Current Deals on WhiteFence: AT&T;

Our summer of savings is still going strong, which works out great for consumers looking to cut their bills on home services. We're constantly updating with prices and packages from top providers nationwide, and one of the newest deals on WhiteFence is too good to pass up: AT&T; high-speed Internet.

AT&T; is currently cutting prices in half for their high-speed offerings, which results in some great deals to take advantage of. For instance, their DSL Direct Pro package, with speeds of up to 3.0 Mbps, is going for a low price of only $14.95 a month. You don't even need a phone line to sign up. If you take advantage of this now, you could save as much as $300 this year on high-speed Internet alone.

If you want to get in on the savings, be sure to visit AT&T; on WhiteFence and sign up today.

The High-Speed Internet Features That Really Matter

These days, it seems like there are millions of different high-speed Internet plans available (especially when you compare plans on WhiteFence!). With so many options on the market, comparing them all can be a little tricky.

It would be easy to just pick the cheapest Internet plan out there, but remember, there's probably a reason it's the cheapest. Every plan has a different combination of features, so it takes a little research to figure out which plan best meets all of your needs. However, whether you're looking DSL, satellite, fiber-optic or cable Internet, the features that really matter apply across the board.

Here's a quick rundown of the features to keep an eye out when you're comparing broadband plans:

• Speed – This is the most important consideration. Your download speed will determine how fast Web pages will load, how well videos stream, etc. If you're not sure what speed you need, check out this awesome video.
  
  Also, it's important to take into account not just the download speed, but the upload speed, as well. A slow upload speed can be a deal-breaker, especially for gamers.

• Support – Even the geekiest of us occasionally require some assistance when it comes to our Internet connection. Not all Internet support is the same, though. Check whether the provider you're looking at offers the kind of support you desire at the times of day you think you might need it.

Pros and Cons of WiFi and Cell Service in the Subway

For all you commuters out there, how important is it for you to be have Internet and cell phone service while in transit? Well for New York subway riders that dream of being connected while in route is looking like a good possibility in the next few years. But will it be a case of be careful what you wish for?

So before you start wishing here are the pros and cons of being connected in the subways.

Pros

• Always Connected - You'd have WiFi and cell phone service throughout your ride so you wouldn't miss any important e-mails or calls. You could also download music or books so you wouldn't be bored.
• Prepared for Emergencies - In case there was an emergency on the subway platform or on the subway you could call for help.
• Free WiFi Spots - If you ever needed a free WiFi spot, any subway platform could be your gateway to the Internet.

Cons

• Noise - Subways are a place of quietness away from the hustle and bustle of the real world above. Now for your entire commute, you might be stuck to the lady screaming at her husband via cell phone.
• No Excuse - You'll no longer have the excuse to cut a call short because you have to catch the subway.
• Too Crowded - With the subway stations giving away free WiFi, any person can just stroll down there to get a connection and not necessarily to ride the train.

Now you know that with every good thing there is a little negative side. To read more on the plans for New York read the Wired article, Cell Phones and WiFi Set to Invade NYC's Subways.

Provider Highlight: Qwest

Here at WhiteFence, we offer so many providers that things can get a little confusing. That's why we like to take a moment every now and then to highlight one of providers. Up this week is Qwest!

Founded in 1996, Qwest has grown into one of the nation's largest telecommunications companies. They offer reliable home phone service and blazing-fast broadband service over an incredibly advanced network. Their network is actually so large that it spans a whopping 173,000 miles!

Here are some cool things about Qwest to keep in mind while you shop:

• Bundle and save – Not only can you bundle your Qwest home phone and broadband services together, but you can also add TV service from DIRECTV to your order.

• Unlimited calling plans – Every Qwest phone package on WhiteFence comes with unlimited local calling! If you have friends and family across the country, you can order a plan with unlimited long distance starting at just $35.00 per month.

• Lighting-fast speeds – Qwest broadband packages on WhiteFence are available in speeds up to 20.0 Mbps! Now that's fast.

• Great promotion terms – When you shop for Qwest service here on WhiteFence, you'll notice select packages qualify for a special six or twelve month promotion term.

• No landline required – If you're just interested in broadband service, you can order a Qwest Internet package on WhiteFence that does not require you to have a phone line.

Ready to start comparing offers from Qwest? Head over to our Qwest deals page to get started now!

City Highlight: Moving to Baltimore

A few months ago we started to do a feature on the blog that highlights different cities around the country, and the deals that people can find. The idea is that anyone moving to or currently living in these locations can get better deals that help them to save on their home services like home phone, TV and Internet.

For this week's feature, we're going to be taking a look at the great city of Baltimore, home of the Orioles, the Ravens and the Washington Monument. Check out the list below to see a list of the best deals in the area!

Poll: How Much Time Do You Spend Online?

