Boxx Communications Ltd

Simplifying telecommunications for businesses large and small!

Hints and Tips

Direct Internet Access: Could your business benefit?

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Direct Internet Access: Could your business benefit?

Sometimes referred to as ‘Data Connectivity’, ‘Ethernet Connectivity’ or ‘Leased Lines’, Direct Internet Access (DIA) is a dedicated internet connection that is even more robust, reliable and faster than a standard broadband or even fibre broadband connection.

The connection possibilities are endless and with so many options to suit individual business needs, bandwidth requirements and speeds, we have made the decision not to offer off-the-shelf products. Instead we offer bespoke packages tailored to specific business requirements.

But in an attempt to give you an idea of what you can expect from a DIA connection, we have put together some examples…..

Business A operates from a single site and has 15 members of staff who use the internet to send emails and surf, but are not using many internet based applications. They are just entering into the world of DIA and have a budget of just £100 per month to spend.

Our solution – ‘Ethernet over Fibre To The Cabinet (EoFTTC) / Generic Ethernet Access (GEA)’ uses existing fibre or copper wires to connect to the street cabinet and then a dedicated network connects to local telephone exchange. The upload / download speeds are 20MB p/sec and costs from £129 per month.

Business B is a 3 site organisation that has 15-20 members of staff at each site at present but they are looking to grow their teams over the next 18 months. They use many cloud-based applications and if their internet connection were to suffer any downtime, there would be serious financial & operational implications.

Our solution – ‘Ethernet Fibre’ uses fibre to connect directly to the local telephone exchange (i.e. not via a street cabinet) and is not only the most robust connection but is also scalable at reasonably short notice, so can easily accommodate their growing size. The cost is from £400 per month.

Business C is a single office company that has 20 members of staff who use cloud-based applications and often stream videos. Fibre is not available in their area but they are desperate to increase their speeds and reduce buffering without stretching their budget too much!

Our solution – ‘Ethernet First Mile (EFM)’ uses multiple copper wires to increase bandwidth and provide a faster solution for those who do not have access to fibre.. The upload / download speeds are 35MB p/sec and costs from £150 per month.

All of the above examples feature a totally uncontended and symmetrical bandwidth, which in simple terms means that they do not share with anyone else and that the download speed is the same as the upload speed. They also come with additional IP address options, plus 24/7 monitoring & support 365 days a year.

Direct Internet Access opens up all kinds of opportunities to improve productivity and efficiencies within your business, including moving to internet based voice solution – VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) dubbed the future of telecoms, which can make even further savings and improve your call handing.

To find out more about DIA or VoIP, call us on 01908 350750 or click here

Mobile phone coverage checker launched by Ofcom

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Mobile phone coverage checker launched by Ofcom

Consumers and businesses can now check how good their mobile phone coverage will be in any given area, thanks to a simple and powerful online tool launched by Ofcom.

The mobile phone coverage checker provides a one-stop answer for consumers and businesses across the UK who want to know how networks perform where they live or work, or even where they intend to move.

Users can either zoom in on the UK map, which is powered by data supplied by Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three, or enter a specific postcode to check. As well as showing the state of 3G and 4G data in the area chosen, it also classifies mobile signal, needed for voice calls and texts, and data coverage into three colour-coded categories: green; amber or red.

Green means that good coverage for calls and texts is likely, amber means that you may experience some problems and red suggests you are unlikely to receive a reliable signal. Each location shows data for coverage of 100 square meters and there is also an option to choose whether you want to know mobile coverage for inside buildings or outside.

The new map will be a great resource for people trying to source the most reliable mobile service for where they need to use it and takes advantage of new Ofcom research into the signal strength needed to provide a good consumer experience. The map also takes account of the increasing shift from handsets with external aerials to smartphones with internal aerials, which can sometimes be less effective at picking a signal.

Additionally, it also shows topographical information allowing users to identify areas where there are natural obstructions to coverage, such as valleys and hills.
Helping to improve mobile coverage and quality of service are key priority services for Ofcom. As well as supporting consumers and businesses in choosing the operator and service that most meets their needs, it will also boost competition between the four main providers, which in turn will be good for consumers.

Ofcom is inviting users to check their coverage experience and leave feedback to help refine the accuracy of the new map even more for a new version due out in the autumn.

