Fasthosts launches review website for customers

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:15:37 GMT

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading UK web hosting provider, today announced the launch of Fasthosts Review Site, www.fasthostsreviews.com, a resource website dedicated to customer comments on its products and services. Fasthosts' review site is separate to the Fasthosts homepage and provides a platform for sharing genuine experiences of using Fasthosts services and providing feedback directly to the company. The move is another step in the development of the provider’s customer care programme and reflects a strong pride in its products and commitment to honest and transparent communication with its customers.

An increasing number of Britons are participating in online forums and review websites to discuss their experiences of products and services they have purchased. Recent research by Fasthosts found that 1 in 3 British consumers have posted negative material online relating to a company or product, most commonly on social networking sites such as Facebook. The web hosting sector in particular has many reviews websites. However, few web hosting comparison websites clearly display who is running the website, if they have any involvement with hosting companies, and what their policies are for filtering good or bad reviews of certain providers.

Fasthosts' review site displays customer experiences and comments unedited and the company will only edit public posts if they are clearly abusive or breaching confidentiality or data laws. Thus, visitors can be assured that the portal will provide a balanced and unfiltered view on what Fasthosts has to offer. The website is intended to be a useful resource for the customer in their researching of web solutions and web hosting vendors.

The Fasthosts review site uses a dedicated URL - www.fasthostsreviews.com - and offers an efficient way to read absolutely genuine customer feedback, structured by product category and accepting reviews on each product.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet, commented: "Fasthosts is one of the first within the technology industry to actively promote the use of such a review site. Whilst many firms shy away from the spotlight, we are proud of our brand and products and confident that they will speak for themselves. The website will provide a balanced, useful resource to the market and be a great way for us to learn about our customer experience."

By hearing first-hand what the company is doing right and wrong, Fasthosts aims to enhance value and quality for all its users, while listening to them for requests for new features or services.

Holford continued: "Within the highly-fragmented web hosting market, there are few portals where the customer can be assured that content is in no way influenced or shifted by commercial interests. Today, Fasthosts provides this with the launch of our review site and we actively encourage other hosting providers to do the same."

As a leading web hosting provider and Technology Sponsor of The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web services including domain name registration, VPS, online backup solutions, hosted exchange and feature-rich broadband packages. Full details can be found at www.fasthosts.co.uk.

- ends -

About Fasthosts:
Fasthosts is a leading web hosting provider. Based in the UK and operating 24x7 from their dedicated UK data centres, Fasthosts keeps over 1 million domains running smoothly and ensures over 42 million emails are delivered safely each day. All Fasthosts services can be self-managed through the award winning Fasthosts web-based control panel. Services include domain registrations, shared web hosting, business-class email, virtual servers, dedicated servers, software-as-a-service, online back-up, secure online storage and unlimited broadband. Fasthosts' maintains an award-winning, highly successful reseller channel. The company has won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011, Microsoft’s Global Hosting Partner Award for 2011 and was voted Best Web Host 2011 by the readers of Computer Shopper.

Fasthosts reveals 'Cloud Attitudes' study

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:51:39 GMT

Fasthosts' 'Cloud Attitudes' study, conducted by IDC, has found that 60 per cent of UK businesses still do not leverage any type of cloud-computing service and so miss out on benefits such as increased performance, scalability, and cost savings. Taking the example of storage, whilst a pleasing 82 per cent of firms recognise the need for data back-up off-site, only 16 per cent are using a flexible cloud-based storage option for this. Over two thirds (69 per cent) have no plans to explore cloud-computing in this way.

A key finding of the research is that a total of 1 in 5 companies suspect they will side-step cloud-computing all-together. The study suggests that performance, scalability and cost benefits are not widely known by UK business users. A key reason for reluctance to embrace new cloud computing technologies is a lack of staff expertise, with 1 in 4 firms admitting this is a primary concern for them.

The data suggests that UK firms will miss out on potential benefits unless they receive more guidance from the industry on the business case for cloud computing. Interestingly, this is in clear contrast to business attitudes to web hosting, where 57 per cent of firms appreciate the benefits of having this hosted externally by a third party.

A critical issue for all types of business is data security. A further study of 1000 UK office workers from Fasthosts found that 37 per cent are taking risks with work data. Currently there are cloud-based services that can help firms enhance data security and reliability with storage. Cloud hosting also allows firms to greatly enhance mobility by allowing workers to safely transfer, store or back-up their documents whilst working outside of the office. These storage solutions transfer data as encrypted and store it in a secure data centre location protected against physical and electronic threats.

Fasthosts' research also shows that too many UK firms are losing data as a result of IT problems. 1 in 10 workers has lost data recently as a result of a server or disk-drive failing. However, currently only 5 per cent of office workers using an online storage or back-up service provided by their work, and 2 per cent are using such a service they themselves have sourced.