I've noticed that over the last several years, the time I spend online has increased more and more. Even five years ago, using the Internet as much as we do now was totally unthinkable, simply because of the fact that there just wasn't as much available for us to interact with. Now, we have online video, radio stations, word processors, and the like, and all of it is gradually replacing some of our simplest desktop functions. This is only increasing all the more with the advent of smart phones and mobile browsing.

For me, high-speed Internet has changed from a service to a necessity, almost a utility like electricity or natural gas, simply because there is so much of our lives that require the use of the Web. I know that I'm not alone in this, but I was still curious how much other people out there spent time online. So, I thought I'd make a poll and find out from our readers.

How much time do you spend online? Feel free to vote and tell us in the comments!

High-Speed Internet Access Becomes a Legal Right in Finland

Earlier this month, Finland became the first country to guarantee broadband access to each citizen. Under the new law, the government does not pay for the actual cost of Internet service, it simply ensures that every Finnish citizen has the ability to purchase high-speed Internet. For now, the promise is access to a 1 Mbps connection, but the plan is to make the minimum a whopping 100 Mbps by 2015.

According to the BBC, the UK is working on a similar plan. However, unlike the Finnish law, the government there is actually committing to providing a 2 Mbps connection to everyone by 2012.

These movements really highlight how integral the Internet has become in today's society. No longer just a diversion filled with funny pictures of cats, the Internet is now becoming a requirement for modern living, like the electricity and home phone service before it.

Do you think broadband will ever be a legal right in America? If so, how long do you think it will take?

Provider Highlight: Verizon

When it comes to home services, choosing the right provider isn't always the easiest decision to make. With a variety of specials, unique offers, prices and bundles, there are a number of places you could go to get the services you need for your home. That's why we've been trying to highlight specific providers on the blog for the last few months, to key consumers in to the special things that each provider is doing.

This week, we're highlighting Verizon! Here are some cool things to know about their service:

• FiOS TV. One of Verizon's greatest features is its fiber optic network packages, known as FiOS. The fiber optic network allows for greater picture quality and outstanding clarity when viewing programming on your HDTV. On top of how great everything looks, FiOS TV is one of the smartest TV services around, and allows you to browse Facebook and stream content straight from your PC.
• FiOS Internet. Another bonus to Verizon's advanced fiber optic network is the speed of their broadband Internet connection delivered to your home. With Verizon FiOS Internet, you'll experience speeds of up to 50 Mbps for downloads, and 20 Mbps for uploads. If you're unaware of how fast that is, it's almost certainly several times faster than what's in your home right now.
• Specials. Verizon is constantly offering great specials, bonuses and other incentives to sign up for their services. Right now, when you order select bundles, you get $150 cash back, plus $5 off for 24 months!

As of the writing of this blog, these are the features and promotions offered by Verizon. To take full advantage of these, hurry on over to Verizon on WhiteFence and see what's available at your address!

Poll: What Type of High-Speed Internet Do You Have?

We've spoken at length before on this blog about high-speed Internet types, and the options available to you at your home. There are a variety of different ways to ensure that you have blazing fast Internet speeds at your fingertips.

If you're unaware of the typical high-speed options, here they are: cable, fiber-optic, DSL and satellite. Cable and DSL are the two most typical connections that exist in the majority of homes. Fiber-optic is actually the fastest option available, and can deliver astounding download and upload speeds. Satellite Internet is another connection that is most widely used in rural areas, where perhaps cable and other networks aren't quite as readily available.

As I've been looking into my high-speed options lately, I started wondering what other people tend to have out there. So, what kind of Internet do you have at your home? Vote in the poll or tell us in the comments!

To see the high-speed Internet packages at your address, visit WhiteFence!

How to Secure Your Wireless Network

Earlier this year when I explained how to set up a wireless network, I urged you to set up a password and consider additional security measures. After all, what's the point of ordering a smoking-fast broadband package if all the neighborhood kids are hijacking your signal and slowing everything to a crawl with their blasted Justin Bieber music videos?

With that in mind, I thought I'd get a little more in-depth on wireless security today and give you a list of basic precautions you can take along with some more advanced pro-tips that can help keep your Internet service Bieber-free (unless you're into that sort of thing, which is totally okay).

• Lock down your router – Your router and wireless network both have passwords. To change your network's settings, you need to log in to your router. To keep anyone else from changing your network settings, you need to protect your router. Check your instruction manual to learn how to log in to make changes. Usually, you simply enter a URL into your browser and enter the default user-name and password to gain access
  
  If for some reason you have lost your router instructions, check out this site and you should easily be able to find out what URL to type and what the default user-name and password for your router is. Once in, make sure you give your router a new user-name and password. Stay logged in, as we'll be making the rest of the changes from here, too.