ISPs shouldn't offer a unmetered service if they can't support it.

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

ISPs shouldn't offer a unmetered service if they can't support it.

They don't.

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

I have outlined the differences and I am happy to pay extra. I wouldn't have bothered to respond to your posts had I wanted to "shy away". BT do not make the negatives stand-out for a reason, it's down to others to make it so.

Why would any ISP or company highlight negatives? That's a sily point.

Lets take a look at your own made up list.
- Traffic shaping
Yes it exists but not quite to the level you seem to think. Essentially it covers bit torrent and the like. It still works and any technically minded folk can find ways around the shaping entirely. Browsing, gaming, downloads, iplayer, newsgroups all full speed ahead. Not found myself limited in any way with the services I use. Yes, there are people with a clue using BT.
- Homehub
Not exactly the greatest piece of kit ever but hardly a lemon either. Works fine most of the time but is prone to falling over and I'd agree the user interface is over simplified for my liking. It is however free so it's hard to moan.
- Long contract
Indeed it is longer than most but just about every other ISP is at least 12 months. Considering 18 months of BT generally costs less than 12 months of the other ISPs, I don't really consider this a valid point.
- Unrealistic usage allowance
300GB and then speed limited. Whats unrealistic? What do Zen do when you dare use 50 or 100GB on your new FTTC connection? That's right, they kick you off the service entirely until you buy another chunk of bandwidth off them. How is this better again?
- Under-priced
Can't really fathom how something that is cheaper now qualifies as a bad thing.

Now how about some facts about Infinity compared to others.

Installation and equipment - free. Few if any of the other ISPs offer this.
Monthly cost - lowest.
Usage - "Unlimited" but in reality published material from BT themselves say 300GB a month is the acceptable level of use. This compares favourably with other FTTC ISPs who have more stringent limits. In some cases the limits imposed are frankly farcical.
Support - UK based like other ISPs. Don't dupe yourself into thinking it'll be Patel in Delhi picking up the phone. He might, but once he finds out it's infinity you'll get sent back to the UK.
Also includes extras like email, online backup and wi-fi out and about. Don't use these myself but they're still included.

So, which set of data seems to be the better one from an objective point of view? You seem to have a specific set of requirements but I don't know if any of them specifically require you to pay as much as you do. Don't have enough information on what it is you're doing to comment further.

Again i'd ask you to comment on which FTTC base package you have from Zen to allow an even more accurate comparison.

Edited by orly (Sat 22-Jan-11 23:18:58)

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

ISPs shouldn't offer a unmetered service if they can't support it.

BT certainly don't even though their wording suggests otherwise. It seems like years now that people have been banging on about this - me included.

However BT in reality offer 300GB and then it's speed limited (at peak times I believe). This is far from unmetered but seems a realistic and suitably lax limit.

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

O2 is a good example. Just take a look at the new packages! Unlimited LLU without shaping didn't last very long.

Is that so?

I have been on O2 on an unlimited, unshaped package since September 2008. That package was available from them at my exchange at least 18 months before that as I considered it at that time and rejected it because I was scared of the leap onto LLU.

The new packages were introduced towards the end of 2010. My package is still unlimited and unshaped.

Facts, not bluster, please. I see you have repeatedly been asked for details of what Zen package you are on and what tangible benefits you have so far enjoyed compared to Infinity, but you seem to be reluctant to reply to those requests.

How will punters walk if they're stuck in an 18 month contract? wink

Presumably if they want to go to providers that are charging double, money will be no object and they will buy themselves out.

History suggests that punters do not move to providers who charge double, they move to lower cost providers doing 'free' or bundled broadband with high cost pay tv.

Hence high cost small providers remain small. Whereas BT, Sky and TalkTalk are big.

BT are first to market and are cleaning up. No doubt 12 and 18 month contracts at compelling price will lure early adopters to be locked in and this will be a BT strategy. They pick up the punters whilst TalkTalk and Sky dither and if their service is good they keep them going forward.

But don't kid yourself that very high price providers will gain any traction in this market. They are small for a reason. The reason is they are very expensive.

This is a massive investment by BT Group and to succeed it must be mass market.

There will always be room for small providers who offer products for small niche punters and indeed for punters that want to appear 'cool' for paying well over the market rate. That, of course is the strategy of the small high price providers.

Edited by deleted (Sun 23-Jan-11 00:31:45)