Businesses that use on premise or dedicated servers would be wise to consider utilising a virtual server platform that can dynamically adjust to ensure maximum performance levels for them. For example, virtual servers using Microsoft Dynamic Data Center utilise dynamic performance load balancing which ensures that individual customer cloud servers can move around the platform seamlessly to take advantage of the best possible available hardware resource for maximum performance.

Fasthosts' own data shows that more than 1 in 10 users of virtual servers re-configure their server resources within the first 6 months - a flexibility that is not possible with a dedicated or on-premise server. If businesses can see the impact of scalable virtualized solutions on their bottom line, the business case for cloud-based IT will become transparent.

About Fasthosts
Fasthosts is a leading web hosting provider. Based in the UK and operating from their dedicated UK data centres, Fasthosts keeps over 1 million domains running smoothly and ensures over 42 million emails are delivered safely each day. All Fasthosts services can be self-managed through the Fasthosts web-based control panel. Services include domain name registration, shared web hosting, reseller hosting, email hosting, virtual private servers, software-as-a-service, online back-up, secure online storage and unlimited broadband. The company has won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011, Microsoft's Global Hosting Partner Award for 2011 and 'Best Web Host' in the Computer Shopper Magazine Awards 2011, as voted for by readers.

Plusnet to sponsor Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:38:40 GMT

Plusnet, the Sheffield-based broadband provider, has announced that it is to sponsor the new series of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5.

Celebrity Big Brother returns on January 5th for a second run, and Plusnet will sponsor the three week run. Plusnet credits will appear on Celebrity Big Brother and CBB's Bit On The Side, with additional branding online and on short-form content at the official Facebook site, as well as on mobile and iPad.

Nick Rawlings, Commercial Director at Plusnet added: "We're delighted to be kicking off 2012 with such a cracking TV sponsorship, bringing our brand to a whole new audience."

The launch night of 2011 Celebrity Big Brother was Channel 5's highest rating show of 2011 with audiences peaking at 5.6m.

The deal was brokered between Maxus and Channel 5, and creative is being produced by Karmarama.

Agostino Di Falco, Partnerships Director, Channel 5 said: "Celebrity Big Brother will reach more young adults than any other programme in January. The show kick starts Channel 5’s year, and it’s great to see Plusnet thinking along the same lines in developing this partnership”.

Channel 5 was launched as Britain's fifth and final terrestrial broadcaster on the 31st March 1997.

Currently well over 30 million UK viewers watch Channel 5 any given week tuning in for programming as diverse as the CSI franchise, Extraordinary People, Fifth Gear, live UEFA Europa League Football, Home and Away and Neighbours.

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About Plusnet:
Plusnet offers cheap broadband phone packages, including Plusnet Value and Plusnet Extra broadband, both available to purchase with home phone, fibre optic broadband and a prioritisation service, Plusnet Pro. Further broadband deals can be found on the Plusnet website.

Plusnet Value offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 10GB. Plusnet Extra offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 60GB and free McAfee security.

Despite usage limits on its home broadband products, Plusnet offers unlimited downloads between midnight and 8am every day. This does not count towards a customer's monthly usage allowance.

Plusnet helps fix problems and talk about pretty much anything related to broadband over on its community site, blogs and forums.

Plusnet reveals older generations are more tech savvy than the youth

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:47:15 GMT

A Plusnet study* has revealed that despite 59%** of UK households owning internet enabled PCs, over a quarter (27%) are not familiar with terms such as bandwidth, Wi-Fi, cursor, router and download.

Dispelling the myth that it is youngsters who are most tech savvy of all, the research by the business broadband provider found it was those over 55 who scored well with jargon-busting, as 72% claim they understand all of the terms perfectly. Exactly 39% of 16-24 year olds did not have a clue about these expressions, which is much more than the national statistic of 27%.

Over a fifth (22%) of those aged over 55 have taken lessons on how to use the internet, compared to only 8% of 16-24 year olds, showing that it is not just the older generations who should make use of such classes. Despite widespread belief that the older generations aren't too confident with technology, when it comes to the internet, they are on par or even more self-assured than those in the younger age brackets.

Sending emails and shopping online are the stronger areas for those aged over 55, with 96% and 91% claiming confidence with these activities, compared to 94% and 83% amongst 16-24 year olds respectively. Online bingo however is something that the younger generations are big on, much more so than the older generations, with 50% of those aged 16-24 confidently playing online compared to only 24% of those over 55.

Talking about the survey, Jamie Ford, CEO of Plusnet said: "It just goes to show that despite the growing online literacy in the UK, people are still unsure of certain key terms and uses for the Internet. An interesting finding from our research is the increased knowledge of the over 55's who have perhaps had to go out independently and source online learning through support sessions in their local community."

"Although youngsters have greater exposure to the internet through their communication habits and means of education, it is the older segment of the audience who are making the effort to get to grips with the net, and therefore learning more about how it all works. Perhaps this Christmas it will be the grandparents' turn to show the grandkids how to use their new gaming console or e-book."