In related work, Ofcom is seeking to improve the process for switching between different mobile providers and is actively working on ways to do this.

If you would like to know about our Mobile SIM Only offers, get in touch and we’ll be happy to talk you through it.

SIM Only Mobile Contracts – The benefits explained

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SIM Only Mobile Contracts - The benefits explained

These days a mobile phone is arguably as vital as a landline phone for businesses of all shapes and sizes – but that doesn’t mean you need to pay over the odds to have one…..

We find that many people and businesses are missing a trick and paying more than they need to for their mobile services, because they are not aware of SIM only contracts.

Despite their relatively low profile, SIM only mobile contracts have been around for a while and are actually very straightforward – you pay for just your SIM and the services you use, not a handset. It really does do exactly what is says on the tin! You can either use your existing handset, or buy a new one outright – but whichever option you take, the chances are that you will save ££££s a month!

While some people like the simplicity of a handset included contract, in reality you’re paying a heavy price for the convenience. A hefty part of each monthly contract payment goes straight to the handset supplier for giving you the phone in the first place. Take the handset out of the equation and you’ll be surprised how much data and minutes you get for little investment each month.

It is also worth considering that mobile contracts are increasingly for 18-24 months, effectively tying you to a higher monthly payment for longer – During which time at least one newer version of the phone that was ‘so cutting edge’ at the start of the contract, is likely to be released!

That’s not even mentioning how frustrating it is when you forget when your contract finishes and you realise that you could have upgraded or switched provider months ago but didn’t, throwing ££££s down the drain in the process. You may feel cheated as a consumer, but suppliers hope this will happen and are happy with the increased profits when it does – so why not choose an option that works best for you for a change…..?

Another beauty of the SIM only contract is that there is no tie-in period – you can simply give 30 days’ notice at any point and you’re free to go and take your number with you. It really is that simple. This flexible choice gives consumers the guarantee that if they see a better offer elsewhere they can simply leave, while at the same time incentivising suppliers to keep their prices as cheap as possible.

If you are happy to use your existing handset, or even if you are a gadget geek that ‘has to have’ the latest model as soon as it comes out so prefers to buy when they are released, you could switch to a SIM only deal where there is no long contract AND still pay much less each month.

If you need to get your mobile unlocked in order to switch to a new SIM, our recent blog will tell you how to do this, and don’t forget you can keep your existing number too.

Really, the only question that matters is what is stopping you switching right now….?

If you want to find out more, take a look at our website, or if you have any questions feel free to give us a call on 01908 350750 or contact us.

Using Mobiles Abroad: Top Tips

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Using Mobiles Abroad: Top Tips

While mobile phones are great for keeping in contact with family or your business whilst on holiday, nothing is less relaxing that returning home to a huge bill because you haven’t taken sensible precautions before you go…..

Using your phone overseas, known as roaming, can cost a lot more than it does at home, particularly if you upload multiple pictures to social networking sites, send and receive lots of emails or use the internet a lot.

You can even run up a big bill without actively using your phone, as many smartphones and 3G/4G enabled tablets automatically seek out mobile connections and use them to update apps without you having to do anything.

While turning off data roaming before you leave your home country will stop your devices constantly downloading data at whatever your standard out-of-package rate is, there are many other things you can do to minimise your chances of running up a large mobile bill.

Before you go:

Think about how you want to use your phone abroad. Your monthly allowance probably won’t cover you for usage abroad so making and receiving calls, sending texts and using the internet or other data abroad could end up costing you more.

Check if your provider offers products where you can use your domestic allowance abroad. If not, particularly if travelling outside Europe where prices are often considerably higher, see if they offer packages so you can use your phone overseas at discounted rates, including data roaming bundles.

Whatever you decide, make sure you know what happens when your data bundle is used up. Will you be unable to use data until you purchase another bundle, or will it be charged at a standard rate – most likely much higher than the cost per MB within the bundle?

Data roaming:

Turn off data roaming on your handset to stop your smartphone automatically seeking out an internet connection when you reach your destination, which could mean you start using substantial amounts of data without realising it.

