Skype have announced that French Skype users can call any French landline for free (until the end of December).
Skype requires broadband and many broadband providers in France already offer a bundle of free national calls so though it's a nice gesture it's not really a big thing.
2006/09/07
Pipex buy Bulldog and Tucan
Another 2 broadband providers fall to the consolidation in the telecoms/ISP markets with Tucan and Bulldog being acquired by Pipex who now claim around 570,000 broadband customers.
Tucan's purchase isn't really suprising as margins for consumer broadband are diminishing, more so now with broadband being given away free as part of other offerings.
C&W have also being looking for a way to dispose of their Bulldog retail customers as they have been unable to compete in this business (especially since the launch of Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk3 package). Pipex also gain the use of the Bulldog name.
It makes a lot of sense for C&W to do this as they can now concentrate on a wholesale offering (which is a turn-around as they stopped offering one when they acquired Bulldog), and gain Pipex as a wholesale customer.
Consumer broadband and local loop unbundling is all about economies of scale. There are several LLU operators all competing for the customers in near enough the same (expected) 1,000 local exchanges that are being unbundled. If a wholesale provider could gain enough market traction the unbundler's could utilise them instead of unbundling themselves. This would potentially allow a greater number of exchanges to be unbundled with a greater number of users per exchange which would mean the economics become much more favourable. Unfortunately this requires companies in a highly competetive market working with each other, which is the stumbling block which rapidly degrades into telco politics.
Tucan's purchase isn't really suprising as margins for consumer broadband are diminishing, more so now with broadband being given away free as part of other offerings.
C&W have also being looking for a way to dispose of their Bulldog retail customers as they have been unable to compete in this business (especially since the launch of Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk3 package). Pipex also gain the use of the Bulldog name.
It makes a lot of sense for C&W to do this as they can now concentrate on a wholesale offering (which is a turn-around as they stopped offering one when they acquired Bulldog), and gain Pipex as a wholesale customer.
Consumer broadband and local loop unbundling is all about economies of scale. There are several LLU operators all competing for the customers in near enough the same (expected) 1,000 local exchanges that are being unbundled. If a wholesale provider could gain enough market traction the unbundler's could utilise them instead of unbundling themselves. This would potentially allow a greater number of exchanges to be unbundled with a greater number of users per exchange which would mean the economics become much more favourable. Unfortunately this requires companies in a highly competetive market working with each other, which is the stumbling block which rapidly degrades into telco politics.
Apple iMacs go Core 2 and 24 inch
Apple has announced that all iMac models will have an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. CPU speeds come in 1.8, 2.0, 2.16 and 2.3GHz with up to 3GB of RAM.
The new 24" model supports up to 1920 x 1200 pixels supports the higher end CPU (2.3GHz) and an option of a nVidia GeForce 7600GT instead of the 7300GT which is on the other models, a 250GB is standard though that can be upgraded to 500GB at order time. There's also a Firewire 800 port (in addition to the Firewire 400 ports). As with all new Macs they come with Tiger (10.4.7), iLife and Frontrow.
As the Core 2 Duo CPU is 64bit MacOS 10 really operates in 64bit mode (on the MacBooks and old Intel iMacs it's only working in 32bit).
The iMac is still one of the prettier PC's out there and for an all in one unit the new 24" system will be hard to beat - though there are probably cheaper systems out there. Macs just work
The new 24" model supports up to 1920 x 1200 pixels supports the higher end CPU (2.3GHz) and an option of a nVidia GeForce 7600GT instead of the 7300GT which is on the other models, a 250GB is standard though that can be upgraded to 500GB at order time. There's also a Firewire 800 port (in addition to the Firewire 400 ports). As with all new Macs they come with Tiger (10.4.7), iLife and Frontrow.
As the Core 2 Duo CPU is 64bit MacOS 10 really operates in 64bit mode (on the MacBooks and old Intel iMacs it's only working in 32bit).
The iMac is still one of the prettier PC's out there and for an all in one unit the new 24" system will be hard to beat - though there are probably cheaper systems out there. Macs just work
2006/09/04
Blu-Ray HDDVD battle hots up
TDK have announced a prototype for a Blu-Ray disk supporting 200GB. The current disks support 25GB per layer i.e. 50GB per disk.
HDDVD also has the capability for higher capacities, but they are currently lower than Blu-Ray.
This will make a huge difference for storing HD (high definition) movies which require huge capacities.