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Notes to editors:
* The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between 11th and 15th November 2011, and included 1,096 respondents
**Ofcom, June 2010

About Plusnet:
Plusnet offers cheap broadband and phone packages, including Plusnet Value and Plusnet Extra broadband, both available to purchase with home phone, fibre optic broadband and a prioritisation service, Plusnet Pro.

Plusnet Value offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 10GB. Plusnet Extra offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 60GB and free McAfee security.

Despite usage limits on its home broadband products, Plusnet offers unlimited downloads between midnight and 8am every day. This does not count towards a customer's monthly usage allowance.

Plusnet helps fix problems and talk about pretty much anything related to broadband over on its community site, blogs and forums.

Plusnet and "Go ON Sheffield" help hundreds to get online

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:19:13 GMT

A team of Plusnet volunteers have been busy helping out at several events across Sheffield as part of a UK campaign run by Race Online 2012, which aims to help offline residents take their first steps with computers and the Internet. In Sheffield alone, there are an estimated 95,000 residents* without Internet access.

Over 50 events were held throughout the City, at venues including Sheffield Town Hall, The Bankers Draft pub on Market Place, High Storrs School and Sheffield United Football Club, with volunteers from UK online centres, Heeley Development Trust, Plusnet and Sheffield University all assisting at the events.

The events catered for a wide range of people including those looking for work, wanting to get in touch with relatives all across the world or just wanting to learn more about the things they love. Betty Tilbrooke, 78, was one visitor who got online for the first time at the event held at Sheffield Town Hall. She said: "I'm sick of calling myself the invisible person because everything that's interesting is on 'www'. If I can do this, I can book my cinema and train tickets, and will even be able to order my groceries online if the bad weather comes again this winter. My daughter and son have been saying "Get online Mum!" for ages. If you don't learn about computers, you’re going to be left behind."

Plusnet, the broadband company with headquarters based in Sheffield, had 25 volunteers helping out at various events round the city centre. Katy Lomax, Head of Marketing at Plusnet, volunteered at the session held on Friday at the Bankers Draft in Sheffield City Centre. She said: "Even as someone used to being online, it's not until you show someone the very basics of the Internet again that you realise how much it has impacted your own life. It's really important that people who do know how to use it can help those who can't, because without using the internet there is so much that you can't do."

Plusnet has sponsored the 'Go ON Sheffield' campaign and donated fifty free broadband packages so some of the new online converts can try their new found skills at home. The fifty packages will be given to those who could benefit the most from getting online at home with the winners being presented with their prizes at a celebration event being held at Sheffield United Football Club. The celebration event will also provide an opportunity to thank all of the volunteers who gave their time during 'Go ON Sheffield'.

Helen Milner, Managing Director of UK online centres said: "'Go ON Sheffield' has been a really great way for us to engage with people in the locations they feel comfortable. The people that aren't currently online are often resistant to formal learning environments so, by bringing the learning to them - in pubs, at football clubs and wherever they feel at home - we can break down these barriers and show them the real benefits being online can bring them.

"We wouldn't have been able to run a campaign as big as this without the volunteers who came from all over the City, and they really made the campaign what it was. By working with Heeley Development Trust and volunteers from Plusnet, Sheffield University and all over, it really felt like we were bringing the city together for a really positive cause."

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:
*ONS report on Internet Access, August 2010.

About Plusnet:
Plusnet has been based in Sheffield since its inception in 1997 and provides residential and business broadband across the UK.

Plusnet offers cheap broadband with its Plusnet Value and Plusnet Extra broadband packages both available to purchase with home phone, fibre optic broadband and a prioritisation service, Plusnet Pro.

Plusnet announces business relocation into the heart of Sheffield

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:50:08 GMT

Plusnet, the Sheffield-based broadband and home phone supplier, has announced plans to occupy a centrally-based location in the heart of the City next year.

During the spring of 2012, Plusnet will begin moving all operations into grade-A office space at 'The Balance' on Pinfold Street, S1. The occupancy will be the biggest office let within Sheffield for the last five years, taking over 53,000 square feet.

Jamie Ford, CEO at Plusnet said: "This is an incredibly exciting time for our business and signals another milestone in our amazing story. With such rapid expansion over the last two years this move will enable all business operations including our customer services, to remain together under one roof. This is something incredibly unique for a telecoms provider in the UK.

"At the same time, the move gives us the space to necessitate further expansion as we continue to grow at pace and cements our commitment to Sheffield for the foreseeable future."

Plusnet, set to celebrate its 15th birthday in February 2012, currently employs close to 700 staff. Throughout its history it has been based in Sheffield and in 2010 took the decision to move off-shore service teams in South Africa back to the city. Since this time, Plusnet has been one of few business broadband) service providers to operate a UK based 24/7 customer service team and in 2011 alone won six awards and has been highly commended 13 times across the broadband industry*. In September, 2011 Plusnet also became officially Which? Recommended.

