Today's tech deal brings you word of a deal being run by Quidco - apparently the UK's leading cashback website - and BT - the telecommunications behemoth.

Quidco is offering cashback over a wide range of BT's home products, with BT's broadband, phone and BT Vision package available with ?90 cashback. There's also 3 months free broadband to be had when switching you phone line or calls to BT.

In order to take advantage of the offer click through on this link that will take you to the Quidco offer, from then on it's all pretty self-explanatory and as long as you go to the BT site via Quidco you'll be entitled to the cashback.

Of course this will mean signing up to Quidco, but from what we can make out this is a relatively painless exercise and once completed you have until the 11 December to advantage of the offer.

Tags: Software Broadband Wi-Fi BT Quidco BT Total Broadband Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: Quidco offers cashback on BT Total Broadband originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

BT has announced its Openzone customers now have an extra 11,000 Wi-Fi locations to choose from with the addition of a host of new providers to the service across the globe.

Beeline WiFi, ChungHwa, eService Bar, Monzoon, Wireless G and WAYPORT EMEA have all come onboard the BT scheme, bringing the Openzone sites to a grand total of 65,000.

The new spots are as far afield as Greenland, Russia, South Africa and Taiwan, as well as a little closer to home in Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Chris Bruce, general manager, BT Openzone, said: "We're bringing wireless internet access to even more people travelling the globe in high demand locations including airports, hotels and cafes. This is great news for business and leisure travellers looking to stay in touch overseas".

Tags: Software Broadband BT Wi-Fi hotspots BT Openzone

BT Openzone adds 11,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the globe originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:10:01 +0000

Swindon has just become a property hotspot - quite literally - as it's been announced it will be the first town in the UK to offer free public Wi-Fi access to its entire population.

The forward thinking members of Swindon Borough Council have revealed plans for all 186,000 citizens to enjoy blanket "Wi-Fi mesh" coverage by April 2010, reports the BBC.

Run by Digital City UK Ltd, the "Signal" service, as it's being dubbed, will be completely free, although residents can chose to pay extra for 20Mb upgrades, although it's said the cost will be less than operators charge.

On the hardware side of things, the service will see around 1400 secure access points fitted around the town.

Tags: Software Broadband Wi-Fi hotspots Swindon

Swindon announces free Wi-Fi for all originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:10:28 +0000

Technically the Wi-Fi roll-out across Phones4U stores in the UK is meant for staff and customers to be able to test the handsets on sale online, but unofficially there's a new place in town to head if you need a cheeky online fix.

Phones4U has become Freerunner's (the free public Wi-Fi network) first UK commercial retailer.
The roll-out of Freerunner's Wi-Fi to 450 stores across the UK will start immediately with all stores due to be up and running in November.

Brendan Sweeney, MD of Phones 4U says: "Free public WiFi in our stores will allow our team members to show off our market leading range of products to the best of their ability and allow our customers to connect for free as they are browsing".

Tags: Phones Broadband Software Wi-Fi Phones4U Freerunner

Phones4U stores to offer free Wi-Fi originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:36:57 +0000

An annoucement from O2 suggests the operator is going to attempt to fight the competition, as well as rivals, for iPhone customers by adding value through bundle packages, rather than any price cuts.

O2 has launched the "Total Connectivity" plan for iPhone customers that sees new and existing iPhone customers buying the iPhone Internet Tethering bolt-on and getting the standard O2 home broadband package completely free.
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Pay monthly iPhone customers who shell out for the ?9.79 per month 3GB Internet Tethering Bolt On before 31 December 2009 will be entitled to the O2 Home Broadband standard package for free, presumably on a month for month basis.

Alternatively, customers can claim a ?7.34 per month discount against any other O2 Home Broadband product including Premium, Pro or O2 Home Broadband Access.

The deal goes live from 10 November at which point we'd imagine there'll be more info (including the small print) over at o2.co.uk/iPhone.

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Tags: Phones iPhone O2 Apple Software Broadband Tariffs

O2 bundles home broadband with iPhone tethering bolt on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:45:34 +0000

TalkTalk is launching what it calls a new "high performance" broadband package called TalkTalk Pro. Available this month, it costs ?14.99 a month, plus ?11.25 line rental and requires an 18-month tie in.

The package offers download speeds of up to 24MB, unlimited downloads and a free "N" wireless router. There's also free anytime UK calls to 01, 02, 03, 0845 and 0870 numbers.

TalkTalk says the Pro package offers "huge savings" compared to its competitors equivalent packages, claiming for example, it's ?202.96 cheaper than BT Unlimited Option 3 plus Anytime phone plan and mobile add-on.

