I've recently changed to BTOpenworld on a 2MB connection (6MB usage limit). Having used several other companies in the past (AOL, NTL, Demon.....) I feel I'm qualified to make a comparison, so here goes....
REGISTER/START UP
Simple, you phone a freephone number, and select the option ... Read review
Advantages: quick connection, excellent parental control, free helplines Disadvantages: cost - its approx £5/month dearer than the rest at 2MB Broadband
I've recently changed to BTOpenworld on a 2MB connection (6MB usage limit). Having used several other companies in the past (AOL, NTL, Demon.....) I feel I'm qualified to make a comparison, so here goes....
REGISTER/START UP
Simple, you phone a freephone number, and select the option for BT services. Those with a BT landline can dial 150 from their landline. You speak to an operator who insists on explaining ... ...to register me and get my modem ordered), then sit and wait for your modem.
Mine arrived promptly and all worked. Come my activation date (which is supposed to be a day or two after your modem arrives - or longer if you request), the connection was active at 8am - although they advise it could be as late as 8pm before it comes on.
USING THE INTERNET
The connection I have is 2MB, and it runs very ... more
I've recently changed to BTOpenworld on a 2MB connection (6MB usage limit). Having used several other companies in the past (AOL, NTL, Demon.....) I feel I'm qualified to make a comparison, so here goes....
REGISTER/START UP
Simple, you phone a freephone number, and select the option for BT services. Those with a BT landline can dial 150 from their landline. You speak to an operator who insists on explaining everything to you twice over (it took almost an hour to register me and get my modem ordered), then sit and wait for your modem.
Mine arrived promptly and all worked. Come my activation date (which is supposed to be a day or two after your modem arrives - or longer if you request), the connection was active at 8am - although they advise it could be as late as 8pm before it comes on.
USING THE INTERNET
The connection I have is 2MB, and it runs very well. I've had no breaks in connection yet, and friends who have had it longer than me have never had any connection problems.
The initial interface you get is BT Yahoo - this is quite annoying at times as it keeps asking you a hundred and one questions each time you log in - but fortunately can be changed and/or switched off.
Web sites are quick to download and graphics are no problem at all.
PARENTAL CONTROLS
Here is where BT really make a difference. AOL were good with their parent controls, but BT arein a world of their own. Here you can link BT and Windows to restrict the hours the child can use the internet, or indeed the entire PC. You can set what times they can have access between and also what sites they can use via easy to use diagrams and tick boxes in a list.
Further, if your child should try to use a site thats not yet been authorised, it asks for the parents password - and if not supplied, the parent (ie me) gets an email to tell me what site they were trying to go on - I can then authorise it for their future viewing or I can deny access.
Needless to say, I have yet to have any problems with any sites at all getting through BT's filter. Mainly because unless I have said yes to the site, it is banned.
For the first few weeks this can be annoying, with 20 emailsa day when I get in from work - but then it all calms down and you only get the odd one now and again. Which is fine by me. Everything efficient takes a little while to set up.
PAYMENT
Here is where BT loses ground. BT charge £22.99 a month for the service I have, which is about £6 more than the likes of Tiscali for the same speed. However, the parental controls (which are the best in the business, and the easiest to use) come 'free', along with various other bits and bobs.
You can pay by credit/debit card, direct debit, or payment card. Link it to your phone line and you can get online billing, also 'free'. There is also some free antivirus stuff - but I ignored this as I've got my own that I like anyway.
HELPLINES
Helplines for BT are free, they respond quickly, and they get the job done. I called as needed a replacement wire for the phone cord (granted this wasnt in the original box they sent, and it should have been). They sorted it out over the phone despite some red tape - and the people on the other end of the phone were very helpful and talked me through it.
Further, my friends have had some quite complicated technical queries, and they are very helpful. Unlike most companies that blame anyone else for a fault - BT helpline seem determined to help, even if its the PC at fault and not them. For a free service this is highly commendable
SUMMARY
If you have kids or are totally computer illiterate, the extra cash is worth it, if not, go with the cheaper alternatives as BT are exactly the same as the rest, apart from their parental control packs and the free technical support.
Advantages: Childline benefits by 25p , and you get a chance of winning free internet access for a year . Disadvantages: none
This op. is relevant only until 18/10/2001. Do not read after this date.
Not a competition site , but for a limited time , BT are inviting any internet users to complete an internet usage/experience survey . This survey is possibly one of the biggest online surveys ever undertaken .The prize on offer for one lucky entrant is a whole years free subscription to BTopenworld , and all the benefits it entails .
However filling this survey for the aforementioned ... ...for completing this survey , BT will donate 25p to Childline .
For those who know little of Childline , this is a free 24 hour national telephone helpline specifically for children. Founded in 1986 , it has become firmly established as a beacon of help and hope for those children in distress or danger. Further information can be obtained from www.childline.co.uk .
Step 1
Log onto the site www.btopenworld.com & select survey.
Step 2
Complete ...
CaptainKidd 24.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of btopenworld.com
Advantages: Used to be a good, cheap, "anytime" service Disadvantages: Not as cheap as Virgin / Tesco. Restricted access.
I wrote this shortly before finally deciding that enough was enough. I left BTinternet / BTopenworld and moved to Tesco.net. Cheaper and not a restricted service. It was a major hassle, but - I think - worth it in the end. This op reflects how I was feeling just before I made the big leap. Read on!
I really enjoy using the Internet. It's a great world-wide community. I've made good friends here and have recently discovered ciao.co.uk - where I have ... ...you NEED to be able to rely on a decent ISP. I happen to use BTinternet; and there's the rub! I just cannot rely on them. I'm reminded of the old rhyme "when she was good, she was very, very good - and when she was bad, she was horrid" Too often, BTInternet is horrid. If a trustworthy, reliable connection is important to you - and it really ought to be - then these are not the people to be dealing with. That ought to be the end of the story. Please ...
andymcf 24.11.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of btopenworld.com
Advantages: reliable, big company Disadvantages: big company that try to get you onto broardband
I have been using Bt Internet (Now Btopenworld) with their Evening and weekend evening sufrtime offer for over a year and I have had very little problems with them. I have a experienced very little downtime from them and never had to contact them about problems. BT have a handy Free-phone status line that can be rang to find out the latest status of the service, this is updated every hour. Dial up access is good enough for me with downloads maxing ... ...house being on a newly built estate the phone lines are effected slightly due to the mass amount of houses. I have only ever had an engaged tone ONCE in the year I have been using it. Their dial up software can be a tad annoying due to it opening the browser every time it connects to the net, That can be overridden though via dial up networking.
With regards to the Anytime service, I would avoid it. Apparently Bt are deliberately slowing down this ...
zoomzoom2002uk 03.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of btopenworld.com