Jamie Ford continued: "Our staff have worked incredibly hard to achieve this success and I am delighted that we are in a position to reward them with a state-of-the-art working environment. As we continue to grow, I hope the new building acts as another factor to attract local talent to our business."

Tim Bottrill, partner at Knight Frank and Plusnet's Adviser and procurer for this deal said: "This is the biggest office let within Sheffield for the last five years and something that we are proud of at our office in Sheffield. The Balance provides Plusnet with an excellent, new HQ facility in the heart of Sheffield. The building benefits from air-conditioned offices which include better meeting facilities; reception area; 24 hour security; landscaped recreational space; staff restaurant; cafe bar and parking. The building also provides excellent access to Sheffield's extensive network of public transport trams and buses."

Plusnet is refurbishing four floors in the building and will neighbour current occupants including HSBC and Hill Dickinson. Currently operating from two sites in the city in Tenter Street and Victoria Quays, Plusnet anticipates the move to be complete by the end of May 2012.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:
*Several accolades in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey including; "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction", "Most Likely to be Recommended", "Best Customer Service", and "Best Quality of Connection". JD Power award for "Best Fixed ISP", Best Budget Broadband" at the Broadband Genie Home Broadband Awards 2011 & Broadband Choices 2011 "Highly Commended" all providers quality and reliability.

About Plusnet
Plusnet offers broadband and phone packages, including Plusnet Value and Plusnet Extra broadband, both available to purchase with home phone, fibre optic broadband and a prioritisation service, Plusnet Pro.

Plusnet Value offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 10GB. Plusnet Extra offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 60GB and free McAfee security.

Despite usage limits on its broadband products, Plusnet offers unlimited downloads between midnight and 8am every day. This does not count towards a customer's monthly usage allowance.

Plusnet helps fix problems and talk about pretty much anything related to broadband over on its community site, blogs and forums.

brightsolid and The British Library publish 4 million pages of historical newspapers online

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:15:48 GMT

brightsolid and The British Library have announced the launch of a website that will transform the way that people use historical newspapers to find out about the past.

The British Newspaper Archive website will offer access to up to 4 million fully searchable pages, featuring more than 200 newspaper titles from every part of the UK and Ireland. The newspapers - which mainly date from the 19th century, but which include runs dating back to the first half of the 18th century - cover every aspect of local, regional and national news.

The website offers a wealth of material for people researching family history, including family notices and announcements and obituaries, while the ability to search by keyword/s, location, date and newspaper title means that people can search across hundreds of thousands of pages at a time as they track down that elusive ancestor. Searching the website generates free preview snippets of results found but users wishing to download full articles and images can pay to do so with a range of payment options available, including pay-per-view access for 48 hours or 30 days and a subscription package for a year. The website is free to use in the British Library's reading rooms.

"The launch of the British Newspaper Archive website opens up the British Library's newspaper collection as never before," said Ed King, the British Library's Head of Newspapers. "Rather than having to view the items on-site at the Library, turning each page, people across the UK and around the world will be able to explore for themselves the gold-mine of stories and information contained in these pages - and the ability to search across millions of articles will yield results for each user, that might previously have been the work of weeks or months, in a matter of seconds and the click of a mouse."

The British Newspaper Archive is the result of a ten-year partnership between the British Library and brightsolid, announced in May 2010. Over the past 12 months, brightsolid's digitisation team, based at the British Library Newspaper Library at Colindale, has been digitising up to 8,000 pages of historic newspapers every working day. The project is expected to scan up to 40 million newspaper pages over the next ten years. The site also offers high quality A1 prints.

Welcoming the new website, Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, said: "The British Newspaper Archive is a rich and hugely exciting resource, packed with historical detail. It’s a great example of the public and private sectors collaborating to deliver something that neither party could have delivered by themselves. I searched for my own constituency of Wantage and within seconds had 42,000 results - an indication of the breadth and variety of material featured."

The launch and further expansion of the British Newspaper Archive website will help the British Library to fulfil its strategic goals of long-term preservation of and access to the national newspaper collection, including old London newspapers. The Library's newspaper strategy aims to secure the future of this unique resource by moving the hard-copy collections from the current building at Colindale to a purpose-built storage facility in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire. Access to the collection will be provided via microfilm and digital copies made available at the Library's main site at St Pancras.

About brightsolid:
Founded in 1995 brightsolid is one of the UK's pioneering internet companies and a leading online publishing and online technology business. It provides innovative online solutions to its customers, whether that is a FTSE100 company requiring absolute reliability and performance in their IT infrastructure or a consumer researching their family history from the comfort of their home.