If you regularly browse the web on your phone, using local Wi-Fi hotspots in places such as cafes, hotels and restaurants instead of your phone’s mobile internet connection will work out much cheaper than your standard charges and may sometimes even be free.

Some phone apps can seek out Wi-Fi networks and prompt you to connect to them so that you don’t have to do this manually, which is particularly useful for downloading maps, checking emails or browsing social networks. You don’t need data roaming switched on to use Wi-Fi connections, but you do need to stay in range.

If you decide to use your phone’s own internet connection instead, be aware that watching videos, downloading music, opening large email attachments and updating social media with photographs will all use a lot of data.

How much will it cost to use my phone abroad….?

In Europe…..

Calls and texts:

The cost of using your phone within the European Union is capped under EU law, which sets out euro-tariffs.

You should automatically benefit from the euro-tariffs, unless you have chosen to opt out (for example by taking out a roaming bundle offered by your provider).

  • Calls made should cost no more than €0.19 (around 15p) per minute (excluding VAT)
  • Calls received should be charged at no more than €0.05 (around 4p) per minute (excluding VAT). –
  • Sending a text should cost no more than €0.06 (around 5p) per text (excluding VAT).

You cannot be charged for receiving texts or voicemail (although you will be charged for calls made to listen to messages).

Data:

There is also a price cap on data roaming charges in the European Union. This cap means that phone companies can charge no more than €0.20 (around 16p) per MB of data, (excluding VAT).

Around the world…..

Calls and Texts:

Costs tend to be much higher outside Europe so think about how you plan to use your phone in advance.

Talk to your provider about any packages it offers for the place you’re travelling to. There are a few specialist products offering discounts or it might be worth considering buying a SIM for the country you are visiting.

Some providers charge you when someone leaves a message on your voicemail (as well as charging for listening to the message).

Check with your provider- if they do charge, consider asking them how to switch off your voicemail before you leave the UK and ask your friends and family to text instead.

Data:

The cost of data roaming can be significantly higher outside Europe, so check prices with your provider before you leave.

Talk to your provider about any packages it offers for the place you’re visiting as many offer data roaming bundles. Alternatively, it might be worth considering buying a SIM for the country you are visiting.

What if I am on a ferry or cruise?

Mobile phones used in coastal areas or at sea may not be able to connect to traditional 2, 3 or 4G networks and may instead seek out a satellite connection. The euro-tariffs and world-wide data limits mentioned above do not apply to these and charges can be high.

Try to use services on land wherever possible. If you think you will need to use your phone at sea, check with your provider before you travel to see how much it will cost to use your phone via a satellite connection. You could manually select a preferred network while you are on board to avoid satellite connections but signals can vary and this will mean you wouldn’t receive calls or texts when out of range of the selected network.

Finally, make sure both your handset and SIM are passcode-protected to make them more difficult for thieves to use.

If you want to find out more about our SIM only mobiles, or if you have any questions feel free to give us a call on 01908 350750 or contact us.

Mobile Phone Unlocking: Everything you need to know!

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Mobile Phone Unlocking: Everything you need to know!

Mobile phone unlocking is usually one of those things that you become aware of when you want to change provider or travel abroad.

Mobile handsets often come ‘locked’ to the network from which they were purchased, meaning it will only work with a SIM from that provider.

This is no problem until you switch to a contract with another provider but want to keep your existing handset, at which point you may need to get your phone unlocked so that it will work with the new SIM.

The same is true if you are travelling abroad and want to use a local SIM to avoid roaming charges – the phone will need to be unlocked to accept it.

Locking policies vary from provider to provider, and often depend on the type of device being sold, so it’s worth investigating before you buy in case you need to get it done for any reason as there are price and time implications that vary from network to network…..

Of the major providers, only Three do not lock any handsets.

  • EE, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone always lock handsets for both pay-as-you-go (PAYG) and pay monthly phones.

  • O2 lock all PAYG phones and most pay monthly ones, although some smartphones are supplied unlocked.

  • Tesco Mobile usually lock PAYG phones, although again some smartphones are supplied unlocked, while some monthly handsets are also locked.

  • Virgin Mobile usually lock PAYG phones, excluding some smartphones, but don’t lock pay monthly handsets.

