Source: www.voip-news.com

Bandwidth.com has introduced BoxSet service bundles that combine unlimited calling, bundled internet service and flat rate pricing. the BoxSet is intended for the SMB sector. The flat rate starts at $179 per month.

“Small and Medium businesses nationwide can benefit from the ease of use, scalability and price of bundled service offerings for their voice and data communications,” said John Macario, President of Savatar. “Additionally, service providers such as Bandwidth.com who can offer the flexibility of a range of bandwidth options and solutions will drive faster adoption in this rapidly growing segment.”

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Being based in San Antonio, we think in terms of Mexican food.  I used to see former AT&T Chairman Ed Whitacre dine at LaFogatta, one of my personal faves.  When you get the whole enchilada, you get the whole thing, the big meal, the super combo deluxe dinner.

The phone company as we no longer know it has just launched AT&T Net Reach, a whole enchilda approach to providing home and on-the-go high speed Internet services for the ever-moving consumer and small business customer.

3Screens.net News Summary:

• Combining the strengths of AT&T’s wireless and wireline networks, Net Reach includes AT&T High Speed Internet and LaptopConnect services, in addition to free access to more than 17,000 hot spots with AT&T Wi-FiSM service.
• Plus, as part of the LaptopConnect service, new software automatically detects the strongest available AT&T signal from a nearby network — 3G, EDGE, Wi-Fi or one’s AT&T High Speed Internet connection at home — making connecting simple and easy.
• AT&T Net Reach provides high speed Internet service at home, access to AT&T’s 3G wireless network in more than 275 major metro areas, national coverage on AT&T’s EDGE wireless network and free access to more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots nationwide, including roughly 7,000 Starbucks locations.
• The latest AT&T Communication Manager software, version 6.8, now pre-installed on the AT&T USBConnect 881, adds ease of use by picking up AT&T network signals directly from one’s laptop.
• Customers may also download the new AT&T Communication Manager, at no cost, by visiting www.att.com. AT&T Net Reach plans are now available, starting at $79.95 a month, and may be ordered by calling AT&T or by visiting a local AT&T retail location.

How To Buy:
AT&T Net Reach is available to new and existing residential and small business customers who subscribe to AT&T High Speed Internet and AT&T LaptopConnect services. Customers must also opt to combine their wireless and wireline services onto one billing statement.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

If this doesn’t tell you that Boeing blew it by being premature and pulling out of the flying WiFi space over a year ago, nothing proves it better.

A survey by BarclayCard shows that over fifty percent of the business travel market want Internet connectivity on the go and in the air, at least with the audience under 50. But even over 50 year olds, 40 percent of them, want it too.

Put me in the first group, for I’ve already had the experience on Lufthansa when they offered Connexxion back in 2006 and LOVED IT. Heck I even made a few VoIP and Skype Calls using Gizmo Project and Counterpath’s Eyebeam.

Most of all the sense of knowing all my email was caught up on was a big relief when I got off the plane versus the need to spend an hour cleaning up my inbox as I normally do each morning.

In my view, we’re going to see more users the next time around staying connected in the air…

Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com

Summer is just around the corner, and by June the phone company as we no longer know it, will deploy High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) technology in the six remaining markets across AT&T’s entire 3G (third-generation) wireless broadband network.

When done, AT&T will have completed its deployment of HSUPA technology, which complements existing HSDPA technology (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), making AT&T the only U.S. carrier to have fully deployed HSPA technology in its 3G network.

Today the superfast AT&T 3G network is available in more than 275 markets. By year-end, the AT&T 3G network will be available in nearly 350 markets.

With the new addition of HSUPA technology, AT&T 3G users (think iPhone 2.0) can enjoy uplink speeds between 500 and 800 Kbps. The technology is available in all but the few remaining AT&T 3G markets and will be included in all future deployments. The new upload speeds complement AT&T’s 3G download capabilities, which currently offer up to 1.4 Mbps across all markets for customers who have capable devices, such as AT&T’s LaptopConnect wireless modems.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

The other day Jonathan Greene posted about the lousy performance when it came to Broadband that he had at the Hotel Monaco in Seattle. The Monaco, like the Palomar here in San Francisco where I am for the week are both Kimpton Hotels and have a long tradition of catering to technology types on the road.

