High Speed Internet Service Providers Reviewed

Were you aware that the Internet is being used to get staff community outreach?  Many churches are now using Internet programs to reach people who would like to volunteer to help others in need.  One minister in Texas has actually developed software that will help pastors who are striving to match volunteers to services that are needed in the community. The program can be used on church websites to help members learn about others with needs.  He said that since he has started using the program that it has been very effective in mobilizing church members to recognize that their are sick are elderly in their congregation that need assistance. He mentioned that many in his congregation had just signed up for ATT Uverse, a high-speed Internet service that was recently introduced in the area, and that this has put more congregation members online, which has also been helfpul.

In an article in yesterday’s Business Section of the Los Angeles Times  we were advised that there is a movement in the airline industry designed to enhance customer loyalty while attracting new passengers.  Several different airlines are now offering new amenities for travelers in first business class.  The special perks wireless Internet service, free pajamas and live live baseball broadcasts.  The promotions are being offered by American, Alaska and Virgin America, among others.  Tom Parsons who is the CEO of Bestfares.com said “these sorts of perks are an enticement to get folks to swing over. It has been a war when you’re talking about the first class and business class passengers.”

American Airlines just this past week started providing slippers, pajamas, quilted bed, duvets and pillows in travel kits offered to passengers in the first-class cabins on their  B-777 flights between the United States and London. The airline plans to extend these amenities to other international flights in October.  Alaska Airlines is providing free wireless Internet service during through September to passengers with smartphones and iPod Touches. Virgin America has upgraded the entertainment offerings on some of their flights by adding free broadcasts of major league baseball games.  They will also include NHL hockey and NFL football games as they come into season.

According to a recent article by Brian Caulfield in Forbes, Apple is building a massive server centers in Maiden, North Carolina and Santa Clara, California.  These centers will be used to service its iCloud services.  You have heard of cloud computing?  Maybe you haven’t.  In fact, according to a recent survey from the research firm NPD, only 22% of the consumers in the U.S. were familiar with the term.  Well, the term obviously does not apply to literal clouds that float around in the sky.  As a matter of fact, the real locations for these “clouds” are not nearly as romantic.  According to the Forbes article quoted above, some of these clouds will be in warehouses in North Carolina and Santa Clarita, California.

The clouds are actually computer servers — in fact, stacks and stacks of computer servers!  These servers are housed in huge warehouses that are climate-controlled and include lots and lots of security and back-up procedures.  Different companies supply cloud services.  Just a few of the big suppliers are Google, Amazon, TurboTax, photo-sharing sites, banks and email suppliers.  All of these companies use their stacks of servers, which are stuffed in huge warehouses, to provide information or services that you can tap into.  Cloud computing therefore refers to the use of online resources as opposed to resources that are loaded into your own computer. It is really a simple concept. When you connect to an outside server to get information or to perform tasks, you are cloud computing — no matter what the weather is outdoors!

Kids today base a large portion of their social life on being connected to one another online or via text messages on their cell phones. You would think this type of isolation would protect them from life’s bullies, but sadly that is just not the case.  Today it is not unusual to hear reports of other kids using cyber technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or in some way target another person. The attacks may come in the form of rude text messages, online threats, posting unauthorized personal information, or using words or videos on a blog or Facebook page to humiliate another individual. Many ISPs provide information on guarding against this type of cyber-bullying.  You can find the companies serving your community by searching for Internet providers by zip code.

Cyber-bullying is particularly upsetting because of its anonymous nature. Those targeted may not even know what is being said about them or where the attacks are coming from. Many times crosses over into illegal harassment.  Intimidation that incorporates a person’s race, physical differences, sexual orientation, gender or religion falls into this category. These actions are not only cruel — in many states they will be prosecuted.  Hundreds of the more serious cases in the past year have been handed over to law enforcement authorities for criminal investigation. In many cases the courts have handed down stiff penalties.

Uverse users can take advantage of a free app and flip to channel 98 every weekend in December to check out the Santa News Network.  Join Wolf Blitzen, Katie Comet and Alf the Elf report on the Big Guy hard at work in the North Pole, double-checking the naughty and nice lists and planning his big, worldwide jaunt via sleigh this December 24th.  Enjoy great sing along opportunities with your favorite holiday songs, tune into Reindeer Radio, watch movies, get a glimpse into Santa’s workshop, play games, and get great craft ideas.  AT&T is running a special “12 Days of Gifting” event.  Every day brings a new offer.

Cloud computing has reached a new level.  Microsoft has announced that they are releasing a new version of their popular Office software, and that one version will be available for web browsers.  This eliminates the need to download costly software from computer to computer.  The online version will be free to all consumers.  Instead of making money from purchases and licensing, the revenue for Microsoft in the browser application of Office 2010 will be in advertising.  The best thing about this is that it makes access to standard software applications more attainable for all users, without costly fees to upgrade to a better quality of software.  This is the jump start that the online economy may need, especially for small business and self employed professionals.

I was looking for the best deals with internet service providers in my area. First I looked into the major internet service providers to see what they offer in my neighborhood.  I found that I had some choices between plans, but the ultimate high speed fiber optic connections were not available.  I then compared these to my local cable provider, and found that the speed is actually higher.  I also looked into satellite, and local companies.  Because speed is important to me, I chose cable, since the speed was bundled in with other services and I could save the most money and get the service I needed.