Its two main operating businesses are:
- online publishing
- online technology

FA secures BT partnership for St. George's Park development

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:19:32 GMT

BT has become the Official Communications Services Partner of St. George's Park, the first of a select number of tiered blue-chip partners of The Football Association's new National Football Centre, under development in Burton upon Trent.

In an exclusive five year, multi-million pound agreement, coaches, players and business users of St. George's Park will all benefit from a state-of-the-art, bespoke, high-speed BT iNet voice and data network, plus BT Openzone Wi-Fi.

David Sheepshanks, Chairman of St. George's Park, said: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome BT as a partner for the St. George's Park development and their association with us is a ringing endorsement of its importance and its growing national identity.

"The buildings are taking shape at a rapid rate and you can now get a real sense of what an inspirational and special place it will be. St. George's Park will be at the very centre of coach education and young player development and for The FA to be delivering its philosophy and agenda it needs the very best technology infrastructure and facilities. We look forward to working closely with BT."

Graham Sutherland, managing director, BT Business, said: "We are very proud to support St. George's Park and to help The FA develop the next generation of sporting greats. With the best communications technology at the heart of this project, English football can build a competitive advantage on the field."

Rob Ray, Group Director of Digital & Information Technology at The Football Association, said: "St. George's Park is designed to be cutting edge in every way and technology is a key component, making this partnership with BT all the more exciting. There is little doubt that they are best placed to deliver this expertise and we are delighted to be able to partner with them to enhance St. George's Park’s status as a centre of sporting excellence."

Close to one million visitors will use the St. George's Park network over the term. Sponsorship rights have also been agreed.

BT is the Official Communications Services Partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, title sponsor of the BT Paralympic World Cup, and also sponsors the charity Football Aid. Three of Britain’s national stadia - Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium and Hampden Park - have BT-installed technology, and BT Vision's entertainment service provides live matches from the Barclays Premier League and live action from The FA Cup with Budweiser and the Football League. BT has more than 60 years experience in sports content delivery, and its media and broadcast services support The FA Cup, Wimbledon and Rugby Union, among 3,500 headline events, each year.

BT joins a growing list of commercial partners, headed by Lead Partner Umbro, as well as Hilton Worldwide. Construction of St George's Park is already well underway and the centre is on-track to open in the summer of 2012.

ENDS

About BT:
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services, operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move, including business broadband, data cabling and leased line internet, as well as converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale. In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was £20,076 million with profit before taxation of £1,717 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

Fasthosts launches new dedicated servers

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:42:47 GMT

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has launched two brand new high quality servers to further bolster the Fasthosts Dedicated Server range.

The new Fasthosts DS710i and DS910i both boast the new Sandy Bridge chipset and Intel Core i5 Processors, providing faster processing speeds and supreme reliability. Both solutions can be run via the latest CentOS 6 operating system and Plesk 10, and feature generous allowances of storage space, RAM and RAID1 protection. Fasthosts' Dedicated Servers, currently with 50 per cent off for 2 months, offer enterprises a powerful and secure server platform and far greater flexibility than on-premise solutions.

Dedicated Servers are the ideal solution for IT professionals and businesses that require robust server operations for applications and data storage without the capital expenditure or the physical space required for running hardware 24/7 on their premises. Fasthosts servers use the latest Intel processors to deliver powerful, energy-efficient performance, meaning intensive programs can be run simultaneously without the need to slow down. Users enjoy guaranteed access to unlimited bandwidth, and retain complete hands on (KVM) remote control of their server at all times.

The Fasthosts DS710i Dedicated Server solution delivers high performance via its 2.8Ghz Intel Quad Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 2 x 1000GB RAID protected hard disk drives. Fasthosts DS910i offers even higher performance with a 3.1Ghz Intel Quad Core i5 processor, 12GB RAM and 2 x 2000GB RAID protected hard disk drives.

Fasthosts also includes free SSL certificates for the first year and Plesk 10 can be added at an additional cost. Currently, all servers are provided with 50GB of free Online Backup for Windows servers.

Especially important for business users, all data is hosted in Fasthosts' highly secure state-of-the-art UK data centres, and receives Fasthosts' unlimited bandwidth and 100Mbps high-speed virtual data pipe. Every Fasthosts server is maintained with the latest operating system updates to maximise efficiency and security. Technical support is provided 24/7 from the UK via the phone or online.

Steve Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, said: "Our latest servers have been added to ensure we keep ahead of the competition. Our fusion of Intel Sandy Bridge Quad Core processors with world-class UK infrastructure means Fasthosts servers will be an excellent proposition for demanding users."

As a leading web hosting provider, and Technology Sponsor of The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web services including domain name registrations, servers, online backup solutions, reseller web hosting and feature-rich broadband packages. Fasthosts is well placed to deliver a high quality service.

Full details can be found at www.fasthosts.co.uk.

