Discussion
Ok so who's signed up to the Virgin 20 meg Extra Large service then, apparently is starts tomorow?
HI all, I got this email from a good mate that works for VirginMedia Retentions, and has also reduced my bill by nearly half, so I know he can be trusted!
From: ********@***********.**.**
Date: 10/03/07 13:33:05
To: 'A'
Subject: announcement of 20MB
Hiya A, told ya would keep ya updated. Hope this helps with questions about 20MB BB
Q. Who is being upgraded?
A. All Broadband Size: XL customers will receive the upgrade.
Q. When will the upgrade take place?
A. From May 2007 onwards. It will take place in a phased approach, details to be confirmed.
Q. Will all users be able to get the full 20Mb?
A. No. The majority of customers (85%) will be able to achieve 20Mb if they have the right modem. The remaining 15% of customers will only be able to achieve 16Mb, due to network constraints in their area, details of where to be confirmed.
Q. How will customers know if they have the right modem?
A. Details for customers will be available on our website - and don't worry, we'll make sure you're fully briefed as well.
Q. Will there be a charge for the modem upgrade?
A. Yes, a small charge is likely for most customers who need one. Again, we'll confirm these details.
Q. What happens if a customer doesn't want the modem upgrade?
A. They'll still be able to use their existing modem, they just won't get the full benefit of the speed increase.
Q. What is the upload speed for up to 20Mb broadband?
A. The upload speed for up to 20Mb broadband will be 768kbps.
Q. Where can customers get more information?
A. All customers receiving a letter about the price increase of Broadband Size: XL to £37, will be given a web link to find more information from our website (link to be confirmed).
Hope this is all ok for you all
Some people will 'only' manage 16meg d/l then, what a shame
Oh and the good news is you also get 756kb 'up' which is pretty good for cable.
Thread is here
Cable forum guy said:
HI all, I got this email from a good mate that works for VirginMedia Retentions, and has also reduced my bill by nearly half, so I know he can be trusted!
From: ********@***********.**.**
Date: 10/03/07 13:33:05
To: 'A'
Subject: announcement of 20MB
Hiya A, told ya would keep ya updated. Hope this helps with questions about 20MB BB
Q. Who is being upgraded?
A. All Broadband Size: XL customers will receive the upgrade.
Q. When will the upgrade take place?
A. From May 2007 onwards. It will take place in a phased approach, details to be confirmed.
Q. Will all users be able to get the full 20Mb?
A. No. The majority of customers (85%) will be able to achieve 20Mb if they have the right modem. The remaining 15% of customers will only be able to achieve 16Mb, due to network constraints in their area, details of where to be confirmed.
Q. How will customers know if they have the right modem?
A. Details for customers will be available on our website - and don't worry, we'll make sure you're fully briefed as well.
Q. Will there be a charge for the modem upgrade?
A. Yes, a small charge is likely for most customers who need one. Again, we'll confirm these details.
Q. What happens if a customer doesn't want the modem upgrade?
A. They'll still be able to use their existing modem, they just won't get the full benefit of the speed increase.
Q. What is the upload speed for up to 20Mb broadband?
A. The upload speed for up to 20Mb broadband will be 768kbps.
Q. Where can customers get more information?
A. All customers receiving a letter about the price increase of Broadband Size: XL to £37, will be given a web link to find more information from our website (link to be confirmed).
Hope this is all ok for you all
Some people will 'only' manage 16meg d/l then, what a shame
Oh and the good news is you also get 756kb 'up' which is pretty good for cable. Thread is here
So what about their lesser customers on 4MB? do we get a free upgrade to 8MB or once again we are left out and have to wait for weeks or months after before we are allowed to get a greater speed
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
Mikey G said:
So what about their lesser customers on 4MB? do we get a free upgrade to 8MB or once again we are left out and have to wait for weeks or months after before we are allowed to get a greater speed
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
Money/greed/call it what you like.. There is a lot of speculation about the 4 meg customers, because there is no 8meg upgrade option. The rumour mill says they will get the 10meg, but time will tell.
From previous experience every time I have moaned at Telewest/bearded bloke, I have gotten an upgrade or a better service as a valued customer. It doesn't hurt to threaten to leave every now and again either
Those of you that have played the mobile phone upgrade game will know where I am coming from
SS HSV said:
Mikey G said:
So what about their lesser customers on 4MB? do we get a free upgrade to 8MB or once again we are left out and have to wait for weeks or months after before we are allowed to get a greater speed
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
Money/greed/call it what you like.. There is a lot of speculation about the 4 meg customers, because there is no 8meg upgrade option. The rumour mill says they will get the 10meg, but time will tell.
From previous experience every time I have moaned at Telewest/bearded bloke, I have gotten an upgrade or a better service as a valued customer. It doesn't hurt to threaten to leave every now and again either
Those of you that have played the mobile phone upgrade game will know where I am coming from
When the last speed upgrade took place i threatened to leave then, i was on the 1 meg service for 17.99, the 2 meg was 24.99 and they had 10 meg for 34.99, it was like this for months and i asked why 10 meg customers were getting 3.49 per MB but 2 meg were paying 12.50 per MB of bandwidth, and 1 meg the full 17.99. I was told the upgrade was coming, 2 months later it finally came.
I just dont understand why it takes so long, i dont need the higher speeds but i begrudge paying the extra cost for little value i receive compared to the higher speed user.