Tags: Software Broadband TalkTalk Tariffs

TalkTalk Pro broadband package announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:05:23 +0000

A survey from London-based think-tank Demos has added weight to the position held by many that file sharers are the biggest music fans, revealing that those who admit downloading music illegally spend an average of ?77 per year on music, compared to ?44 for people who claim that they never download dishonestly.

The poll spoke to 1000, 16 to 50-year-olds with web access. One in ten admitted to downloading music illegally, though the real figure is suspected by many to be considerably higher. However, 61% of those downloaders said they would be put off downloading illegally if their connection was in jeopardy.

The government, led by Peter Mandelson, is trying very hard to push through plans to set up a ?"three-strikes" system that would disconnect file sharers from the Web. However, there's fierce opposition to the proposals from everyone from artists, to ISPs, to even MI5 and the police.

The report's authors say that the results of this survey suggest that Mandelson's plans could actually harm the music industry more than helping it, especially as there are other sources of entertainment - like video games - that are fighting for consumer attention. Will file sharers stop spending their cash on music entirely, if disconnected from their sources of content?

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Tags: Software Online Broadband Filesharing P2P Statistics Surveys Music downloads Music Audio

Survey claims illegal downloaders spend most on music originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:32:13 +0000

A new version of the Bittorrent protocol is about to launch. Bittorrent is a distribution technique for online content that's used heavily by both legitimate software publishers (like Activision Blizzard) and illicit file sharing sites (like the Pirate Bay).

The update focuses around the problem of connection throttling. When the protocol was developed, broadband wasn't as widespread. ISPs were able to satisfy the majority of people's usage of their connection. Now, however, most customers don't use the majority of their connection speeds, so ISPs have built their networks slightly smaller than they need to be to serve everyone.

Bittorrent, however, uses every bit of a connection to operate efficiently, so it's very taxing on the ISP's networks. As a result, most major ISPs will artificially "throttle" connections where Bittorrent is being used, reducing download speeds to a crawl.

The new version of the protocol aims to avoid this by becoming "network aware". If the connection detects congestion, then it'll automatically slow down, so that other applications can operate at full efficiency. Network usage expands when there's space, like the original version of the protocol, but unlike the original, it'll contract when there's congestion.

The improvement is called uTP, and could represent multi-billion dollar savings for ISPs, according to BitTorrent's VP of Product Management, Simon Morris. He told TorrentFreak: "uTP measures the time a packet takes to get sent from peer A to peer B, so in theory uTP will detect congestion anywhere on that path, although in practice the congestion most often happens somewhere on the first-mile uplink connection".

As a result, you'll perhaps get your files a smidge slower than before, but there'll be negligible effect on the network as a result. It's an altogether more sustainable solution, benefiting both users (who get more reliable downloads) and ISPs (who get reduced network traffic).

uTP is currently only available in the newest beta (2.0) of the uTorrent client. Older versions of uTorrent will accept uTP connections, but they won't start them, so it's worth upgrading as soon as possible.

The effects should be noticeable by both ISPs and users relatively quickly once uTorrent's beta gets a full release, as uTorrent and the Mainline client are, between them, used by two thirds of all BitTorrent users.

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Tags: Software Online Broadband P2P BitTorrent

Bittorrent protocol gets anti-throttling update originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:12:02 +0000

Peter Mandelson has, as expected, delivered an assault on filesharers at the C&binet Forum. He has laid out his intentions to submit legislation to parliament that would cut persistent file sharers off the web entirely, after a couple of warnings.

The process is known as "three strikes", and has recently been enacted in the face of extreme opposition in France. Following an accusation of piracy from a monitoring company, a user would be sent a warning letter.

Another warning letter would be sent if the user doesn't stop, and then after a third "strike" the internet connection being used would be disconnected from the Web permanently.

The legislation is intended to come into force by April 2010, with disconnections occurring in the spring of 2011. Mandelson says there could be an appeals process for those who believe they haven't shared the content they've been accused of. False positives have been revealed by a study at Washington University to be common among the companies that track P2P.

Mandelson began to draft laws on the subject, which he'd previously shown little interest in, just days after having a private dinner with David Geffen - a Hollywood producer and outspoken critic of file sharing. Mandelson says that downloading is "economically unsustainable", which flies in the face of recent studies and press releases from within the industry that say that UK Music is very healthy indeed.

There's fierce opposition to the proposals. ISP TalkTalk, which has long jousted with rights-holders on this issue has said that it's prepared to challenge the laws "in the courts". It's been suggested that the proposals, which would cut off an entire family if one individual was suspected of sharing, could be illegal under international law preventing groups being punished for the actions of an individual.

Mandelsons claims of just one in 20 web downloads being legal have also been picked apart by Ben Goldacre, who writes the Guardian's "Bad Science" column. He discovered that the figure originates from an "industry estimate" in a press release put out by a?private legal firm called Rouse who specialise in intellectual property law.

