Latest Broadband Deals
Broadband To Be Hit By Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2?
There is growing concern that the UK’s broadband network may find it difficult to cope with the millions of gamers expected to go online playing the new Call Of Duty – Modern Warfare 2 game that was released last night.
The new version of the game (available for the PC, Xbox360 and the PS3) is set to become one of the biggest selling games of all time, with Play.com reportedly taking 150 pre-orders for the game every minute.
Following the death of Michael Jackson, it became clear that there can be major Internet traffic issues as the world tried to log on and find out as much information as possible about the stars death.
It is now feared that the similar volumes of Internet traffic generated by this online game will affect Internet users and gamers in the same way.
Despite these claims, UK broadband suppliers are keeping cool and claiming that there is nothing to worry about.
Talking to a broadband news site, a Talk Talk (talktalk.co.uk) spokesperson said, “Talk Talk runs the biggest next generation network in the UK and it is optimised to make sure it can cope with high levels of traffic for games such as Call of Duty”.
They continued, “We also offer a turbo boost that allows customers to get the fastest speed their line can handle for just £4 extra per month”.
Whether the UK’s broadband network will cope with the high demand from online gamers is yet to be seen. However, for now gamers are being told to not panic.
Broadband In Rural Scotland Set To Get Funding
Rural Scotland has been earmarked a slice of the £200 million to be handed out by the Government in order to boost the UK’s rural broadband access.
On Friday Stephen Timms, the Communications Minister will outline plans created by the Government to improve the poor quality of the broadband services in rural parts of the UK.
Telephone groups and Scottish local authorities will be attending the meeting to hear the Digital Britain plans for the country.
When speaking about the plans, Mr Timms said, “Digital Britain’s aim is to make the UK one of the most competitive, highly skilled and technologically advanced economies in the world.”
Mr Timms continued, “The Government will spend some £200 million on improving the networks of areas that have little or no service, including remote parts of Scotland”.
The Communications Minister is also expected to reveal further details on how Government funding will be made available to broadband suppliers.
According to Timms, the Government has given itself until 2017 to deliver next-generation broadband speeds across the UK.
Virgin Media Offer Free Broadband, Phone & TV
Virgin Media (virginmedia.com/2months) has announced the launch of a 2 months free broadband, phone and digital TV incentive that can be used in conjunction with its free installation offer.
The incentive applies to all online orders of Virgin Media bundles containing broadband, phone & TV that cost £19.50 per month or higher.
Virgin Media deliver broadband, phone & digital TV bundles to UK homes down one state-of-the-art fibre optic cable.
Popular bundles include the £24 per month option that provides up to 10Mbps broadband speeds, unlimited weekend calls to UK landlines and over 100 digital TV channels including Sky 1, Living and Discovery.
Virgin’s digital TV service also includes catch up TV, with the BBC iPlayer, ITV Net Player and 4oD right there on your TV and perfect for Christmas.
The TV service also offers more than 500 films on demand, ranging from the latest blockbuster film releases to unforgettable classics.
Nearly 60% of Virgin Media customers have a broadband, phone & digital TV bundle according to the company’s latest quarterly results.
Readers can find out further information on Virgin Media’s 2 months free incentive at the virginmedia.com/2months website or our Virgin Broadband, Phone & TV review.
BT Add 3 Months FREE Broadband & Phone Calls
Leading broadband provider BT (BT.com) has launched a 3 months free broadband and phone calls offer.
Exclusively available online only at BT.com the offer is open to new BT home phone line rental customers or new broadband customers who switch their phone calls package back to BT.
To receive the 3 months free broadband and phone calls, customers must order online either BT Total Broadband Option 1 or Option 3 together with the Unlimited Weekend Phone Call Plan (these packages are known as ‘Get Connected’ and ‘Home & Away).
Both packages include BT’s wireless home hub for up to 20Mbps wireless broadband speeds, together with free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers.
The Home & Away package also includes the BT dongle and 1GB’s free usage per month of BT Mobile Broadband – providing customers with mobile broadband access pretty much wherever they are in the UK.
Customers interested in BT Vision, BT’s digital TV service, can take advantage of BT’s best deal which offers up to 20Mbps broadband speeds, weekend phone calls and 2 digital TV viewing packs from just £7.34 a month.
There’s a choice of viewing packs to choose from including films, sport, kids and music while the BT Vision+ box is included for free.
Readers can find out more at the BT.com website or our BT Broadband 3 months free package review.
3 Refreshes Mobile Broadband Free Laptop Deals
Mobile operator 3 (three.co.uk) has refreshed its range of mobile broadband free laptop deals with the addition of new high-spec laptops from Toshiba, Samsung and Compaq.
The UK’s leading mobile broadband provider has secured the recently released Toshiba T130, the Samsung N130 and the Compaq Mini 110 netbook.
The Toshiba T130 is the slimmest laptop notebook ever made by Toshiba and comes with a 250GB hard drive and 3GB of RAM.
It has a 13.3″ screen display, 1.3MP webcam and comes powered with Windows 7. It also has a CULV processor that provides up to 9.5 hours of battery life.
Available with 3 mobile broadband speeds up to 3.6Mbps and a 5GB monthly usage cap, this overall package costs just £40 a month.
The sleekly designed Samsung N130 netbook has a 10.1″ high res display, plus a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM.
This lightweight ultra portable netbook includes Windows XP Home and with 3 mobile broadband included can be purchased from just £20 a month.
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There’s also options to add an external DVD drive to the package for an additional £10 a month.
The Compaq mini 110 netbook (retailing at £299) is yet to feature on the 3 site but has a 10.1″ Bright View display, 160GB hard drive and webcam. It is likely to come pre-installed with Windows XP Home.
Interested readers can find out more at the three.co.uk or our 3 Mobile Broadband Free Laptop package review.
Sky Offer FREE HD Box At Sky.com/freehd
Sky (sky.com/freehd) has launched a free Sky+HD box and free HD pack offer for both new and existing Sky TV customers.
As part of this years Summer offer, the pay TV and broadband company is also offering new customers a free £25 Marks & Spencer voucher when they order Sky TV with HD online.
New customers can also qualify for 6 months half price on Sky’s Entertainment Extra TV package which means that from just £12.50 a month for the first 3 months (and from £22.75 per month after), new customers can get the free Sky+ HD box, free standard set-up, 3 months free HD with up to 60 HD channels, plus Sky TV Extra.
Sky Broadband, together with inclusive evening and weekend phone calls to UK landlines, is also included in the monthly prices shown above.
Existing Sky TV customers can upgrade to Sky TV with HD for free for the first 3 months and then pay an additional £10 a month for access to Sky’s 60 HD channels. A free Sky+ HD box is also provided.
Further information on Sky’s free HD offer for new and existing customers can be found at the sky.com/freehd website.