In the past I’ve always had a better than average experience at the Kimpton Hotel properties when it comes to broadband, but today, on the eve of Java One, my experience is nothing less than disappointing.

First I couldn’t log on, as the auto sign on said I wasn’t the guest in the room I was listing (wrong) and then it went on to say there wasn’t a credit card on file (wrong again as I already had checked in.) That required a call to support from ElevenWireless, the company which handles the connectivity.

After I was on, I realized the support person didn’t give me the service I was trying to activate, the more expensive ($4.95 vs. Free) service that promises higher speeds and better throughput vs. the free service.

Here’s what I found out:

Free service gave me 300 k down, and 150 k up. That’s not really broadband.

The paid service is giving me between 330k and 500k down and between 150 and 500 k up over a series of tests.

As JG says, "sorry. This isn’t broadband."

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

I’m on my way to the Bay Area for a week’s worth of meetings, meet up
and to also assist winemaker friend Sylvain Fadat of Domaine d’Aupilhac
on Monday at the annual Kermit Lynch Client event that starts tonight.

As I await my slightly delayed Southwest flight to SFO I ran a fast  speed test.

Download  14403kb/s
Upload 8359 kb/s

To
me, that rocks and shows that making pointed comments directly to the
airport management as I have really didn’t fall on deaf ears.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

I’m on my way to the Bay Area for a week’s worth of meetings, meet up
and to also assist winemaker friend Sylvain Fadat of Domaine d’Aupilhac
on Monday at the annual Kermit Lynch Client event that starts tonight.

As I await my slightly delayed Southwest flight to SFO I ran a fast speed test.

Download 14403kb/s
Upload 8359 kb/s

To
me, that rocks and shows that making pointed comments directly to the
airport management as I have really didn’t fall on deaf ears.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

I’m on my way to the Bay Area for a week’s worth of meetings, meet up and to also assist winemaker friend Sylvain Fadat of Domaine d’Aupilhac on Monday at the annual Kermit Lynch Client event that starts tonight.

As I await my slightly delayed Southwest flight to SFO I ran a fast speed test.

Download 14403kb/s
Upload 8359 kb/s

To me, that rocks and shows that making pointed comments directly to the airport management as I have really didn’t fall on deaf ears.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

Om’s post about better speeds from your broadband provider is music to my years. As a home based teleworker and global traveling nomad speed is my connectivity lifeline. Bad broadband for me is the equal to a bad hair day.

But it’s his closing paragraph which really nails what the important part of having better pipe is all about. The upstream path.

Broadband 2.0 is all about collaboration and sharing, and that requires just as much upstream bandwidth as it does downstream speeds. Regardless, this coming year is going to be fun as the cable companies and phone operators will do unnatural things to entice new subscribers, starting with offering faster connections at lower prices. Nothing wrong with that.

Basically for client companies like Vapps with their HiDef Conferencing, Yugma, SightSpeed, Truphone, Junction Networks, iotum, and their competitiors, the upstream improvements will really help make for a much better user experience.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

In a move that totally pre-empts the likes of FON and other "social hotspot" networks, BT has taken the concept of openness to a new level with the launch of a HotSpot available option at all TOTAL BROADBAND locations.

In their announcement they are actually promoting VoIP so this is a good sign for client Truphone and other VoIP on the mobile handsets.

What this means is BYE BYE MuniWireless and HELLO PUBLIC WIRELESS, a concept I have shared with friend and WiFi diva Esme Vos of MuniWireless fame. Basically what BT has done is what I suggest to a few folks years back on what the cable MSO’s should do…..darn I hate it when I’m right (again.) Steve Garrido are you remembering ?

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

With a hattip to Fierce Wireless, now led by executive editor Doug Mohney, one has to recognize just how much of an impact IP communications is having on the legacy, fixed line phone business. It’s starting to show.

This report, out of the UK, paints a very rosy picture for VoIP and Wireless, as well as the burgeoning broadband marketplace here in the USA, especially for fiber to the home and premise buildouts.

Source: andyabramson.blogs.com

It looks like the barrier to entry for Mobile VoIP keeps getting lower and lower, as SipGate, a European player in the game has struck a deal with Pirelli to be able to sell their dual mode phone for under 60 Euros.

At the same time, the patent protection firms seem to be going into the Mobile VoIP business.