HDDVD also has the capability for higher capacities, but they are currently lower than Blu-Ray.
This will make a huge difference for storing HD (high definition) movies which require huge capacities.
Samsung updates Q1
The new machine called the Q1P adds HSPDA (high speed download packet access), a new battery giving the system 5 hours of use and a processor from VIA rather than Intel. There are other new features, but Samsung haven't gone into details yet.
Another IT Week mention
IT Week mentioned me on the front page of this week's edition re Open Source routers and their limitations.
Maybe I should do this professionally?
Maybe I should do this professionally?
2006/09/01
VoIP players already failing
It's seems Freetalk the VoIP service provided by Dixons is shutting shop a year after having started the service, users can migrate to Vonage though pricing stays the same they will require new Vonage equipment. Gossiptel seem to have disappeared into the mists too - even their website is gone.
VoIP isn't the panacea everyone hoped for, especially since normal telephony tariffs are plummeting and bundle deals are becoming normal (BT Retail has now had price restrictions lifted).
Unless a VoIP player has significant volume their future is limited.
VoIP isn't the panacea everyone hoped for, especially since normal telephony tariffs are plummeting and bundle deals are becoming normal (BT Retail has now had price restrictions lifted).
Unless a VoIP player has significant volume their future is limited.
Megalaser 120mW laser
Megalaser are now selling 120mW green lasers mounted in a handy laserpointer.
Of course they aren't laser pointers, they are just industrial lasers mounted for convenient transport.
Green lasers are very bright anyway and 120mW will carry the beam visibly for 10's of miles, but they are dangerous (they'll burn holes in plastic bags) and shouldn't be pointed directly (or reflected) into people's eyes.
They probably shouldn't be used near airports or such like too.
Of course they aren't laser pointers, they are just industrial lasers mounted for convenient transport.
Green lasers are very bright anyway and 120mW will carry the beam visibly for 10's of miles, but they are dangerous (they'll burn holes in plastic bags) and shouldn't be pointed directly (or reflected) into people's eyes.
They probably shouldn't be used near airports or such like too.
Canon announces EOD400D
This is the successor to the hugely popular EOS350D. It has got a 10.1MP sensor with cleaning technology that shakes the dust off it.
It has a 2.5 inch LCD display supporting 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 160 degrees.
In burst mode it can shoot 3fps and store up to 10 RAW or 27 JPEGs.
All EF and EF-S (over 60) lenses are supported as well as Speedlite EX flash units.
Pricing is expected to be competetive to the Sony Alpha but seems to be about £649 for the body only or around £719 with an EF-S 18-55mm lens.
It has a 2.5 inch LCD display supporting 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 160 degrees.
In burst mode it can shoot 3fps and store up to 10 RAW or 27 JPEGs.
All EF and EF-S (over 60) lenses are supported as well as Speedlite EX flash units.
Pricing is expected to be competetive to the Sony Alpha but seems to be about £649 for the body only or around £719 with an EF-S 18-55mm lens.
2006/08/29
Google beta Business hosted apps
Google have just launched a beta version of hosted Email/Calendar and Google Talk but under your own domain.
Though only beta it could offer a real challenge to Microsoft as companies can completely dump problematic applications (like Exchange) and use Google instead.
It's currently free and anyone accepted on the beta, it looks to remain free too.
Though only beta it could offer a real challenge to Microsoft as companies can completely dump problematic applications (like Exchange) and use Google instead.
It's currently free and anyone accepted on the beta, it looks to remain free too.
Ebay choose Google for advertising
Google's press release has some details.
Advertising on Ebay isn't unexpected, though sellers may have concern that adverts will appear offering competing goods. What's odd is the "click to talk" announcement where buyers can talk to sellers - but using Skype OR GoogleTalk.
Ebay paid a lot of money for Skype (they own it) so promoting a competing (beta) service would seem strange.
Maybe it's all to stop Microsoft getting a foothold.
Advertising on Ebay isn't unexpected, though sellers may have concern that adverts will appear offering competing goods. What's odd is the "click to talk" announcement where buyers can talk to sellers - but using Skype OR GoogleTalk.
Ebay paid a lot of money for Skype (they own it) so promoting a competing (beta) service would seem strange.
Maybe it's all to stop Microsoft getting a foothold.
2006/08/24
Windows Live WiFi Center
This is being made available to a select number of Office 2007 beta testers. It allows users to find WiFi hotspots as well as find out what's actively around them. Users can then select "free" or paid for services and mark them as favourites.
