Internet has shifted from fashion to be a habit. Broadband services, wireless technologies and mobile Internet has made us communicate on the go. Things are controlled remotely and much more can happen with new satellites awaiting for launch. Government of UK has planned for a broadband service in every house hold by 2012. Every possible hindrance from Climatic conditions, economy melt down, and technical issues has been taken care. But its shocking that almost 6 million people aged above 65 haven’t used the Internet ever.

Is that ignorance or avoidance or unavailability or what is the reason for a huge number of people not using Internet as a mode of communication?, while the rest can’t live without it. But the digital dreams of the oldie’s will be done after the release of “SimplicITy”, a new desktop computer. Its an effort of Discount-age website with Wessex Computers and Vegans Solution to help the elder citizens.

As the name goes, its a simple to use computer with 6 buttons designed using the Linux open source platform. No windows, no folders or new applications, its just 6 buttons on the screen which allows email, chat, web browsing, documents and profile. The fonts are bigger enough and the computer does not require a log in. Users do not need to worry about anti virus programs since its a virus free computer.  Television presenter  Valerie Singleton, presents almost 17 video clippings for first time users to know how to work with the simple computer. Anyone can order for the computer through post and can receive it in a two weeks time. Contact info for simplicITy computer: 0800 028 0417 or info@simplicitycomputers.co.uk.

There is an increase in demand for broadband service in UK year by year. Even though we have multiple options like cable broadband, mobile broadband and satellite broadband, still we have many a users suffering with a dial up or without a connection. The release of simplicITy will help many who do not know to use the Internet. The computer will support the broadband internet service. There are  no clues of what browser and email configuration is used in the computer.

Also existing broadband users in UK hasn’t showed much interest and also do not want their elders to go for it. Since they believe windows or MAC to be the best. SimpliciTy should be the best for some one who does not touched the mouse or a keyboard or does not know what’s windows is? But those thinking to buy the device, gets struck seeing the price tag which ranges above £300 without a monitor and keyboard.

Its evident that tech aspirants support with repeated efforts for the telecommunication industry and help for 100% communication in UK. The broadband service providers in UK would have thought for either a bundle plan or offers on the simplicITy computer with their broadband service.

“Bill Smith, 38 year old mechanic was found dead in his house in Manchester, UK. A neighbor reported after seeing the sparks coming out of the window. Mr. Smith  who was chatting with his friend on the internet last night, died due to a high voltage which passed on his broadband cable. His wife reported that she was sleeping after dinner. She came running after a loud cry from her husband.  It was found that the house experienced fluctuation of power due to rain and a high voltage passed on the modem while he was attempting to adjust the internet connection. “This is the 3rd accident that has happened this year and we are under thorough investigation to identify the root cause” the police said. Mrs. Smith has filed a case against the broadband company for a compensation and to take necessary actions in identifying the root cause for the problem. – Reported a UK daily newspaper. 10 Oct 20**.

But how did the power supply get in to the internet line? Yes that’s the invention yet waiting for approval of standards. Don’t worry no one is dead with the internet. **The above said news is just an imagination, do not take is seriously.

A common electric outlet might be a path for your broadband connection in the future. Broadband has been coming out with different emerging trends like satellite broadband, mobile broadband, broadband gaming and now its time for broadband over power lines(BPL). BPL is a broadband technology that is developed by Current Communications Group and Enikia along with power companies like Ameren and EPRI to get it off ground. It has been tested in many cities of the United states and United Kingdom, but still awaiting FCC and IEEE’s approval for standards.  AC power was used for data transmission by the electric companies to monitor the performance of power grids. But the method was simple and relatively slow.

We know that the phone companies haven’t laid enough fiber optic lines to facilitate all the users for a broadband service. But this is not the case of electric lines. Power from the power plant reaches the transmission sub station and then distributed to high voltage transmission lines. The first obstacle for the data traveling are, these high voltage lines (155,000 to 765,000 volts) which can drop or damage the data since its too noisy. BPL bypasses the issue by not using the high voltage power lines. Instead the data is transmitted through medium voltage power lines (7200 volts). Repeaters are installed at safer distance where there are chances for the data to drop down. Then a CT coupler is installed which by passes the transformers and converts the medium voltage of 7200v to 240v which can work in a normal household service. After reaching the CT coupler or the bridge, the data can be transmitted either through electric cables or wireless. After reaching the wall outlet a BPL modem is used to convert data using a specially developed modulation technique and sends to the computer. This modem handles power line noise at a wider spectrum.

