The Win Report

According to industry sources, in spite of the boom in mobile broadband usage in recent times, the level of advertising revenue generated by mobile advertising is yet to pick up. This is despite the fact that mobile broadband due to its features is seen as an excellent advertising platform.

Broadband usage in the UK is growing at a rapid pace, if the daily reports are to be believed. The situation has reached a point where there is concern among industry analysts on whether the networks will be able to manage the kind of traffic being generated.

A recent report predicts a 40-fold increase in mobile broadband traffic by 2017, and ‘exponential growth’ is commonly talked about when mobile broadband usage is discussed. New technology may arrive too late to prevent choking of existing networks, predict others.

This growth should gladden every advertising professional and marketer, as it represents a golden opportunity to reach out to target audiences everywhere with messages in a cost-effective manner. One possibility is that of mobile service providers selling advertising on their connectivity pages, which subscribers see every time they log in to the network. But this alone is not generating a reasonable revenue stream.

Recently, the managing partner of media agency agenda21 digital commented that the advertising revenues from broadband were nowhere close to the levels expected. He made this comment at the Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar ‘More than Talk…The Future of Mobile‘. He said that though web usage through mobiles had literally exploded, a corresponding increase in advertising activity through this medium is yet to be seen.

There are a number of points to consider when choosing the mobile broadband. If you choose to look for laptop deals through Mobile Broadband Genie, you will be given all the information you need about each supplier on their comparative table of UK broadband providers to help guide you through the decision process.

Improving Internet connectivity and new leaps in mobile technology have made it possible to go online anywhere, anytime. The increasing large number of people who are constantly online even while socialising, has raised a serious issue of social behaviour and mobile etiquette. Intel, the well-known chip manufacturer, was so keen to learn the rules of mobiles etiquette that it decided commission a detailed study on the subject.

The “Intel Holiday Mobile Etiquette” report prepared by the Harris Interactive Research Agency for Intel came up with its findings recently. The agency polled adult ‘online Americans’ to find out their feelings on the unspoken mobile use protocol covering everything from texting in company to browsing the net while on a date.

Almost 80percent of the respondents believed that was an etiquette to the use of mobiles. Nearly 69percent did not approve the use of mobile phones and smartphones while talking to others. As many as 87percent considered it inappropriate to use the phone or get busy with messaging inside the church or any place of worship. Quite interestingly, people on a date would also like to have undivided attention. About 60percent expressed reservation about their date toying with his/her phone. The dining table was another area where breaches of mobile etiquette were not acceptable with over 50 percent feeling uncomfortable if a fellow diner surfed the net covertly. However, three quarters were okay with the idea of taking a quick visit to the loo for a hurried mail check.

The report is quite revealing in that it clearly showed how a majority of people do not approve of getting online, texting and messaging while socialising, whereas, only a negligible percentage approve of getting online at the dinner table. If you haven’t yet joined the ranks of mobile internet users, take a look at pay as you go mobile broadband, however it is fair to point out that how you choose to use the service; to be or not to be “socially acceptable” is a choice you might have to make on your own!

Camping enthusiasts across the country can now avail free WiFi access at major camping and caravanning sites across the UK. Vacationing in the UK is growing in popularity as more and more people prefer camping within their country than going abroad. BT, understanding this and the need for internet access for such campers, has decided to provide free WiFi service in 77 such camping sites across the country.

The UK sees about fifty thousand campers around the August bank holiday, and it is with this in mind that BT has proposed this new service. To avail it, all that a BT Openzone user has to do is carry a phone or laptop with WiFi connectivity and connect to the network. In addition to BT Openzone subscribers, this service is available to subscribers of O2iPhone and mobile broadband who have opted for inclusive WiFi minutes in their contracts. Others can buy BT Openzone vouchers online before going on their holidays.

Chris Bruce, General Manager of BT Openzone, said that with WiFi service being made available at campsites, campers can surf the net, call home at cheaper rates using Voice over Internet Protocol and also play online games (click for information on Family Broadband).

He further added that this service would be of best use when the weather turns foul and people are stuck inside their camps, as in that case it will provide an alternative entertainment plan to such campers. In addition, they can surf the net to discover places of interest near their campsite and make their trip more enjoyable.

Dial up Internet access is an inexpensive but slow form of Internet access in which the client uses a modem connected to the computer and a telephone line to dial the Internet service provider.

By configuring the computer to dial a specific phone number, the computer is granted Internet access. It is usually the only choice available for most rural or remote areas where getting a broadband connection is impossible due to low population and demand. It may also be an alternative to people who have limited budgets.

To use dial-up access, the user must have a telephone modem, a device that connects a computer to the telephone system and is capable of converting data into sounds and sounds back into data. The user’s ISP provides software that controls the modem. Upon joining a dial-up service, the subscriber chooses a username and password.

Due to the limited bandwidth, the ability for the modem to send and receive data, dial-up service can take up to five minutes to download just one megabyte of data. In some cases, caching frequently visited pages, and other software tricks can speed up the experience of dial-up access in some cases. If your work online is multimedia-centric, (music, movies, and graphic-laden websites), dial-up service may be too slow to meet your satisfying levels.

Dial-up connections usually have high latency which can make online gaming or videoconferencing difficult. Gamers with dial-up connections are often disconnected from game servers due to high latency of the connection. The factors to consider while choosing a dial-up Internet Access Provider are coverage, price and customer support.

The advantage of dial-up access is that its much cheaper than cable and broadband Internet. Obviously, speed is a disadvantage of dial-up access.
The speed of dial-up Internet is slow because of text, graphics, connection speed, traffic, and the particular site one is visiting. Another thing is the loading speed, which may vary depending on the type of modem one is using. A higher speed modem may increase surfing speed, however, the quality of the phone line one is connected to can also make a difference in the speed.

