http://www.techwatch.co.uk Satellite, Cable, Home Media and Hardware news & forums Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:37:55 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The mobile provider, Vodafone, has settled its differences with the retailer, The Carphone Warehouse, after its decision in 2006 to switch to the other High Street retailer, Phones4U, in an exclusive deal for Phones4U to offer Vodafone phone contracts. However, it may be a sign of these difficult times in the ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/vodafone-makes-up-with-the-carphone-warehouse/ Some industry experts are complaining about the “Broadband Tax” proposed by the government as a way to beef up the UK’s broadband network and help to meet the 'broadband for all pledge' of a minimum of 2 Mbps for all households. BT is saying that the 50p per month levy on ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/broadband-tax-may-not-be-enough-for-all/ The EU will be working on a strategy for high speed broadband, as a state of the art broadband network will play a crucial role in the economic recovery of Europe, according to the EU communications commissioner, Viviane Reding. It is believed that the deployment of these fibre broadband networks could ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/eu-working-on-high-speed-broadband-strategy/ Next week will see the start of BT's fibre based broadband trials. These will take place in Muswell Hill, London and Whitchurch in Wales. Around thirty thousand homes will be connected to over a hundred street cabinets that have been fitted with the latest fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) technology. This service ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/bts-next-gen-trials-about-to-start/ The internet service provider O2 has launched a new service for its broadband customers called “O2 Tech Support”. This is a service designed to rival similar services like the “Geek Squad” and the “Tech Guys”. Customers will be able to get a wide range of technical help from experts, which is ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/o2-launches-expert-tech-support/ Anyone signing up for the O2 broadband service this month will be in line for a bonus, as the internet service provider will be giving all new customers two months free broadband. This offer is open until the end of the month and includes all of the O2 broadband packages including, ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/two-months-free-broadband-from-o2/ The History Channel UK is changing its name to AETN UK from immediate effect. The channel is a joint venture between the UK satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) and the US cable broadcaster A & E Television Networks (AETN). The change was announced at a press meeting, when the new ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/history-channel-to-rebrand/ Solaris Mobile, along with its shareholders Eutelsat Communications and SES Astra, has announced that following an investigation into its S band payload, it has been found that there are some significant issues over non-compliance with its original specifications. Solaris Mobile is convinced that these issues offer enough grounds for the firm ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/solaris-to-sue-over-s-band-payload/ UK TV viewers will be getting 3D TV in their homes within two years, according to Claudio Aspesi from industry analysts Sanford Bernstein. This means that by 2011 the early stages of proper 3D TV could be being fed by satellite into the homes of UK viewers. This will be slow ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/03/uk-to-get-3dtv-within-a-couple-of-years/ MPs from the Commons Business and Enterprise Committee are going to open up an inquiry into the UK’s broadband speeds. This is the MPs' idea of following up the recently published Digital Britain report produced by the communications minister. There is a lot in the report to cover and there are some ... http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2009/07/02/mps-look-into-broadband-speeds/