 12 month contract. If you know you are going to be using the phone and broadband for a longer period of time then this is definitely something you can consider. Two, it is less hassle getting both phone and broadband together than if you were to get each separately. You can order both services together from the same company, leaving you with only one bill to deal with. Why not do this and simplify your life. There are enough utility bills, bank statements and other notifications coming in the post so if you have your phone and broadband together you can look forward to just the one letter. Finally, in today’s world you may not just have a landline phone in your home. If you are one of the millions who have a mobile phone then your life can get even easier. You can get a communications package that covers your landline phone, mobile phone and your broadband. And, as mobile phones are constantly advancing, this includes your smartphone. If you lead an ... Read more

How Many Phone Lines Does Your Business Need?

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:09:00 +0000

// Phone lines are still essential utilities for most businesses, but if you don't take care to choose the most suitable type of phone system for your company, you could run into problems or be paying more than you should be for business phone calls. The size of your business is one of the most crucial factors to consider when comparing different types of phone systems, as the more lines your business needs, the more sophisticated a telephone system you're likely to need. If you run a small business with just a few employees, you may feel that a single phone line is all you need, though in many cases even a relatively small business could soon find that more phones are needed to ensure no calls are missed during peak times of the day. Even the simplest type of key-less phone system is capable of handling up to four lines, whereas larger companies may opt for KSU systems to connect more users. That way, you won't have to worry about certain employees not being connected to your network, and you may even choose to have dedicated lines for services such as voicemail or fax machines. The number of people you employ isn't always a reliable figure to use when determining a suitable number of phone lines however, as some workers may not need their own phone lines, such as those working out in the field rather than in the office. Conversely, a small business that relies heavily on telemarketing or offers customer support may benefit from installing more phone lines than there are employees. If you're trying to ascertain how much use your employees make of your phone lines at present before installing a new phone line, one useful source to look to is itemised bills of outgoing calls from your premises, which won't only be useful for informing you which numbers are dialled most frequently, but may also lead to you finding out certain times of the day when more calls tend to be made. If your company makes frequent international or long distance calls, you could b... Read more

Getting The Most From Your Phone And Broadband Package

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:54:00 +0000

// Many of us feel daunted by the sheer volume of options that are available when it comes to home phone and broadband connections. With so many service providers and different packages out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Instead of fretting however, sit down and think about the services which you require, and those that you don’t make the best use of, this will make the process much easier. In fact, doing so could actually save you money, as it means you won’t have to fork out for unnecessary extras. First off, it could be an idea to figure out if your needs can be best served by a standalone phone line or broadband package, or by a package that combines them both. Whilst common sense might dictate that you can save a bit of money by combining the two, there may be circumstances where this isn’t necessarily the case. However, the bulk of the time, combining packages can save you money, so it could be worth having a look at the various package options that various suppliers offer. Secondly, consider your options with regards to your internet connection. Would you like to take advantage of the latest wireless technology and be able to browse the internet without the need for cables? Or are you happy enough using your telephone line to connect to the web? Or then again, would you prefer to use either a cable or wireless dongle? By selecting the option that suits your needs here, you’ll be ensuring that your broadband package is one which suits your particular circumstances – saving frustration further down the line. Also, consider the reputability of prospective providers. The last thing you need is an unreliable service – particularly during important times where it’s necessary for you to make a phone call or check your e-mails. Then there’s the price. While phone and broadband services can be considered necessities in a modern household, so you shouldn’t have to pay through the nose to take advantage of them. Have a... Read more

Is Fibre Optic Broadband The Way Forward For Business?

