Telecoms Advice - telephone, mobile phone, VOIP and broadband Internet
Telecoms Advice is an independent website for UK phone and Internet users. Initially aimed at small UK businesses, SMEs and remote and Small Office Home Office (SOHO) workers, we now also cater for personal and residential consumers. It covers the practical applications, benefits and costs of using UK telecommunications (fixed telephone line, mobile phone services, broadband Internet and voip) and similar Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Although it is written for UK business people, and concentrates on UK telecom, telephone, mobile phone and Internet products and services, the technical overviews and information you will find here will be relevant to UK personal, residential and international telecommunications consumers.
Quick Links to:
- personal mobile phone guide
- residential telephone services guide
- or use the search engine, index or categorised contents menu on the left, or the relevant keyword linked sponsored advertisements around the pages.
Telecoms Advice was initiated and seed funded by Oftel's Small Business Task Force - see the original Oftel foreword here. We were an official partner in the DTI ‘UK online for business’ initiative, now absorbed into the DTI Small Business Service, and authored their original ‘Broadband’ brochure, but we are independent of Government, can make reference to commercial products and services, and link freely to external sources of information.
The ‘advice’ or information we publish is intended to be practical, impartial and/or balanced, giving an overview of products and services on offer and drawing on the expertise of both the industry and the experiences of UK personal, residential and small business or SME telecommunications consumers. However, this is a fast moving market, our information cannot be comprehensive and neither inclusion nor exclusion should be taken as recommendation or otherwise. Information on external sites we may link to is outside of our control. Buyers should always beware! And see the usual disclaimer.
Is your business taking full advantage of the products and services on offer in the telecommunications market?
- our ‘features’ give an overview of telecoms, telephone, mobile phone and broadband technology in a business context
- our ‘information’ sheets focus on specific applications and technologies – and how much it costs
- our UK ICT Directory lists and links to suppliers
Are you baffled by all the jargon and technical terms?
- our index explains the technical terms with links to more detailed information on TelecomsAdvice and beyond
Got a question?
- send it to us – but you might find the answer already in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) under the relevant categories in the menu on the left.
But where do you start?
- the toolkit section gives you a quick introduction to the world of telecoms and the Internet
- help tells you how to browse the index and use the search engine
How can you contribute?
The information you find here is only the start. We want to know what you want to know about telecoms, information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the Internet, and about your experiences – good and bad – of the products and telephone services on the market.
Who are we?
TelecomsAdvice is published by Crucible Multimedia Ltd based in Sheffield. Crucible was set-up specifically to publish telecomsadvice, initially financed by Oftel through its Small Business Task Force, with the support of the University of Sheffield under the EU funded Telerise project. You can contact us by email, or by completing our comments form.
Oftel's Small Business Task Force comprised UK small business organisations’ representatives and advisers, government agencies and telecoms and ICT companies including network operators, equipment manufacturers, software producers and maintenance contractors. From April 2000 to 2003 Oftel promoted this site to major telcos asking for sponsorship and subsidised any gaps in funding. Ofcom absorbed Oftel on 31st December 2003 and will not be supporting the site in the same way that Oftel did. TelecomsAdvice will continue with its impartial editorial policy while in future being funded by relevant non-invasive advertising sponsorship from UK telecom and ICT suppliers and the consultancy services of Crucible Multimedia Ltd .
The telecoms brokerage services through telecomsadvice.co.uk for mobile, fixed line and Broadband Internet are currently dormant pending sale of the websites/domains.
featured content
Direct page link shortcuts
Site map
information sheets
- Background, credentials,
sponsorship, pay-per-click (ppc) and affiliate advertising.
- Crucible Multimedia
- TelecomsAdvice site guide
- TelecomsAdvice
toolkit
buyers guides & basics
- A
Number of Ways to Win New Business
- Buyer's
guide to fixed telecom services
- Buyer's
guide to mobile phones
- Buyer's
guide to office telephone systems
- Buyer's guide to
the Internet
- 'Carrier
pre-selection' consumer guide - July 2002
- Dolphin Telecom
- Getting connected to the
Internet
- Grants for Broadband
- Halt
- Who goes there? A Guide to Network Security
- How
to choose a business broadband provider
- How
to find where telecoms services are available
- Improving Internet
connectivity
- Introduction
to telecoms technologies
- Making
Mobile Phones More Efficient for Business
- Ofcom
telecommunications and Internet complaints, Ombudsman (Otelo) or (CISAS)
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Office
of the Telecoms Ombudsman - otelo
- Overview of
Mobile Data Technology
- personal
mobile phones best buys and cheap deals
- Router
riddles: networking your Internet connection
- Should I use a telecom
broker?