It will then ease the set-up of virtual private networks (VPN) to ensure the connection is secure.
It's all part of Microsoft's Windows Live services.
It will then ease the set-up of virtual private networks (VPN) to ensure the connection is secure.
It's all part of Microsoft's Windows Live services.
Bryce 5 for free
Daz is offering free downloads of the 3D World software Bryce version 5.
It's available for Mac and Windows, though v5 won't work on MacOS 10.4, version 5 will ($119 upgrade, though by joining Artzone there's a $100 discount available.
Bryce can produce see, land, tree, skys and even planets and even beginners can produce amazing results.
It's a big download, but it will keep the kids amused. NOTE rendering can take a very long time and is extremely CPU intensive.
It's available for Mac and Windows, though v5 won't work on MacOS 10.4, version 5 will ($119 upgrade, though by joining Artzone there's a $100 discount available.
Bryce can produce see, land, tree, skys and even planets and even beginners can produce amazing results.
It's a big download, but it will keep the kids amused. NOTE rendering can take a very long time and is extremely CPU intensive.
2006/08/19
Gillette Fusion
5 blades, well 6 really as there's one on the back for trimming.
It feels like a razor should and actually seems to work pretty well. It looks pretty funky too.
The 5 blades do seem to make the razor glide over your face and give a very smooth shave.
Better than the Mach 3.
It feels like a razor should and actually seems to work pretty well. It looks pretty funky too.
The 5 blades do seem to make the razor glide over your face and give a very smooth shave.
Better than the Mach 3.
2006/08/18
Internet for planes scrapped
Boeing has dropped plans to launch its Connexion service which offered high-speed Internet access to planes.
Though intial trials went well and high-speed access was made available via satellite connections, it failed to attract enough interest from the airlines as passengers didn't want to spend between $10 and $30 for service.
Airlines are probably waiting for cheaper services with newly auctioned in-flight air-to-ground services which could also offer Internet access.
Though intial trials went well and high-speed access was made available via satellite connections, it failed to attract enough interest from the airlines as passengers didn't want to spend between $10 and $30 for service.
Airlines are probably waiting for cheaper services with newly auctioned in-flight air-to-ground services which could also offer Internet access.
2006/08/17
Ofcom Website | Making it easier to switch broadband provider
Ofcom are proposing new regulations to allow users to easily switch broadband providers by forcing them to supply the Migration Authorisation Code (MAC). If the provider doesn't offer the code it will be made available from a 3rd party.
This should simply things and hopefully make it easier for customers to migrate to new services with a minimum of downtime.
Currently this is a consultation which closes on 5 October 2006
Link to Ofcom Website | Making it easier to switch broadband provider
Slim Devices Transporter
The Register have my review of the Transporter on their site.
It's a high end audiophile streamer. It looks to be a very nice (although expensive) system.
It's a high end audiophile streamer. It looks to be a very nice (although expensive) system.
Micosoft Blogging tool
Windows Live Writer is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) blog authoring tool. It's designed to work with Windows Spaces, but will work with other services such as Blogger, Wordpress etc.
It supports standard text as well as photos and integrating maps. There's a full SDK (software development kit) so it can be extended too.
This is all part of Microsoft's Live environment where they are trying to make a dent into an already crowded market, but it does seem they are coming out with useful tools.
It supports standard text as well as photos and integrating maps. There's a full SDK (software development kit) so it can be extended too.
This is all part of Microsoft's Live environment where they are trying to make a dent into an already crowded market, but it does seem they are coming out with useful tools.
2006/08/16
Leap Wireless chooses Huawei
Leap Wireless an operator in the US has chosen Huawei to provide CDMA2000 technology for networks in Spokane, WA., Boise, ID, and Reno, NV.
Huawei first became known for making Cisco clones, while charging considerably less. Their big rise to fame came when they won a contract with British Telecom for their 21st Century Network, which crippled Marconi who were counting on getting in on the deal.
They have a huge range of equipment that will encroach every area (ISP, telecoms, SME networking, etc) other players are going to struggle to compete.
Huawei are definately a company to watch.
Huawei first became known for making Cisco clones, while charging considerably less. Their big rise to fame came when they won a contract with British Telecom for their 21st Century Network, which crippled Marconi who were counting on getting in on the deal.
They have a huge range of equipment that will encroach every area (ISP, telecoms, SME networking, etc) other players are going to struggle to compete.
Huawei are definately a company to watch.
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