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:21:00 +0000

// If you're trying to sort the facts from the hype when it comes to fibre optic broadband, one of the most important aspects to consider about this new type of broadband connection is how long it's here to stay. With the dial-up modems of the 1990s being usurped by broadband internet in the last decade, and standard broadband connections now on their way out, what shelf life can be expected for fibre optic connections? The good news for any businesses concerned about the longevity of fibre optic broadband is that the technology has been certified 'future proof' by industry experts - which means the opportunities for growth and scalability offered by its high capacities are not likely to be exceeded for at least several decades to come. If you're waiting for prices to drop before installing fibre optic broadband, you should also consider the distinct advantages that benefiting from this new technology could have for your business over the competition, and for improving the experiences of everyone involved in your organisation. Although there is some time to go before fibre optic connections completely replace traditional copper cable broadband to become the industry standard, that doesn't mean its use lies entirely in the future - as many companies and individuals are already reaping the benefits offered by its greater speed, capacity and security. If your business websites have ever experienced slow loading or have crashed due to peaks in traffic, this is an indication that your current broadband service is already not up to the tasks required of it, and these problems will only increase as online content becomes ever more sophisticated in the coming years. So just how fast is fibre optic broadband? As with standard broadband connections, there can be a discrepancy between the speeds advertised in promotional material and actual speeds experienced by users, but the gap is closing fast as providers offer ever greater speeds each year. While speeds of up to ... Read more

How To Find The Best Broadband And Phone Deals

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:47:00 +0000

// Broadband internet has rapidly evolved from being a useful tool for some companies to becoming an indispensible asset for many types of businesses. As the speeds and capabilities of broadband have improved over the years, increasing competition between suppliers has ensured that prices remain low, and it's possible to find a cheap broadband package ideally suited to your business - you just need to know where to look, and what to look for. The first thing that's important to note is that you should avoid basing your decision on price alone. There are likely to be reasons that certain broadband packages are cheaper than others, and further investigation could reveal limitations or features that make the service unsuitable for your requirements - such as the need to sign up to a longer term contract, or caps placed on the amount of content that can be downloaded or uploaded each month. If you run a business with a large web presence and multiple employees accessing the web on a daily basis, you should avoid broadband deals with bandwidth restrictions at all costs. If you are looking for a long term solution for your business broadband, considering signing up for an extended contract could be a cost-effective option, but you should do the calculations to work out exactly how much the plan will cost you overall, month to month, to check whether there are real savings to be made. If you are looking for broadband for a company, choosing a specialised business broadband deal is another important consideration, as these packaged are tailor-made to suit the needs of businesses of all sizes. Check what's included in your business broadband package compared to others on the market, rather than simply using price comparison tools, as the features and benefits included in some packages could add significant value. Another effective way to save money on your broadband installation is to combine your internet connection with a phone line, allowing you to reduce ove... Read more

Reasons To Consider A Leased Line For Your Business

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000

// If you're tired of struggling with slow broadband connections or other connectivity problems in your workplace, installing a leased line could be an effective solution. These high density phone lines can be leased on an annual basis or other arrangement with your provider, and offer faster speeds and greater reliability compared to the standard copper phone lines used for most broadband connections in the UK. Leased lines are most commonly used for providing internet access, but can also connect phone lines between multiple premises. These lines are always active and ready for use, and because they are not shared with other users, you can look forward to receiving the speeds advertised by your provider, which will not be compromised by outside factors or vary at different times. Leased lines are also popular with business users for their resilience, high security and reliability, which can be particularly beneficial if you're hosting your own websites and other online content. There are different types of leased lines available, offering you a variety of options when upgrading or getting started in your business. E1 lines are among the most common leased lines in Europe, capable of achieving data transfer rates of more than 2 Mbps over SDH, while the more advanced E3 lines are capable of transferring higher amounts of data over longer distances - though their prohibitively high cost makes E3 lines unsuitable for most businesses. You may also choose point to point EES (Ethernet Extension Services) circuits to connect a number of nearby buildings in campuses, business parks and other locations without needing to rely on routers. Unlike most other types of connections that may offer set or variable amounts of bandwidth, business customers are free to specify the precise speed they desire from leased lines, from as low as 64 Kbps to as high as 1000 Mbps. Although external factors will not influence these speeds, internal factors such as the number of empl... Read more