You make a good point. I think the longer they hang it out the more people talk about it and the more publicity it gets. Ultimately everyone gains as more bandwidth becomes available and filters down from the idiots (me} that buy their premium products. I am as much buying it because I like the fact that I could download an album in 10 seconds (or whatever the time is), but mainly because I do not want to wait for something to happen if there is another option that makes it happen quicker
The big question that I think about is where is it going to end? For the ISP to throw out more bandwidth there has to be something to use it for as already mentioned. Now that DRM is happening in a big way, it is only a matter of time before the ISP starts to monitor downloads and blocks them if they are not licensed. When this happens there will be no need for 20meg etc and they will effectively have cut their own throat.
Cable TV etc is one way of justifying badwidth, but streaming uses far less than flat out downloading so once again you don't need vast bandwidth to do that either.
The big question that I think about is where is it going to end? For the ISP to throw out more bandwidth there has to be something to use it for as already mentioned. Now that DRM is happening in a big way, it is only a matter of time before the ISP starts to monitor downloads and blocks them if they are not licensed. When this happens there will be no need for 20meg etc and they will effectively have cut their own throat.
Cable TV etc is one way of justifying badwidth, but streaming uses far less than flat out downloading so once again you don't need vast bandwidth to do that either.
said:
Cable TV etc is one way of justifying badwidth, but streaming uses far less than flat out downloading so once again you don't need vast bandwidth to do that either.
Erm - Full HDTV is going to need a huge connection for streaming, even if you attempt to compress the hell out of it.
Thanks
Hmm
This is interesting, The Virgin takeover of NTL may imply that an ISP can monitor and even prevent certain types of file downloads. This is most interesting as this ISP is also a major player within the Music Industry.
This is bad, your ISP may be able to aquire a list of your music or video files and as such procecute you for content as a result of copyright infringement. However, you are allowed to make one backup copy of any 'album' bought 'legit' so storage on the PC is not illegal.
So if Virgin allow mp3 or video downloads they can not only block their own copyrighted interests, as this could be seen as prefferential, and in allowing the copyrighted interests of Virgins competitors to continue, this is aiding in the illegal handling of copyrighted material.
Hmm
This is interesting, The Virgin takeover of NTL may imply that an ISP can monitor and even prevent certain types of file downloads. This is most interesting as this ISP is also a major player within the Music Industry.
This is bad, your ISP may be able to aquire a list of your music or video files and as such procecute you for content as a result of copyright infringement. However, you are allowed to make one backup copy of any 'album' bought 'legit' so storage on the PC is not illegal.
So if Virgin allow mp3 or video downloads they can not only block their own copyrighted interests, as this could be seen as prefferential, and in allowing the copyrighted interests of Virgins competitors to continue, this is aiding in the illegal handling of copyrighted material.
I'm still not sure if Virgin Media is just a 'skin' on the Telewest/NTL business, and done for promotional reasons but either way the future of downloading anything will be scrutinized in the very near future. I would also expect the ISP to defend itself vigorously if it were caught in the middles of a DRM battle (i.e. burn you at the stake using its own logs which it keeps on every contract) between the artist and the user of their services.
Other ISP's (I think there was a mention of Tiscali but I may be wrong) have already blocked certain ports so that you cannot use certain types of download programs (limewire etc, but I am sure someone will clarify this as I do not know who it was for certain).
Just what do the ISP's expect us to do with all that bandwidth
Other ISP's (I think there was a mention of Tiscali but I may be wrong) have already blocked certain ports so that you cannot use certain types of download programs (limewire etc, but I am sure someone will clarify this as I do not know who it was for certain).
Just what do the ISP's expect us to do with all that bandwidth
As the UK and the US are closely aligned (and the UK legal system can be brought same as the US... just look at Sony's actions for proof of that) you've got no hope of a UK ISP telling a US monopoly to go screw itself.
That being said... You can't bust them all and it does require effort to track people down. And, yeah of course your logged but it depends how quickly the logs cycle.
I can't see VM (and yes it's just a rebrand of NTL/Telewest, they are still two distinct infrastructures and companies) blocking .mp3 or .avi or any other type of file, prove that that mp3 is illegal. Even in the UK no ISP actually blocks P2P traffic, throttle it yes, but block no, because Bittorrent and most other P2P stuff does have legitimate files on it and no ISP wants to be in the press about restricting peoples freedom on-line.
But I also have to echo the question: What are they expecting people to do with all that download speed?
That being said... You can't bust them all and it does require effort to track people down. And, yeah of course your logged but it depends how quickly the logs cycle.
I can't see VM (and yes it's just a rebrand of NTL/Telewest, they are still two distinct infrastructures and companies) blocking .mp3 or .avi or any other type of file, prove that that mp3 is illegal. Even in the UK no ISP actually blocks P2P traffic, throttle it yes, but block no, because Bittorrent and most other P2P stuff does have legitimate files on it and no ISP wants to be in the press about restricting peoples freedom on-line.
But I also have to echo the question: What are they expecting people to do with all that download speed?
Mikey G said:
So what about their lesser customers on 4MB? do we get a free upgrade to 8MB or once again we are left out and have to wait for weeks or months after before we are allowed to get a greater speed
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
This really gets my goat up as it seems the higher speeds get upgraded way before the lower ones do, why?
Because if the 4mb service doubles to 8mb then a lot of the 10mb customers will downgrade and save £10 a month.
In reality 8 and 10mb speeds are about the same for day to day smurfing
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