To find out whether your handset is locked, either try a different network SIM card in it and see if it works as normal, or ask your mobile provider. If the SIM is not recognised or you are unable to make calls, it is likely your handset is locked.

If this is the case, you can ask your provider to unlock it for you, as long as you are the former account holder. It should, however, be noted this will not be possible on phones that have been reported as lost or stolen.

As different providers have different policies on unlocking, you may find you have to pay a fee of £15-20, or wait between seven and 30 calendar days for the unlocking to be completed (this is a maximum, and it may well happen sooner.)

As for how long it takes once the process has begun, the answer is that often the newer the phone, the quicker the unlock happens. iPhones, for example, can often be released in three days, while older phones take longer as providers often have to contact the handset manufacturer to get an unlock code.

If you find yourself with an existing handset take a look at our SIM only deals, there are many benefits, detailed in another blog, including saving you £££s!!

If you want to find out more, take a look at our website, or if you have any questions feel free to give us a call on 01908 350750 or contact us.

Parental Controls: 10 tips and tricks to keep your child safe

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Parental Controls: 10 tips and tricks to keep your child safe

In the age of smartphones, internet-enabled televisions and readily available tablets, keeping our children safe online has once again come sharply into focus.

While many of us have passcodes or controls on the main house computer, how many can say the same for every device in the house that can get on the web? Not to mention televisions, which also contain plenty of content that is not suitable for children, particularly younger ones.

Children are increasingly more internet-savvy than their parents, leaving us flailing to keep up.

While there will always be a chance that your child catches sight of something that you would rather they didn’t, either a programme or a website, there are a raft of measures that you can take easily and cheaply that should make this absolutely minimal.

1) Communication will always play a part in keeping your children safe, both through you having knowledge of the sites they like and use, and them being aware that there is content out there they should keep away from. Be aware of changes in internet use, such as longer spent online, and stress that they should talk to a trusted adult if they have any worries whatsoever about anything.

2) Make sure they know how to stay safe – they should never give out personal details including name, address, school or telephone numbers to someone they do not know. Attachments from unknown senders should also be treated with caution in case they contain viruses. Depending on the age of your child, consider insisting on knowing any email account passwords so that you can check on sent and received mail if needed.

3) With the websites they use, check what safety and privacy protection tools are in place on each, what can be restricted and how to report if there is a problem. You might want the homepage to be something like CBeebies rather than a search engine.

4) See what tools your internet browser offers, such as safe browsing or parental controls, and enable those that work best for you. Consider checking the History tab or button regularly, as this gives you a full list of the sites that have been visited. Buy or download additional parental control software if desired.

5) Be aware that public WiFi will often not have parental controls on, so be alert if your child is browsing on your phone or tablet while out and about, as they will find it easier to find unsuitable content, even if that is only aggressive marketing or pop-ups.

6) For smartphones, having a passcode on start-up is the best way to ensure the internet is only accessed in ways you are happy with, in your presence. Set your screen to lock within a minute of not being used to minimise the chances of someone else coming along and starting to play with it. Do this even with young children – they’re often a lot quicker at sussing these things out than you would like!

7) Staying with smartphones, ensure in-app purchases are turned off (in settings), to ensure there are no nasty surprises if one of your children has been playing games. Even free games often have a tempting array of things you can buy, and these are irresistible to little fingers with no money sense.

8) Also consider the nature of any push notifications you get, as these can often be viewed even with the screen locked. Breaking news of disasters, for example, can often contain quite distressing details that may be upsetting for little sensitive minds. Consider turning these off if your children regularly play with your phone.

9) For televisions, you can often restrict access to certain channels or programmes – consult your manual or the manufacturer on how best to do this. Most on-demand services such as BBC iPlayer, 4OD, ITV Player and Sky Go offer variations on pin-protected parental controls, so set these up if needed or wanted. These pop-up on programmes flagged as having strong language, for example, and the pin is needed to allow the programme to play.

10) For games consoles, use family settings to set both content restrictions and time limits.

Finally, of course, there is some general sensible advice to follow, such as setting time limits on all devices, to allow time for homework and family time, as well as putting tablets and computers away when they are not in use, so that they are out of sight and out of mind.

As ever with technology, it can be an amazing and useful resource, as long as it has limits which restrict its use to that which is appropriate to your household.

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