Understanding Broadband Speeds

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:50:00 +0000

// Any time business users or individuals are asked about the features they look for when evaluating broadband services, connection speed is guaranteed to be one of the most commonly cited reasons for choosing one service over another, alongside other essential factors such as security and reliability. Many people have experienced the frustration of waiting for slow web pages to load, and despite some claims to the contrary from over-ambitious advertisers, the leap to broadband internet in the early 2000s did not solve these problems entirely. Many broadband users still found themselves struggling on slower connections at certain times of the day, particularly in the early evening when more people log on at home. One way to avoid this is to sign up for a business broadband account and benefit from your own dedicated server, which can ensure your company's websites stay up and running even when inundated with traffic on the most popular sales days of the year. However, even with business broadband services it's still important to gain an understanding of the speeds you can hope to achieve, and how actual speeds may differ from those advertised. Broadband speed is most commonly measured in Mbps (Megabits per second) - often abbreviated to simply Mb - and different types of broadband connections are capable of achieving different speeds. ADSL broadband offers up to 8 Mbps, while ADSL2+ broadband services can achieve up to 20 Mbps (currently accounting for around 70 per cent of broadband connections in the UK). However, most users will find that their own speeds differ from these, depending on factors such as the length of the connection and distance from the location of the provider. The new option for achieving fast broadband speeds in your business is fibre optic broadband, which is currently being rolled out in many parts of the UK and offers speeds of 40 Mbps and even greater. Fibre optic broadband is being improved all the time to offer ever greater c... Read more

What Is Business Broadband?

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:31:00 +0000

// If you're setting up a new business or upgrading your company's existing utilities, one of the key questions you may face is which type of broadband package to opt for. Reading up on business broadband packages from your broadband provider or other suppliers should reveal that these advanced connections are the best option, but if you're still having doubts it's useful to gain a better understanding of some of the differences between business broadband and standard broadband packages. As its name indicates, business broadband is a broadband internet service designed with the needs of business users in mind. This is obviously in direct contrast to home broadband connections intended for residential use. There may be some degree of overlap however, especially if you run a small business out of a home office and are trying to decide whether paying more for business broadband is really worth it. If you operate a larger business with multiple employees, there is less ambiguity as the greater speed, security and reliability of business broadband can be considered fundamental business assets, as can some of the features included in packages. Business broadband packages offer a range of tools and services designed to improve customers' experiences as well as add value to their businesses. If you're planning on building your own company website, business broadband packages may include tools to help you get your websites up and running, as well as the static IP address needed to host your own content or email servers. If you already have business websites and these have experienced problems such as slow loading on occasion, this suggests you are not benefiting from as much bandwidth as your company requires, which will become an ever more significant issue in the coming years as websites incorporate more multimedia content and require faster speeds to access. Switching to business broadband could help you overcome many of these obstacles, as you will no longer ... Read more

Choosing The Right Broadband And Phone For Your Small Business

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Setting up a small business is an exciting feat. However, staying connected is an important part of any business, so consider your options when choosing the right broadband and phone service provider when setting up your own up.

First, consider your internet connection. Businesses have become more dependent on being connected to the internet and having an effective web presence in the last decade. A reliable broadband connection should be one of your first considerations when setting up your work space for your small business. It is a good idea to consider the amount of staff you have, your client base, and the type of services you offer as a business. If you have high usage rates, you will likely be offered a different rate than if you have low usage. Thus, consider your usage rates when choosing a service plan.

The next thing you will need as a small business is a reliable and clear telephone line. Explore your options for a telephone provider and consider similar factors of your business as you would when deciding on a broadband service. It might be a good idea to consider a service provider that can offer a reliable messaging service with the price of the phone line and a telephone directory for callers to easily connect to the appropriate staff member or department. Keep in mind that your small business may grow quickly, so it’s a good idea to not limit yourself to just one or two phone lines. Look for a service provider that will easily be able to expand its service as your business grows.

Keeping both these services in mind, it might be a good idea to compare individual prices for services with providers who offer these services in a package deal. You are likely to be offered a lower monthly rate if you opt to combine the two services. You might want to choose a service provider that will offer reliable high speed broadband, clear phone calls and technical support as part of your pa... Read more