About Fasthosts:
Fasthosts is a leading web hosting provider. Based in the UK and operating 24x7 from their dedicated UK data centres, Fasthosts keeps over 1 million domains running smoothly and ensures over 42 million emails are delivered safely each day. All Fasthosts services can be self-managed through the award winning Fasthosts web-based control panel. Services include domain name registrations, shared web hosting, business-class email, VPS, dedicated servers, software-as-a-service, online back-up, secure online storage, hosted exchange and unlimited broadband. Fasthosts' maintains an award-winning, highly successful reseller channel. The company has won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011 and Microsoft’s Global Hosting Partner Award for 2011.

Fasthosts voted 'Best Web Host'

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:59:10 GMT

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has announced that it has won 'Best Web Host' in the Computer Shopper Magazine Awards 2011. Fasthosts was chosen from a fiercely competitive market as the best UK provider of web hosting. The Award was secured entirely on votes cast by the readers of Computer Shopper magazine and expertreviews.co.uk. Fasthosts shook-off aggressive efforts from a number of hosts and ISPs.

Fasthosts has continued to launch innovative products during the past year such a Fasthosts Online Backup. The scope of Fasthosts’ products and services is a reflection of how vital the Web now is for businesses and individuals alike. Since 1999, Fasthosts has been at the forefront of developing powerful but intuitive and affordable hosted solutions for capitalizing on the Web.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been voted 'Best Web Host' in these popular awards. We are most pleased that it has been decided solely by the public. There are a number of strong providers in the UK web hosting market, which makes the award even more pleasing. Fasthosts is privileged to have shared in the online success of hundreds of thousands of its customers."

"Fasthosts was the clear favourite web hosting provider in the Computer Shopper and Expert Reviews Reader Awards Survey 2011. More readers were satisfied with Fasthosts' service than that of any other provider," commented Chris Finnamore, Reviews Editor of Computer Shopper Magazine.

As well as packages for creating a web presence, such as domain names, shared and dedicated hosting, Fasthosts now delivers hosted solutions for flexible online business including virtual servers, online storage and back-up, and tools for ecommerce, online marketing and collaboration.

(DCoD) service, was recognised for providing outstanding virtualised solutions and service. The award further recognises Fasthosts' ability to address end customers' business challenges and utilise technology innovation to address these. The company has also won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011.

Holford added: "In today's digital climate, providers like Fasthosts have an important part to play in bringing technologies enjoyed by large enterprises to within the grasp of every computer user. We will continue to invest heavily and leverage our technical experience to achieve this."

As a leading web hosting provider, and Technology Sponsor of The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web solutions including domain name registrations, web hosting, dedicated and virtual servers, email hosting, secure online storage and back-up, online payment services, reseller hosting and feature-rich broadband packages. Fasthosts is well placed to deliver a high quality service.

More information can be found at www.fasthosts.co.uk

About Fasthosts:
Fasthosts is a leading web hosting provider. Based in the UK and operating 24x7 from their dedicated UK data centres, Fasthosts keeps over 1 million domains running smoothly and ensures over 42 million emails are delivered safely each day. Services include domain registrations, shared web hosting, business-class email, virtual servers, dedicated servers, software-as-a-service, online back-up, secure online storage and unlimited broadband. Fasthosts' maintains an industry-leading, highly successful reseller channel. The company has won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011 and Microsoft’s Hosting Partner of the Year Award.

BT offers small businesses a 'Kickstart'

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:11:21 GMT

BT Business has launched a finance scheme offering start-ups the chance to lease up to £15,000 worth of technology and telecommunications solutions. Under the 'Kick Start Scheme', in conjunction with Shire Leasing, new businesses trading for under three years will be eligible for funding subject to credit vetting.

BT's 'KickStart Scheme', available through BT Local Business, aims to help small businesses raise funds in a challenging economic climate and to avoid having to rely on bank loans, overdrafts or credit cards.

'KickStart' offers start-ups the opportunity to purchase a range of technology and communications products and services including business telephone systems, business mobiles, handsets, connection charges, software licences and IT equipment such as laptops, as well as small business IT support. The scheme is open to all industry types and has very flexible underwriting, aimed at delivering higher acceptance levels for new-start companies. An average £3,000 loan will cost less than £20 per week and can be added to as the business grows.

Declan McGlone, general manager of BT Finance, BT Business said: "The UK has an average of 270,000 start-up businesses every year. In light of the current economic climate we want to help these businesses access the products and services they need to get their new venture up and running. Our 'KickStart Scheme' offers finance over a fixed term, at a fixed rate, making it easier for customers to budget."

One business that has already benefitted from a similar scheme with Shire Leasing is A.I. Global Media Ltd. The publishing company, established in November 2010, needed funding to purchase a technology and communications solution for its eight staff working on a new corporate finance publication.