Meanwhile, the original producers of the content are vehemently opposed to the moves. Graham Linehan, creator of Father Ted, Black Books and the IT Crowd, has blogged about the proposals, calling them "bullshit". The Featured Artists Coalition, which comprises of musicians, has long opposed three-strikes, though softened its stance recently following a confrontation with Lily Allen.

Legal music sites aren't in favour of the proposals, either. We7's CEO Steve Purdham told Pocket-lint that " File-sharing sites have risen in the gulf between what consumers wanted and what has been available". "Creating a variety of reasonable and sustainable models for providing music to consumers is key to ending rampant piracy. This is the approach that should be taken by the government rather than criminalising consumers and driving pirates further into the undergrowth".

Even MI5 has weighed in against Mandelson, saying that such laws would drive pirates underground and encrypted. Both the security services and the police claim that it'll make prosecution harder, "because it increases the workload significantly". They protested that the government's Mandelson-led U-turn on the issue, since the Digital Britain report was published, has left them little time to prepare a response.

And finally there's the UK Pirate Party, which formed earlier this year and has skyrocketed in membership following the government's announced plans. The party proposes a revamp of copyright law to allow for non-commercial sharing, as well as net neutrality laws and greater privacy and freedom of expression for individuals.

In the face of all that, it seems that Mandelson will have a tough time pushing through the content industry's proposals, especially with a general election looming. It remains to be seen how successful he'll be, but we'll keep you posted of the progress of the proposals.

In the meantime, let us know what you think of Mandelson's suggested laws in the comments. The biggest question for us, as pointed out by TechDirt, remains: "How will kicking people off the internet get them to buy more product?"

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Tags: Software Online Broadband P2P Peter Mandelson

Mandelson delivers on three-strikes warning originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:07:03 +0000

Orange has announced that it will be making up to 20 meg download speeds a standard across all its home broadband packages - where such service is available.

As well as introducing the new speeds, Orange has revamped its home broadband packages with the cheapest option now coming in at ?7 a month for Orange mobile customers.

There are now four price plans to choose from - Home Starter, Select, Max and Ultra.

Pricing for those that are not Orange mobile customers comes in at ?10, ?12, ?20 and ?24 a month and all are 18-month contracts with unlimited download usage allowance.

The higher priced packages offer some landline calls bundled in while the Ultra sees Orange's "Livebox" router supplied as part of the price.

There's more info, including small print and details of the "unlimited" claim to be found over at orange.co.uk/broadband.

Tags: Software Orange Broadband Tariffs Phones

Orange announces 20 meg broadband as standard originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:04:17 +0100

Your Wi-Fi-enabled gadgetry is about to get a whole lot more connected thanks to a new specification just announced by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

We say new, technically it was previously known as Wi-Fi peer-to-peer, however, it is now due with the shiny new moniker of "Wi-Fi Direct", in a device near you in mid-2010.

"Devices will soon be able to connect in a new way that makes it more simple and convenient than ever to do things like print, share and display", says the Alliance.

"The Wi-Fi Alliance is nearing completion of a new specification to enable Wi-Fi devices to connect to one another without joining a traditional home, office, or hotspot network".

Wi-Fi Direct, which will directly rival Bluetooth, as well as to a lesser extent MiFi solutions, can be implemented in any Wi-Fi device, from mobile phones, cameras, printers, and notebook computers, as well as the likes of keyboards and headphones.

Devices will be able to make a WPA-secure, one-to-one connection, or a group of several devices connect simultaneously - including older Wi-Fi certified gadgets.

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Related links:

• Link - Wi-Fi.org

Tags: Software Broadband Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Direct Online Networking Bluetooth Wi-Fi Alliance

Bluetooth-rivalling Wi-Fi Direct announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:18:33 +0100

BT has announced that its plans to deliver super-fast, fibre-optic broadband all the way to people's houses have been expanded. The company will now be rolling out fibre-to-the-premises to 1 million homes, including some where copper wire is already available. Previously BT was only installing fibre to the premises in new build situations.

In some cases, BT will be installing fibre-optics only as far as your local telecoms cabinet, and then the signal has to travel through ageing copper wire to your house - which more than halves the available speeds. But in fibre-to-the-premises situations, there's hardly any copper involved so you get rates upto four times faster than current speeds.

The reason for the expansion is that BT is ahead of its targets for the roll-out of the fibre program. 1.5 million homes will have access by next summer, the company says, and 10 million should receive the service by 2012 - one in six of the population.

Recently, BT also announced that it'll be trialling fibre-to-the-premises for Bradwell Abbey in Milton Keynes and Highams Park in North-East London. 100Mbps speeds will be arriving in both those locations by March 2010.