- Should I
use an ISDN or a standard phone line?
- Sources
of help for small businesses
- Using an
indirect access telecoms service
- Using e-mail in your
business
- Using
mobile communications in your business
- VoIP,
Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony
- What is the
Internet?
- What is the local loop
and why is it being unbundled?
case studies
- BSG
Case Studies
- Enhancing Broadband with UMTS
- Mobile
Networking Using High Speed Data Services
- Mobile Offices Using High Speed
Data
- Mobile
Videoconferencing & Image Transmission Using High Speed Data
- Video
Surveillance Using Mobile High Speed Data
- Wireless Broadband in
Allegany County
doing business on-line
- A
Number of Ways to Win New Business
- Access
to textphones from a pbx
- Dealing with faults
in your telephone system
- Fax by email and web and
broadcasting services
- Internet
Presentations and Meetings
- Keeping it
legal: the Internet and the law
- Marketing by
telephone or fax
- Mobile
Networking Using High Speed Data Services
- Non-geographic
and premium rate number services
- Storing and
transferring your data
- Telemeetings
- Telephone, data
and videoconferencing over the Internet
- Update and clean mailing
lists
- Using a network in your
office
- Using e-mail in your
business
- Using
mobile communications in your business
- Using the
telephone to do business on-line
- Virtual locations and
telephone numbers
- VoIP,
Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony
fun & business
- Dumping and dating by text
messaging
- Mobile
phone tones and graphics
getting connected
- Access
to textphones from a pbx
- Aramiska
broadband internet 2-way satellite service goes offline
- Bluetooth
dongles, Blutooth hands-free kits, Bluetooth headsets for mobile phones, laptop
PCs, VOIP and personal networks.
- 'Carrier
pre-selection' consumer guide - July 2002
- Dealing with faults
in your telephone system
- Getting connected to the
Internet
- Grants for Broadband
- How
to find where telecoms services are available
- Improving Internet
connectivity
- Mobile
Networking Using High Speed Data Services
- Overview of
Mobile Data Technology
- Should I
use an ISDN or a standard phone line?
- uk
residential fixed land line telephone and broadband services
- Using an
indirect access telecoms service
- Using
mobile communications in your business
- Virtual locations and
telephone numbers
- VoIP,
Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony
- What is a server appliance -
and why do you need one?
home & residential consumers
- uk
residential fixed land line telephone and broadband
services
information age business
- Fax by email and web and
broadcasting services
- How to avoid catching a
virus
- Internet
Presentations and Meetings
- Keeping it
legal: the Internet and the law
- Making
Mobile Phones More Efficient for Business
- Marketing by
telephone or fax
- Mobile
Networking Using High Speed Data Services
- Netiquette:
minding your e-mail Ps and Qs
- Non-geographic
and premium rate number services
- Overview of
Mobile Data Technology
- Telemeetings
- Telephone, data
and videoconferencing over the Internet
- Update and clean mailing
lists
- Using e-mail in your
business
- Using
mobile communications in your business
- Using the Internet as a
virtual community
- Virtual locations and
telephone numbers
- VoIP,
Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony
- What is
computer telephony integration?
- What is the
Internet?
personal mobile phones
- personal
mobile phones best buys and cheap deals
take care
- Halt
- Who goes there? A Guide to Network Security
- How to avoid catching a
virus
- Keeping it
legal: the Internet and the law
- Marketing by
telephone or fax
- Mobile phone, iPod,
MP3 player and handheld computer theft
- Netiquette:
minding your e-mail Ps and Qs
- Non-geographic
and premium rate number services
- Registering your domain
name
- Storing and
transferring your data
- Update and clean mailing
lists
- What is a server appliance -
and why do you need one?
what's the technology?
- Improving Internet
connectivity
- Introduction
to telecoms technologies
- Overview of
Mobile Data Technology
- Router
riddles: networking your Internet connection
- Storing and
transferring your data
- Telephone, data
and videoconferencing over the Internet
- Using a network in your
office
- VoIP,
Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet telephony
- What are
cordless and DECT phones?
- What is a
network?
- What is
Centrex?
- What is
computer telephony integration?
- What is the
Internet?
- What is the local loop
and why is it being unbundled?
your web presence
- Can we set up a
website in-house?