Despite the above disadvantages, at places where the facility of broadband is not yet explored, dial-up is the only inexpensive means of using the Internet.

Internet

For any driver travelling some distance, GPS navigation systems are essential and can save both time and money. Many people will think “I don’t need one of them, I never get lost”, nevertheless at the price that you or I could pick one of these up for these days, it’s common sense to purchase one for even the occasional drive to a new location.

The GPS systems that are available today offer a lot more than just the map info that many people assume. Since GPS systems have arrived, the technological advancements have added such benefits as locating hotels and restaurants, and notifying the driver of speed cameras nearby. Furthermore, they constantly update with a detailed map of the area, with details of nearby facilities like hospitals; which is a feature that can be highly advantageous in an emergency situation.

The majority of vehicle manufacturers are capable of providing the car buyer with a built-in GPS system. These systems are able to advise the necessary authority of the vehicle location in scenarios where the vehicles’ airbag is deployed, and also when the car has been reported by the owner as stolen.

The detail that many GPS systems can provide in terms of road maps and directions is incredible. Even when abroad, the relevant software is available for you to be able to use your GPS there. The software is regularly available via the internet for the GPS user to download instantly, and to benefit from in almost, if not all countries.

So let’s take a look at some of the most useful and “must-have” options with a GPS device:
- A good viewing screen is vital as it obviously displays all of the data that you will need to see. Make sure it will be clearly visible and easy to understand whilst driving, and all information is displayed in a simple easy-to-follow manner.
- Consider selecting a GPS product that is easy to use, so that you do not need to fiddle around with the setup whilst in the car, but instead can set up what you need in a few seconds.
- Purchase a device that has good mapping software, which will display detailed streets and information on facilities. Ensure that it can also be updated online so all information can remain current.
- A voice enabled system is highly important, as it allows the driver to find their destination without taking their eyes off the road to constantly check their position on the GPS.

For those that do not have a GPS device, you may still decline the need for such a product; however for those that own one, i’m certain that they will never again be without one. They are practical to keep in your vehicle and provide good-quality information when required. They can save you time when travelling to a location and vehicle costs such as petrol whilst doing so. Take a look around at the GPS devices available to find out more detailed information, and to browse the deals that can be found. With the range of equipment available, finding one to meet your requirements should be relatively effortless.

Justin Brown is the owner of the site http://www.idealauto.co.uk where you can find satellite navigation equipment and also sell any used cars in the UK.

The world is on the brink of a phone revolution, with a growing number of people cutting their telecom bills by making free calls via the World Wide Web.

A recent sign of this is that EBay, the online auction website, is so sure the idea will catch on, that it has paid $4.1 billion for the Internet Phone firm Skype Technologies.

Shortly all the millions of people who buy and sell goods on eBay will be able to use Skype’s software, to talk to each other free and also make cut price calls to other landlines and cell phones.

Internet Phone services such as Skype are specially valuable for people who make a great deal of international telephone calls, as even these are free as long as both caller and receiver use the Skype software. The service works best over a broadband World Wide Web link but it can be used over dial up. Also a microphone headset is required to improve sound quality, nonetheless you can also use the external speakers and microphone that are supplied with most personal computers these days.

Its terribly convenient to make an Internet Phone call, just determine which Skype user or phone number you want to call, press dial and a few seconds later you will hear the phone ring at the other end. Skype claims that the sound quality for an Internet Phone call is at least as good as a normal phone call, particularly if you use a headset. Nevertheless, some users complain about echoes and some delays between speaking and hearing the feedback.

There are also more drawbacks, most Internet phone services don’t permit calls to emergency services, also you may not hear incoming telephone calls whilst you are away from your computer, and if you go offline or switch off your computer you will not be able to receive calls at all. On the plus side you can use the Internet Phone services to make conference calls and if you have a Web Cam you could also set up a videoconference.

Skype is not the only provider of free Internet Phone calls; they are also available with Vontage, BT Google Talk and several others.

Vontage is one of the most popular. The service uses a router and your normal telephone so you just make calls in the usual way, but they are carried over the Internet rather than you telephone company’s landline. Telephone calls to other Vontage users are free, and you get extra services such as voice mail and call waiting included in the monthly charge cost.

With the on going take up of Broad Band services around the world one has to wonder what is the longer term future for traditional land line based telephone services?

Roger Overanout.

For all the latest news and information about Internet Phones and VoIP check with www.internetphonecenter.info

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Apple’s immensely popular iTunes service, which lets users download music to their computer, will finally face competition from a big player. BSkyB has announced to the World Mobile Congress that it will launch a rival service, which would potentially offer better terms to the user.

BSkyB’s spokesperson at the Mobile World Congress revealed that although the launch has been delayed, the company is extremely positive about the new service. Talks are on with several music labels and publishers, and Universal Music a major label representing some very popular stars like Kanye West has already been confirmed as a partner.

The key difference the service would offer from iTunes is that all downloads would be free of Digital Rights Management restrictions. This is good news for the consumers as they will be freely able to store and play music on any device of their choice whether it be mobile, television or through their broadband internet connection. Moreover, the service is likely to contain millions of songs and would provide a wide variety of music to the users.

The service will allow the music industry to recover some of its revenue lost through illegal downloads. The problem of illegal downloads has reached new heights with over 40 billion tracks being downloaded illegally last year. It is believed that with lesser restrictions on the portability of music that is purchased from the site, users will be encouraged to follow the legal route to downloading music. This seems to be a much better way of tackling with the problem than the other solutions being proposed like a music download tax.