Tags: Software Biz BT Broadband

100Mbps broadband rollout widens originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:40:04 +0100

Spotify has announced that it has signed a deal with Swedish broadband supplier and mobile network Telia. The two companies have agreed to "co-operate" for 2 years, with Telia helping to develop the streaming music service on computers, mobile phones and eventually onto TVs.

Telia's head of mobility services, Erik Hallberg, told Pocket-lint: "Swedish people love music and for the connected generation, being able to take their favorite music with them wherever they go is a given. That is why we are making preparations to launch Spotify mobile phones, which will make it even easier to get started and listen to music wherever and whenever you want to".

The suggestion of dedicated Spotify phones is interesting, assuming that they're much like the Skype phones available in the UK from 3. Currently, one in nine of Sweden's population are Spotify users, according to the streaming music service's stats released on their first birthday, so rollout could be relatively painless.

Telia says that its customers will be the first to get access to TV services in Sweden. The release issued by Telia says: "In a few months, Telia and Spotify will launch a mobile offering to customers in the Swedish market", so we're taking that to mean the cost of Premium will be bundled in with the subscription fees to Telia.

As for the UK, no such deals have been announced, though we wouldn't be surprised if talks were ongoing. We'll keep you posted of any developments on that front.

UPDATE: In response to our question as to whether Spotify was in talks with carriers in the UK, the company confirmed: "Spotify-branded phones - yes, in the works". More news will apparently follow soon.

UPDATE 2: INQ has been rumoured as the company that are making the handsets. That wouldn't be out of the realms of possibility, we reckon.

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Related links:

• News - Spotify is 1 year old

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Audio Broadband Spotify Telia Music

Spotify phones coming soon? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:39:33 +0100

Britons are net addicts, if data from a new survey is to be believed.

British web users spend a whopping 30 hours a week online - which works out as over 4 hours a day - according to a survey by comparison website USwitch.com.

As far as the office goes, the average workers spends 5 hours on the net - 2 for work and 3 for leisure. 93% use online shopping services, while 80% bank online too.

Only 25% of the 2700 people surveyed say they use social networking websites on a daily basis.

Jason Glynn at uSwitch said that broadband is rapidly becoming a necessity, "as important to our quality of life as gas or electricity".

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Tags: Software Broadband Survey Statistics uSwitch

Brits spend 30 hours a week online originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:23:01 +0100

BT has announced that it'll be expanding its fibre-optic trials early next year to go all the way direct to the people's homes and businesses - a technology that the company is calling "fibre to the premesis". Currently fibreoptic connections only go through to the cabinet.

The trials will be taking place in Bradwell Abbey in Milton Keynes and Highams Park in North-East London. The trial products should see speeds of up to 100Mbps delivered to 20,000 homes and businesses in each area by around March 2010.

Fibre-to-the-cabinet services, which can deliver up to 40Mbps, have been in testing for some time and should be available to 1.5 million homes by next summer and 10 million by 2012. BT says that speeds on those connections could rise to more than 60Mbps in the near future. Upstream connections should reach upto 10Mbps.

David Campbell, Managing Director of Next Generation Access at Openreach, told Pocket-lint: "This trial is crucial for informing our plans to consider deploying FTTP alongside FTTC. Our FTTP deployment in Ebbsfleet has allowed us to learn a great deal about rolling out fibre directly to homes in greenfield areas and we believe that the technology has huge potential for brownfield areas too".

"We've worked closely with communications providers and regional development authorities in selecting these sites for the FTTP brownfield trial, and I'd like to encourage as many communications providers as possible to get involved in the trial".

Related links:

• News - BT's billion pound fibre-based broadband plans at risk

Tags: Software Biz BT Broadband

BT trials fibre-to-the-premesis in London and Milton Keynes originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:31:27 +0100

A survey of broadband standards in 66 countries across the world has placed the UK at number 25 - with its broadband labelled as "meeting needs for today", but not "comfortable for today" or "ready for tomorrow".

South Korea and Japan came top, with Korea promising 1Gbps for everyone in the country by 2012. That's more than 280 times faster than OfCom's estimated average broadband speed of 3.6Mbps, and 500 times faster than the minimum broadband speeds for 2012 promised in the Digital Britain report.

Research was undertaken for Cisco and based on 24 million tests of broadband speed done via speedtest.net, which rates broadband speeds and compares them to other customers on the same providers.

Cisco's communication manager, Joanne Hughes, told the BBC: "Most studies are based just on broadband penetration or, if they look at speed they look at advertised speeds rather than real speeds. We wanted to look at the issue of broadband quality which is vital as new applications come along".

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Related links:

• News - BT upgrades broadband speeds for all

Tags: Software Broadband Statistics Cisco

UK broadband ranks 25th out of 66 countries originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:55:09 +0100