AT&T; Reaches 1 Million Home Phone Users with U-verse

AT&T; recently announced that it now serves 1 million AT&T; U-verse^SM Voice digital home phone lines. The milestone comes two years after AT&T; introduced the VoIP service. More than 67 percent of new U-verse TV customers bundle U-verse Voice service.

The company said it reached the milestone by adding 248,000 U-verse TV subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2009, with a total of 2.1 million U-verse TV subscribers nationwide and added1 million U-verse TV customers in the last year alone.

"We knew we had the opportunity to revolutionize our consumer business with U-verse and our IP platform, and the growth of our U-verse TV, Voice and broadband services shows we’re on the right track," said Anthony Tuggle, AT&T; vice president of wireline voice products. "Customers are choosing U-verse Voice for its reliability, advanced features and unmatched value as part of an integrated AT&T; bundle. U-verse Voice will only get better as we continue to launch more calling apps and features."

AT&T; offers multiple combinations of U-verse TV, U-verse Voice, U-verse High Speed Internet and AT&T; wireless plans that offer savings for customers that bundle their services. As of the end of 2009, more than 90 percent of U-verse TV customers bundle High Speed Internet, and more than 75 percent of U-verse TV customers have a triple- or quad-play.

See if AT&T; U-verse is available in your area.

Where to Watch the Olympic Events You Missed

Ah, it's Winter Olympics time. It's interesting to me how sports that people typically don't care about become the most fascinating things in the world whenever the Olympics come crashing down on us. Who ever thought we'd find out so much about curling, the biathlon (AKA best Bond villain competition) and funny Olympic pants?

While the games have been going on for a little over a week now, there's still about a week left to watch some of your favorite events. However, for those poor blessed souls that still don't have a DVR with their TV service, or if you're like me and you simply don't feel like recording huge 6 hour blocks of programming to catch one event, it sometimes seems like there is so much to miss. Fear not! Lifehacker has posted some cool tips and links about where to watch the Olympics online. Lots of the events are available to stream, as long as you have a fairly decent high-speed connection.

Now you know who to thank when you're up until two in the morning watching figure skating. You're welcome.

Google Wants to Offer Super Fast Broadband

Some day in the near future, you might be adding Google's name to the list of potential high-speed Internet providers. In addition to providing apps that allow for word processing, Voice, social media and whatever it is that Wave does, the search engine giant is looking to deliver ultra fast high speeds to up to 500,000 homes.

How fast are we talking? So far, the number bandied about has been 1Gbps (gigabit per second). In layman's terms? That's about 100 times faster than most people's high-speed connections. This is possible through Google's wide fiber network, which the company uses to connect its data centers to speed up its search processes and allow for faster YouTube streaming. They basically want to take that network and start connecting it to homes.

Right now, Google is putting some feelers out to find interested parties/city governments to take them up on the offer. Personally, I'd be curious to see just how fast this broadband really is. What do you guys think?

To read more about Google's broadband ambitions, visit BBC News.

Comcast Offers Norton Security Suite Free to High-Speed Internet Customers

Staring in mid-January, Comcast began offering Norton from Symantec to residential and business high-speed Internet subscribers for no additional cost. The company previously offered McAfee Security Suite.

Norton Security Suite includes PC security that protects against viruses, spyware, worms, Trojans, malicious bots and identity theft. It also includes a range of customizable parental controls. Comcast subscribers with Macs will receive Norton Internet Security for Mac.

According to Norton, a PC that does not have active and up-to-date security software can become infected within four minutes of connecting to the Internet. The Norton Security Suite Internet security features include:

• Virus scan – protects against viruses, bots, spyware, Trojan horses, worms and rootkits and includes Norton’s new reputation-based security technology
• Identity theft protection – helps block phishing Web sites, guards against keyloggers and stores and protects Web passwords
• Parental control tools for family safety – includes filters for age-appropriate Web site content, information about search terms kids are using, and information about their social networking accounts
• Two-way firewall protection – stops threats at point of entry using sophisticated behavioral security technology
• Windows protection – cleans and repairs Windows registry
• PC Tune-up – finds and fixes problems that slow your computer
• 24/7 one-click customer support – via e-mail, chat or phone support

The Norton Security Suite is valued at $160 for residential customers and the Norton Security Suite Business Edition is valued at up to $490 for business customers. The company says the suite is a key component to Comcast’s recently announced Constant Guard Security initiative, which involves a comprehensive approach to proactively assist customers with online security issues. Comcast and Norton will also be offering customers co-branded fee-based virus removal and PC Tune-up services later this year.

Does your high-speed Internet provider offer free security software? If not, see if Comcast if available in your area and switch today to get protected.

Netflix Streaming Rentals Coming to Nintendo Wii

Nintendo and Netflix recently announced they have reached an agreement that will allow Netflix members who are also owners of Nintendo’s Wii™ home console to instantly watch movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix directly to their TVs. Netflix says it is scheduled to go live on the Wii console this spring in the US at no additional cost to Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection.