Jane Peter, director, A.I. Global Media Ltd, said: "When starting out, it was crucial to launch the business in the most cost effective way possible. We needed to install a BT Versatility phone and broadband system, so that staff could work on the magazine straight away, but couldn’t afford any major spend. The leasing scheme allowed us to get the equipment we needed at a fixed rate and also meant we keep what capital we had in the bank to ensure we had some cash flow. This scheme really helped us get our business off the ground and we now have over 53,000 subscribers to our magazine."

Karina Knudsen, Head of Business Development at the British Chambers of Commerce also welcomed the launch: "The BCC has long called for more support for small businesses. Financing that specifically helps start and grow new ventures will considerably reduce the current credit difficulties that owners face."

New and existing BT Business customers will be able to take up the 'KickStart Scheme' offers as long as they have been trading for under three years, subject to a credit check. For more information about 'KickStart' and other BT products and services, interested parties can contact BT Local Business at www.btlocalbusiness.co.uk.

-Ends-

About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; business broadband and internet products and services such as fibre optic broadband, and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group’s revenue was £20,076m with profit before taxation of £1,717m.

Plusnet finds out what customers really want

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:37:00 GMT

Price, customer service and easy set-up – these are the three most important factors consumers use to help them choose a broadband package, according to a new survey from Yorkshire-based broadband supplier Plusnet.

Almost two-thirds (64 per cent) said price is the most important factor when choosing a home phone and broadband supplier. With this in mind, Plusnet is currently offering up to half price broadband for 12 months when new customers take its home phone service.

Additionally, 12 per cent said they would make a decision based on customer service and, finally, one in ten of those surveyed said the ease of setting up to a new service was the most important factor in choosing their provider.

Jamie Ford, CEO of Plusnet, said: "To many households, phone and broadband has become as important as gas and electricity. It is clear that people want a service that is value for money and at the same time easy to use. At Plusnet, we strive to give customers what they want; an honest, straightforward service at seriously competitive prices. In fact, if you find a better price for standalone broadband, we’ll match it."

This month Plusnet will launch a new 0345 customer services telephone number, alongside their current 0800 offering. This means that not only can customers call free from UK landlines on 0800 432 0200, but the new 03451 400 200 number will be charged at normal landline rates and so can be deducted from inclusive minutes on a mobile phone plan.

For more information on Plusnet home phone and broadband, go to www.plus.net

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:
- The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between 2nd and 5th September 2011, and included 1,044 respondents

About Plusnet:
Plusnet offers Plusnet Value and Plusnet Extra broadband packages, both are available to purchase with home phone, Fibre broadband and a prioritisation service, Plusnet Pro.

Plusnet Value offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 10GB. Plusnet Extra offers speeds of up to 20Mb with a monthly usage limit of 60GB and free McAfee security. Plusnet also offers an online broadband comparison service allowing users to find the best price for cheap broadband possible.

Despite usage limits on Plusnet broadband products, the company offer unlimited downloads between midnight and 8am every day. This does not count towards a customer's monthly usage allowance.

Customers can sign-up to Plusnet without a minimum term at the same monthly price as its great value contract deals.

In 2011 alone, Plusnet has won six awards and been highly commended 13 times across the industry for its product and services. It is especially proud to have won "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction" in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey and now be officially recommended by Which? magazine for Plusnet Value home broadband.

Fasthosts warns small firms not to spam their customers

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:19:50 GMT

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has warned UK businesses not to spam their customers with unsolicited newsletters and marketing emails.

Over the past year, the company has seen an 88 per cent rise in the number of spam reports it has received, most commonly where consumers have reported business customers for allegedly sending spam to them. The data lends weight to the theory that the challenging economy and increasingly competitive online marketplace has perhaps led more small firms to cut corners with their email communication. The company recommends that small companies take necessary steps to ensure that emails are only sent to the right recipients who have opted-in to receive them.

As more UK firms are adopting email marketing as a valuable sales and communication channel, it would appear that the problem of business-related spam is escalating. According to Fasthosts, from June 2010 to June 2011 the company has received 88 per cent more reports from the public regarding genuine businesses who they believe have sent them unsolicited and unwanted emails. A proportion of cases required investigation and/or action by the provider such as a warning or locking of the relevant email account. In most cases, Fasthosts needed only to provide best practice email advice to the relevant business.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet, said: "In a tough economy, small businesses may be tempted to be more aggressive with the frequency of mailings, or begin to take for granted their right to email a contact base. Every firm must respect the value that consumers place on their Inbox, and take the proper measures to ensure they use email professionally and ethically."

Internet Psychologist Graham Jones said: "Unwanted email is a major issue which causes frustration, annoyance and stress. If a business emails people without paying proper attention to opt-in systems they can expect increased negativity from their customers and their prospects. And with the ease with which people can complain about companies on social networks, there is the obvious potential for reputational damage too."

Jones added: "When people are asked to define spam they simply talk about emails they did not request - no matter who those messages come from. Many businesses think they are merely doing 'email marketing' but their customers actually think they are spamming. There is a clear difference in thinking between many businesses and their customers - and that is bad for reputation and revenue."

