Blogs - BT

Wednesday, September 1st 2010

BT's broadband propositions are hugely popular, with 15 million of us now signed up to get our web access via its high-speed network.

Now that the telecoms giant has achieved this significant milestone - which means it has managed to attract an average of 5,000 customers every day for the past eight years - we thought it would be the perfect time to cast an expert eye over some of the best value broadband offers BT currently has available.

Although you'll need to be signed up to a home phone with BT too, it's possible to get the company's Broadband Option 1 package for just £15.99 per month on a one-year agreement, with no upfront connection fee.

Monday, August 30th 2010

BT Vision, Sky and Virgin Media have all made recent announcements regarding their TV-on-demand services - an area which is set to become a major battleground over the coming months.

Towards the end of last month, the beta launch of Virgin Media Player was announced - if you're one of the provider's XL TV and broadband subscribers, you can already sample some of the hundreds of hours of programming that are available.

Meanwhile, Sky unveiled an exclusive tie-up with US broadcasting giant HBO, which gives it the right to add classic series such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under to its on-demand platforms.

Friday, August 27th 2010

If you're looking to switch your home broadband provider, or if you've simply never taken out one of these deals on the grounds of cost, then now is the time for you to take action.

The latest study from Analysys Mason showed that prices are dropping across Europe and the US, with the average bundle of fixed-line broadband, home phone and digital TV services now costing just €40.70 (£33.36) a month.

Not only are prices coming down, but we can assure you that the amount you can get for your money is on the rise - if you're prepared to pay around £30 per month, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.

One of the best current offers is the Virgin Media Triple for £23.

Wednesday, August 25th 2010

BT's announcement that it has slashed the amount it charges new customers to connect a landline at their properties means now is a great time to take advantage of one of its great value home phone packages.

If you're only taking out a telephone deal with BT, then you'll have to pay an upfront fee of £29.99 - a massive saving on the £127.99 that the company previously charged.

This is definitely good news, because BT offers some excellent cut-price home phone deals that give you the opportunity to chatter away to your heart's content.

For instance, the telecoms giant's minimum package - BT Unlimited Weekend Calls - costs just £11.54 per month.

Monday, August 23rd 2010

Ofcom's latest figures have shown that 71 per cent of households in the UK have broadband. While that's a fairly healthy figure, it still means more than a quarter of people are unable to browse the web at high speeds.

We know there are still plenty of parts of the country where it's impossible to get a connection. However, some of the 29 per cent without broadband will be able to access it, but are being put off by factors such as perceived high costs.

Anyone in this situation should be assured that there has never been a better time to sign up for a cheap broadband deal.

Friday, August 20th 2010

Brits are increasingly waking up to the great savings that can be achieved by taking out bundles of home phone, broadband and digital TV.

We've been promoting the benefits of bundles from the likes of Virgin Media, Sky and BT for ages, and Ofcom's figures suggest our campaign is paying off, with half of all homes in the UK now getting two or more communications services from the same provider.

It's certainly not hard to see why these packages have become so popular, given the range of great value offers out there from some of the above companies.

Wednesday, August 18th 2010

Media pundits and analysts have been pretty harsh on BT for the amount of customers it has managed to attract to its newly-launched sports packages.

Experts have estimated that around 60,000 people are currently subscribed to one of the Sky Sports offers on BT Vision, arguing that this is a disappointing return considering the amount of money the telecoms giant has spent on advertising.

Whether or not BT will be secretly unhappy with the figures, as far as we're concerned the company has still managed to put together some great value offers for avid sports fans.

For just £41.

Friday, August 13th 2010

It may have come to your attention that Premier League football returns to our screens this weekend.

Over the past couple of weeks, we've reported a number of analysts' opinions on whether Sky, Virgin Media or BT Vision is offering the best digital TV packages to cover all your essential sports viewing needs and now it's time to have our say.

Without wishing to sit on the fence, it's fair to argue that each of these bundle providers has put together some fantastic value offers - and if it's a bargain basement price that you're after, then BT Vision has the edge.

The company's Sky Sports Pack comes with both Sky Sports 1 and 2 for a price of £29.

Tuesday, August 10th 2010

Fibre optic cable broadband is becoming increasingly prevalent across the country, thanks to the hard work of BT and Virgin Media.

More and more parts of the UK are getting access to these high-speed broadband connections every day, with BT claiming that as much as 66 per cent of the population could be hooked up by 2015.

Unlike normal broadband networks, which rely on copper telephone cables to send data, fibre optic broadband makes use of thin strands of glass that can transfer information at super-fast speeds.

If you're one of the lucky people who can get access to fibre optic broadband, it makes sense for you to take advantage of it - particularly given that it doesn't have to be an expensive luxury.

Friday, August 6th 2010

Now that Be Broadband has promised to shake up the home phone market with a series of offers designed to undercut BT, we thought we'd have a look at the best landline packages that are currently available.

For some, a landline is just a way to get access to broadband. But if you're one of the people who takes advantage of the free calls offered by your home phone, then it's important to make sure you're on the most cost-effective deal possible.

Even if you don't get much use from it, you might still find you can save some money on your basic line rental.

Wednesday, August 4th 2010

Now that Virgin Media has been officially recognised by Ofcom as the fastest high-speed broadband provider in the country, it seems like an appropriate time to cast our expert eye over some of the company's best offers.

In their latest round of broadband download tests, the team over at the regulator found that Virgin Media's up to 10Mb/s package is around twice as fast as rival DSL offerings with the same headline speed.

If you're convinced that you just want fibre optic cable broadband, you can sign up for this deal as a standalone product for a standard price of £20 per month, with a one-off installation fee of £35.

Monday, July 19th 2010

All broadband bundle subscribers are keen on getting the best value for money but, due to the recession, the need for providers to balance the books means that some are facing price increases.

BT is one such example. Fresh from launching new TV packages offering Sky Sports channels, the company is set to up its call and line rental prices from the start of October. Line rental will rise to £12.04, while the price of ringing both friends and family is set to increase by up to ten per cent.

However, there may be some respite for BT customers willing to commit long-term to the company's range of packages.

Friday, July 16th 2010

It seems that Ofcom's decision to allow bundle providers including BT and Virgin Media to offer Sky Sports 1 and 2 has really turned up the heat in terms of competition between digital TV providers.

BT arguably moved quickest after the ruling, by introducing a major campaign to outline how it is offering access to Sky Sports 1 from £6.99 a month. However, while Sky may not have been too happy with Ofcom's move, the firm has fought back strongly with a new campaign showcasing just how comprehensive its sports offerings are.

Tuesday, July 13th 2010

When it comes to subscribing to broadband, most people now recognise the cost benefits of combining internet services with home phone and landline deals. Most major providers offer such packages and now Be Broadband is also joining the party.

Expected to launch in September, the development of the landline service has come about after members revealed they would be interested in such a deal.

In an official blog posting, managing director Tom Williams hinted that Be is hoping to rival at least one company when it comes to the service.

Thursday, July 8th 2010

With the amount of comparison sites and advice available to consumers, it is understandable that the broadband industry is often defined by its rather cutthroat nature.

Whether it is Sky and BT battling over the price of digital TV deals or all providers introducing offers to undercut their direct rivals, the sector is often seen as one where there is little love lost between the different companies.

However, there are signs - just occasionally - that there is more of a relationship between many providers than we are led to believe. Evidence of this has been seen in recent months with Sky and Virgin Media uniting in their opposition to Project Canvas, as well as the former buying the latter's digital TV portfolio.