Wii is the fastest-selling home console in history, and reaches more consumers than any other device that currently supports streaming movies from Netflix. Netflix currently has more than 11.1 million U.S. subscribers and says it plans to continue to expand the ways in which its members can watch movies and TV shows streamed directly to TVs through Netflix-ready devices.

To enable your Wii to stream content from Netflix, you'll need a Netflix instant-streaming disc which will be available at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers. The free disc looks and operates the same as a disc-based Wii game. Netflix members and Wii console owners can now reserve a free instant-streaming disc by going to www.netflix.com/Wii.

High-Speed Internet Customer Service Links

High-speed Internet. It's rampaging across the world like some kind of monster movie, only the monster is awesome and lets you watch gems like Brendan Fraser's goofy clapping while browsing your favorite Web sites. This high-speed monster is a kind monster, and likes to give you lots of bandwidth.

Even though high-speed Internet has seen rapid growth in the last few years in the U.S., it is not quite everywhere, and is continuing to move from home to home. It's becoming the norm now to have faster Internet, so much so that people are expecting free WiFi at hotels and in other publicly visited places.

In fact, high-speed Internet is one of WhiteFence's most ordered products for the last couple of months, which still surprises me. I suppose I've been used to having it for a few years, so I forget that other people might not have made the plunge yet. Seeing as how there are dozens of providers out there providing all these megabytes to PCs (and Macs, I know) across the country, I figured I'd post links for their high-speed customer support centers all in one place. That way, if you've got any questions about a provider, you can check it out.

VoIP: Easy as 1-2-3

Disclaimer to whomever is in charge of Mr. Jackson's estate: please do not sue us for the title of this blog. We are alright people, and one time we even did a Thriller video in the office. Not really, but how cool would that be?

Anyway, the other day I was talking to my mom, who just recently purchased a new laptop. One of the features she was the most excited about was being able to video chat and Skype with other relatives. Yes, I just used Skype as a verb. Now, my mom is not a tech-savvy person in the slightest, so it was interesting to hear her talking about this, particularly with the amount I've been hearing about Skype, Google Voice and VoIP in general these days. I think it says a lot about the potential and growth of VoIP.

For the uninitiated, VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.What makes people so excited about VoIP is its ease of use and potential savings benefits over some long distance carriers.

How to Set Up a Wireless Network

If you’ve just ordered a new high-speed Internet package, chances are you’re probably ready to start making the most of it. One of the coolest things you can do with your new service is to cut the cord and set up a wireless network for your home. This lets you use Internet service on laptops, desktops, and all sorts of other nifty devices like DVRs and game consoles, without any wires. How futuristic!

Many Internet providers will furnish a wireless router, either for free or with an additional charge. But, if you are looking to set up your wireless network on your own, check out these handy steps:

• Make sure your devices are ready – Setting up a new wireless network without making sure your stuff is wireless-ready is like buying an awesome new cereal without checking that you have milk at home. Avoid disappointment by checking your computer and device specs to make sure they are ready. Most laptops and many desktops from the last few years come equipped with wireless ability right out of the box, but it’s always best to check.


• Buy a wireless router – There are a million options on the shelves, and they seem to change daily. With that in mind, instead of giving you specific recommendations here, I’m referring you to Cnet’s excellent, constantly updated guide to the best wireless routers on the market. Check through the reviews to find the router that best meets your needs and budget. Then buy it.

Hughes Expands High-Speed Satellite Internet Access for U.S. Troops

Hughes Network recently announced that it has expanded high-speed satellite Internet access for U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Available at U.S. military bases, the broadband Internet service is being delivered via the company’s new operations hub in Dubai.

“Hughes Network is proud to provide high-speed Internet service to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, reinforcing the military’s Morale, Welfare & Recreation efforts in the region,” said Rick Lober, vice president and general manager of Hughes Defense and Intelligence Systems Division.

HughesNet high-speed satellite internet service is currently available at U.S. military bases in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait.

Comcast Launches Fancast Xfinity Internet Video Service

Comcast has launched a nationwide beta program for Fancast Xfinity, the company’s new initiative to allow subscribers to watch TV on their computers. The beta is open to Comcast customers with a bundle that includes both high-speed Internet and television service.

Subscribers simply log in at fancast.com and can watch any content that they currently subscribe to via their television package. Content available now weighs in at about 2,000 hours from 30 networks, including HBO and the Discovery Channel.

Programs like these are really the future of the entertainment industry. Computer and television content will continue to merge, giving providers a wider catalog of services they can sell to a wider market. They are also great for consumers, as they open up new ways to enjoy the programming they are paying for.

A few years ago we were all watching standard-definition television on bulky CRT televisions on the strict schedule of the broadcasters. Now, we can enjoy HD programming on our own schedule on anything from a massive plasma TV in our home to a laptop in a coffee shop. Just imagine all the crazy ways the next generation will be able to watch content.