Re: Bt-midband is dying - What to do next?

In article <4e338sF1c3n4tU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Sunil Sood
<news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes

"Charles Lindsey" <chl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:J013GL.HCq@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bt-midband was closed to new customers some while back. Now I am informed
that the service will cease on June 30th, and all they can offer is a
switch to BT-Broadband.

Yes, BT Midband is being removed from the 1 July 2006
(http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/notifs/22-05-2006/Customer_Opts.boo/2098_200
605091114571.htm)

Which is, of course, totally unsuitable for me. First, it seems to
required a USB connection to my computer, which I have not got, and offers
other over-hyped goodies which I just do not want. And their web site is
clearly directed at clueless newbies who are unaware of life beyond
Microsoft.

Actually, all BT Broadband options now come with a "free" ADSL modem
router - so will work via ethernet, as well as USB.

So I wish to remain with Gradwell, but I need an ADSL provider who offers
a connectivity-only deal - but I can't find one; they all come bundled
with unwanted goodies, and I object to paying for the same service twice.

So I would welcome suggestions of what provider I should go to.

As others have said...
Forget the 'extras' you do not need.
As you have (some) services from Gradwell, why not look at them for
ADSL?
I would also recommend Andrews & Arnold.
Both the above seem to know what they are talking about. Both email and
telephone support response times are excellent (In my experience, YMMV).
AND, both seem quite savvy when you want to do something slightly out of
the ordinary.

Normal caveats about BT cocking up the 'same day' changeover etc. apply.
:-(
But we can't do a lot about that.

Good luck!


I would not get worked up about "paying for the same service twice" since
the per customer cost of these additional features is marginal - if you
already get these services from Gradwell, just treat them all ISP's
offerings as "connectivity-only" prices.

However, I would look at AAISP, Zen (perhaps Demon as well) and/or Be
Broadband (if you're on one of the exchanges they have enabled). I presume
you want to keep your line rental with BT. AAISP and Be are pretty much
connectivity-only deals, while Zen probably offers a bit more but you don't
need to use it!

However, the choice of ISP will also depend on your usage patterns & budget.

I'd be interested in knowing which ISP you finally decide on

Also, interestingly, they offer an "uninterrupted internet connection" if
I
accept their offer, whereas I had always been led to believe that removing
a BT Homehighway box and converting the line to ADSL were two separate
operations that could not be performed on one visit (more likely to be 6
days apart, if you were lucky). So if they can do it "instantaneously",
does that mean that a switch to another provider can be managed
"instantaneously" too?

Yes, BT Wholesale have offered same day Highway/ISDN-->PSTN/ADSL conversions
to ISPs for several years. Any ISP can offer this but not all do.

The charge for this is £50+VAT but some ISP's (e.g. BT branded ones) have
tended to asorb this charge in order to attract customers.

Regards
Sunil



Philip Partridge
.

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