BROADBANDblogs

"Where is that", you ask. Space! And, that happens to be where we are at. Wibaux, Montana USA - Space!, lots and lots of Space!

We thought we should get back to our roots here a bit. We came back to Eastern Montana several years ago from the big city. We started our endeavors here by selling Satellite Internet and TV. ( Hence the name of our original and parent company - SatellitePC telecommunications & electronics. ) Unless you are in one of the few small communities around Eastern Montana, Wyoming or Western North Dakota / South Dakota, satellite is about the only reliable way to get High Speed Broadband Internet. But, it just so happens that there is more space here than peoples, so we took our efforts to the internet and expanded our offerings. But, there are still many farms, ranches, oil service companies, and the like that still need our original services. So this is a reminder that we are still here, and still meeting your needs.

In keeping with the theme of this blog we will do something here that we almost never do. We'll add an ad for DirecWay Satellite Internet - a big ad - one that takes up Space!, lots and lots of Space!

We just found this short announcement on The test bed.

Its official Broadband is now more popular than Dial-up with 50.7% of net users, using broadband, according to a National Statistics report released today. And with pricing so low, there is no reason to still be on dial-up considering the benefits.

A look at the National Statistics report reveals that in January 2001, when the index of internet connectivity started, less than 1% of internet connections utilized broadband technology. In less than 6 years Broadband High Speed Internet Connections have become the preferred method of connecting to the World Wide Web.

May we disagree with The test bed? For those who only use the internet to check email, engage in an occasional IM, and look at a few pages per week, dial-up should do just fine. Many providers are now offering dial-up internet access for less than $8.00 per month. In addition, most dial-up ISP s are seeing a decline in internet access subscribers because of the growth of Broadband services. The result for many may be easier connections and faster service.

Dial-up may be down, but it's not dead, YET.

Yesterdays announcement that Yahoo and Verizon have teamed up to offer a new, lower priced, co-branded high speed internet package (details at CNET) came as no surprise. PaidContent.org had scooped the story on Monday.

Verizon spokesman, Bob Ingalls, stated, "We aren't dropping prices. This is a new product and we think there is demand for this kind of service from people who are now using dial-up." The package is offered at a speed that Verizon has not offered before, and at a price - $14.95 per month - that Verizon has not offered before.

You can check the availability of Verizon's new service in your location by using the DSL price and availability calculator in the right-hand column.

As more and more dial-up internet access customers defect to Broadband high speed internet access, perhaps the biggest loser has been the internet giant AOL. But, don't expect this behemoth to just roll over and play dead. Even as AOL customers defect to DSL and Cable Internet Service in mass, the one time darling of ISP's is struggling to reinvent herself.

Elinor Mills at CNET remarks, "To many analysts, the move is a no-brainer. AOL's subscriber list has dropped from more than 26 million in March 2002 to 21.7 million this year, largely because AOL's dial-up customers are defecting to broadband. Subscription revenue declined by $116 million between 2003 and 2004, but ad sales increased $220 million, helping total revenue increase $100 million to $8.7 billion."

In an effort to retain the ad dollars in the face of declining subscription rates, AOL will open it's for members only content to everyone without charge.

While much has been made of Broadband speed, it is clear that what high speed internet shoppers are looking for is affordable Broadband prices.

CNET, citing a study published by J.D. Power and Associates, notes, "the biggest gap in customer satisfaction between cable and DSL was based on price. On average, DSL service ranges from $20 to $30 a month before discounts. Prices on cable broadband typically start around $30 to $40 a month and can go as high as $65 a month."

Jim Penhune, an analyst with Strategy Analytics, adds, "Other things like speed and customer support are factors, but price will continue to be the big driver in selecting service in the near term."

In a recent post we reported the start of a price war for high speed internet service, and predicted further price cuts by the Broadband ISP's. If you are curious to see what the current Broadband prices are for your location, just use the DSL price calculator in the right hand column.