Verizon FiOS Internet speed increased to 150Mbps: [25th Nov 2010]

Verizon is tripling the top download speeds of its FiOS Internet service to 150 Mbps. The new speed will cost around $200 a month depending on the length of the contract and if it is bundled with other services. The speed is faster than that offered by Cablevision and Comcast who are considered to be the biggest rivals in this market. It is thought however that the high speed may not be very useful for householders as they can already stream videos at Verizon's lower speed packages. Verizon is hopeful that the fact they can offer high speeds will encourage people to come up with applications which can take advantage of the speed. Verizon will have to send out engineers to upgrade terminals in customers homes to deal with the new service.


A study released this week by the Pew Institute has found that 95% of Americans with an income of $75,000 or more have access to the Internet and almost all have Internet in their own homes, while just 70% of those with income less than this can say the same. Just 57% of those on an income less than $30,000 have Internet access. Those with high incomes are also more likely to have access to high speed broadband speeds and are 10% more likely to own a mobile phone. 79% of those on higher incomes have a desktop computer, while just 55% of low incomes families can claim the same. Laptop ownership is also higher in high income households as well as ownership of other types of technology such as games consoles and and e-readers. The Pew Institute has concluded that income is a determining factor for technology ownership even when other factors such as race, gender and education are taken away.


Cox Communications has become the first cable company in the country to sell its own wireless phone service, offering some much needed competition for AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. The cable company says that research has shown than customers want to be able to bundle together their TV, broadband wireless services. Cox will be describing itself as Unbelievably Fair in an attempt to distinguish itself from others in the market. Customers will get up to $20 back each month for credit they buy but don't use and will not have to pay a termination fee if they cancel before their term is up. Cox will charge a pro-rata rate for this. The company will have 15 handsets on offer, although Blackberry and the Windows 7 phones will not be available.


Comcast has announced their new management for NBC Universal despite still being in negotiations regarding the takeover. Regulators are not pleased about the announcement as it had been agreed that no further statement would be made until the deal was closed and the timing was certain. Officials have described the move as arrogant and presumptuous. Comcast is acquiring a majority stake in NBC Universal and hope to provide consumers with a greater quality and quantity of programming. It is expected that full approval will be given before then end of the year. The FCC is concerned however that the delivery of video to customers may be affected by the fact that Comcast also supply broadband services. It is thought that there may be a condition to the deal which will regulate this aspect.


AT&T have claimed that they have the fastest mobile broadband network. They say that they now cover 400 markets and about 88% of the population of the US. They have released a chart which shows that they can offer better speeds than their rivals. They claim that Sprint is 55% slower and Verizon is 60% slower. The information was released in response to suggestions that AT&T has a bandwidth which is inferior to others in the market.