- DIY website design
- Internet
Presentations and Meetings
- Registering your domain
name
background
features
- Battle of the
Bandwidths
- Breaking
the boundaries: using teleconferencing to communicate faster and better
- Broadband - a Guide for Small
Businesses
- Broadband from Space
- Building a
customer relationship management strategy
- Choosing a mobile
phone network
- E-commerce -
get connected or get forgotten
- E-commerce
levels the playing field
- E-Crime
and 'always-on' Broadband
- Getting
connected in Pwll Llacca
- Going
multilingual - with technology's help
- How
to set up your office's technical facilities
- Making security part of the
strategic game plan
- Mobile
phone health risks
- Nine steps to developing and
maintaining a website
- Simplify
your life with flexible numbering
- Talk
amongst yourselves: using private mobile radio (PMR)
- The 3rd
mobile revolution
- The practical
applications of convergence
- Using your
mobile phone abroad
- What is a fair price for a
website?
- What to consider when
buying a telephone system
- Who needs a website at any
price?
- Wirefree
working
frequently asked questions
index & links
other pages
Keywords and phrases for information on this site include the following (if there is no direct link or you want more or different information use the search facility at the top left): For the owners and managers of UK small businesses and SMEs. In layman's (layperson's) a guide to ICT applications in sales, marketing, administration, finance, PR, public relations, personnel, human resources, accounting, operations management, procurement, ordering, invoicing, intranet and extranet. Applications of telecommunications, telecoms, telecomms, telephone fixed line and mobile phones in small businesses. Impartial advice and reviews on Internet communications, information and communications technology and technologies (ICT), IP telephony, VOIP, Internet telephony. Telecomsadvice includes an ICT glossary, UK ICT products and services directory, reviews and cost comparisons. Covering such terms as customer relationship management (CRM) computer telephony integration (CTI) and VOIP. It includes a training supplier database and information on remote access telephone and lists phone service providers or operators, directory enquiries, telephone systems, exchanges, switchboards, pbx, pabx and centrex. Information on handsets, analogue, digital, PSTN, ISDN, cordless, DECT, wireless, mobile health, base station, GSM, GPRS, third generation 3G, UMTS. Broadband technologies such as xDSL, DSL, ADSL, RADSL, SDSL, HDSL, VDS, cable modem, two-way satellite, (or satelite or sattelite if you like) leased line. etc. Buyer's guides to direct and indirect telcos, carrier pre-selection (CPS).Conventions and legal regulations on numbers and numbering, std code, junk fax, telephone sales and selling, call centres and silent calls, direct marketing, fax preference service (FPS), telephone preference service (TPS), local, national, premium, personal, follow-me numbers and non-geographic numbers. Rates and tarrif or tariff comparison information and telecom broker services, charges, costs, including using your mobile phone abroad - international roaming, foreign coverage. Signal strength fluctuations, virtual locations, scams, security, anti-virus scanning and mobile phone ring tones, ringtones, tunes, logos, icons, graphics and games. Internet connectivity, connection, dial-up, always-on, FRIACO, unmetered, data bandwidth in kbps and Mbps, narrowband, video on demand, TV broadcast, radio frequency. File upload, download, web site pages, websites, webpages design and hosting, server co-location, search engine optimisation or optimization, spider, crawler, meta word data optimisation, domain name registration, DNS forwarding, cloaking, frame, reciprocal link, link exchange. Newsletter, email or e-mail, e-commerce m-commerce, e-business, on-line or online, hardware and software applications and solutions. Network router, local loop unbundling(LLU) or unbundled local loop (ULL) high speed data with videoconferencing, video surveillance, data and voice conferencing, teleconference or teleconferencing. Voice over Internet Protocol IP VoIP, textphone, text SMS, micro payments, reverse billing, sponsorship, publicity, promote or promotion, advertising and advert including banner and text ads or textads. Sponsors include BT, Cable & Wireless, Cellnet now O2, Colt, Hutchison 3G now '3', NTL, Orange, One2One now T-mobile, Telewest, Thus, Vodafone, MCI formerly Worldcom. UK ICT Directory, UK telecom, Oftel now Ofcom complaints, telecoms ombudsman arbitration by otelo and cisas. Geographic and non-geographic numbers and numbering 0870, 0871, 0845, 0750, 09 premium rate, revenue earning share ICSTIS complaint procedure.copyright © 2000 - 2007 crucible multimedia ltd; all rights reserved - disclaimer
