Broadband definition, Sharp GX10 with Vodafone LIVE!, Sony Ericsson P800 and ZIP the Robot Children's Computer
AN EXPLANATION OF BROADBAND
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The term BROADBAND covers all types high speed internet access such as Cable, ADSL, Satellite and Wireless. Any internet transmission at speeds higher than around 250k is referred to as Broadband. There is no need to dial-up therefore, there are no drop-outs. Broadband access starts at around $60 a month.
- Broadband Cable is delivered via a separate, dedicated cable, or Pay TV cable. Requires a Cable Modem, which is provided. About 20-50 times the speed of a standard modem. Few ISP's provide it and it has limited area availability.
- Broadband DSL access is delivered via your existing telephone line, and you can still receive phone calls whilst online. Requires an ADSL modem. About 10 times faster than a standard modem at 512k. Many ISP's provide it and it has wide area availability.
- Broadband Satellite access is delivered via a satellite dish. Works with your existing dial up modem to increase download speed only to about 7 times existing dial up speed. Mostly relevant for rural areas and only if you can't get cable or ADSL.
Why Would I Want It?
- always-on internet
- no drop outs
- large email and file transfer
- high speed surfing
- high speed MP3 transfer
- internet games, multi player
- no 2nd phone line needed
- all of this at the same time!
NOTE: It is important to keep an eye on both your plan 'features' and your ongoing useage. Most plans will start to charge by the Mb after you have reached a certain limit, or your broadband speed may decrease. Use a useage meter to keep an eye on your own day to day useage as you reach your monthly limit.
How to choose a provider? Go to www.broadbandchoice.com.au. For more info on Broadband in Australia, don't miss www.whirlpool.net.au, run by Broadband subscribers and Darren Stribning's www.ozcableguy.com.
Ms Megabyte has an association with Dodo, who are now providing UNLIMITED DSL plans - check them out at www.dodo.com.au
SHARP GX10 WITH VODAFONE LIVE!
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Available on the awesome new Sharp GX10 phone with built in digital camera, over 65,000 colour screen, polyphonic ringtones and PXT (Vodafone's version of multimedia messaging).
There is no video at this point, but the phone takes a great snapshot in an instant, which can be emailed or PXT'ed to any MMS enabled phone.
Vodafone's picture messaging costs 75c a message with games are available from $3-$7 to own or $1 to try twice. Ringtones are priced at $3.50 to $4.50 per download, while internet service downloads are 50c per use.
The Sharp GX10 costs $999 outright, or nothing upfront with a $42 monthly plan over 24 months and is reviewed in detail at the iMobile site.
For more info, I suggest visiting a Vodafone store, because the Vodafone site can be frustrating - I kept getting an error message whenever I tried to 'click here' to find out more about the GX10 after clicking on it's icon on this page.
SONY ERICSSON P800
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Amazing, top of market mobile also with digital camera built in. It is also WAP enabled but has a great addition in that it acts as a PDA with a fold out handset and touch screen. The touch screen is accessed via a stylus and allows jotting and scribbling. Even has a 'flight mode' option, which allows you to use all of the phone's features on a plane.
It has a memory stick function, which gives you more access to memory for music and video, but I found it a bit bulky.... and expensive! Price just under $1700
More info on this phone at the Sony Ericsson site
GPRS WAP and MMS prices?
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Check your service network for pricing plans, but as an example Telstra charge 22 cents for connection to the GPRS network to access WAP content, then 2.2 cents per kb transferred to your phone. After the introduction period, there are many GPRS plans to choose from as monthly subscriptions that keep the prices reasonable. With Telstra the first 2000 MMS messages are free, then 75 cents per message sent, per recipient.
ZIP The Robot Kids Computer
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Zip the Robot Plus Learning PC Aid comes with 50 activities and games such as Spelling, Word and Vocabulary, Maths and Keyboard Skills and is ideal for ages 5 and up.
Price: $109 from Dick Smith Electronics at www.dse.com.au