Even though the broadband on power line technology seems to be innovative, it receives heavy opposition from American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Both continue to say that BPL will cause severe interference issues. BPL said those issues have been solved, but the ARRL was not ready to give ears. So BPL is hoping  for slow progression. Broadband service over the power line would reach almost everyone who struggle with a dial up or have no connection. Do we have an unlimited usage on that? Caution: Electricity Bills?!?!?

The 3 mobile broadband laptop package that includes Toshiba L350-21Q is offered for a reasonable monthly rental of GBP 40 with a monthly usage of 5GB and a mobile broadband dongle. The L350-21Q in its turn, is driven by a dual core Celeron T3000 processor of Intel that is complimented by a RAM of 2GB.

The L350-21Q that will cost GBP400 if bought as a standalone product at the market, comes with a 17” TFT WSVGA Tru Brite display, 160GB hard drive , Wi-Fi and a 0.3MP webcam. The operating system offered with the laptop is Windows Vista Home Premium and the battery life of the device is 2 hours and 30 minutes on a single charge.

Meanwhile, the Compaq mini 110 laptop mobile broadband package of 3 is more economic between the two packages. Here the customer is only charged with a monthly rental of GBP 20, as he also gets a monthly usage allowance of 15GB and a free dongle. This laptop that retails for GBP 299, generally at the market boasts of a 10.1” widescreen LCD and a RAM of 1GB.

Following the disquiet, Haringey Council blocked the internet service provider from any further installation of the equipment on the Muswell Hill streets. It is also understood that the council strictly wants BT to reconsider its new 1.8 metre-tall cabinet network.

As a matter of fact, Muswell Hill holds the credit for being the first urban area in the UK, where BT is committed to replace its copper lines that connect the roadside fibre optic cabinets to its exchanges. This comes in line with BT’s GBP1.5 billion copper replacement scheme.

According to BT, most of its trial equipments were successfully installed and all set to run providing the customers up to 40Mbps downstream broadband speeds, before it had run into opposition from the residents.

The residents’ stance was explained by a Haringey Council spokesman, Mike Snowdon that they were already troubled by BT with its older roadside cabinets that were significantly tall and not removed to clear the way, and the new equipment was not only taller but also bulkier than the older ones.

Snowdon added that these cabinets had invited people’s complaints such as causing problems for wheelchair and buggies users, apart from being an eyesore. Meanwhile BT explained their part that the fresh cabinets needed to be bigger for requiring to house powered electronics.

According to the ISP, the powered electronics were significant as they converted the fibre optics transmitted light signals to electric signals in order to comply with the copper lines. However, the ISP maintained that its current full copper link network that linked homes to cabinets and to local exchanges needed no such conversion of power.

At the same time, the report of the communications watcdog also observes that three quarter of the homes also had a broadband connection of the fixed line kind, which according to it meant that the mobile broadband connections were maintained as a complement to their fixed line connections by the homes, rather than as replacements for them. On the other hand, Ofcom also opined that this can be taken as a result of the constraints imposed on them by the capacity and speed of mobile broadband. The view of the adjudicator suggests that the home users might be considering mobile broadband predominantly for its mobility factor.

As a matter of fact, mobile broadband services of the day, with their low speeds and capacity might end up a spoilsport for the home users who are more inclined to the use of advanced applications such as the iPlayer of BBC that is a data hungry service. Nevertheless, the report’s finding that mobile broadband – by scoring just 83 percent – accounted for the lowest rating of customer satisfaction of all the communications services surveyed by Ofcom, obviously falls as a black mark on the segment.

Finally, Ofcom has also noted that for the first time in May, the mobile broadband contracts were outsold by pay as you go connections. This trend according to the regulator, indicated the expansion of the service into both the wallet conscious who were unable or unwilling to give in to a monthly commitment, and users of lower frequency that wanted the service for emergency or occasional use.