Whilst still rare, it is possible for businesses to become involved in the distribution of spam without even realising. Problems can arise as a result of their email becoming compromised locally, commonly through a virus or Trojan on their hardware such as a PC. It is vital that all businesses they keep mailboxes secure and regularly update passwords to minimise the risk of exploitation of their domain or mail servers.

Holford added: "Whilst spam is not new, the damage that it can do to business reputation and customer loyalty should definitely be cause for thought. The more responsibility a company shows towards their use of email, the more credible and rewarding email marketing will become as a channel."

- ends -

About Fasthosts:
Fasthosts is a leading web hosting provider. Based in the UK and operating 24x7 from their dedicated UK data centres, Fasthosts keeps over 1 million domains running smoothly and ensures over 42 million emails are delivered safely each day. Services include registration of domain names, shared web hosting, business-class email, virtual servers, dedicated servers, software-as-a-service, online back-up, secure online storage, email hosting and unlimited broadband. Fasthosts maintains an industry-leading, highly successful reseller hosting channel. The company has won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011 and Microsoft’s Hosting Partner of the Year Award.

Plusnet reveals half of customers want businesses to provide Wi-Fi

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:41:16 GMT

A Plusnet Business survey* has revealed that the average Brit spends ten hours a day being connected to the Internet. The study demonstrates how the demand for Internet access has increased, with almost a quarter (24%) of people saying that they need it to be able to update people should anything happen.

Small businesses need to take note that almost half (49%) of respondents said Internet access, provided by businesses, is needed in public areas. Over 40% of respondents in the North West, Northern Ireland, Scotland, London and Wales say that having access to Wi-Fi is a deal-breaker when deciding on a hotel, showing how much this can affect a business' bottom line.

This study by Plusnet Business has uncovered how much of an impact a decent wireless internet connection for customer use can bring to many sectors, with almost a fifth saying they will purposely choose a restaurant (17%), bar (17%), pub (17%), and shopping centre (18%), over one without it.

For nearly a third of respondents (29%), regular access isn't good enough, they have to be constantly connected and can't even queue or take a short journey without entertaining themselves online. Well over a third (46%) of respondents in London admitted that they needed to be connected to the Internet all the time, to stop the boredom of having to queue.

Talking about the survey, Nick Silverwood, Head of Business, Plusnet said: "Through the Plusnet Business survey we can see that installing something as simple as free Wi-Fi for customers can help generate repeat custom and definition within a market. With increased competition in the hospitality and retail markets, it's important for small businesses to understand how investing in customer broadband has the potential to really boost sales. With over one in ten (12%)** respondents estimating that 21-30% of their profit is down to a fast and reliable Internet connection, there is a clear benefit to getting online."

Plusnet has been successfully delivering high-quality, well-supported business broadband and connectivity products for over 10 years. For more information call 0114 296 5182 or go to www.plus.net/business.

-END-

Notes to Editors:
*The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between 5th and 10th August 2011, and included 1,002 respondents
**The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between 11th and 19th July 2011, and included 1,510 respondents, 893 of those were workers

About Plusnet:
Back in 1997 Plusnet was born. Its plan was simple - to think and act differently from other providers and save its customers money. That's not changed since the day it launched. More than a decade later, the company is still providing cheap broadband and broadband bundles from its HQ in Yorkshire. In fact, Plusnet guarantees it "won't be beat" on price for standalone broadband.

Of course, just being great value is only part of the deal. Supporting customers' service is just as important to the company. Its telephone and online support provide loads of help right around the clock. Plusnet also offers customers the chance to compare broadband prices online to ensure that they are getting the best deal possible.

Plusnet customers and industry professionals think the home broadband provider supports them so well they've been given a stack of awards to prove their status as one of the best broadband providers. Customers and industry professionals think Plusnet support them so well they've been given a stack of awards to prove it. The company was especially proud to have won "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction" in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey and be an official "Which Recommended Provider" for Plusnet Value home broadband.

BT and Heineken partner to offer Wi-Fi to London pubs

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:21:47 GMT

Drinkers at nearly 100 London pubs and bars are to get fast Wi-Fi, following a new BT and Heineken partnership with plans to extend the wireless internet service to a further 200 pubs across the UK by the end of 2012.

Through Wi-Fi, customers can access a special area of the internet, the Heineken Hub, for which the UK's newest newspaper, i, the quality daily and sister paper to The Independent, is supplying exclusive content.

Customers can get online quickly with any wireless PC, tablet or mobile phone at any of the Wi-Fi hotspots and will also receive exclusive, location-specific content including the best stories from news, views, features, business, culture and sports. It is the first time this content has been available online and it will be updated daily.

The pubs boost BT’s hotspot numbers to more than three million - the largest network in the UK. More than 200,000 sites have been added in the last three months.

Rick Lawrence, Marketing Manager at Heineken UK said: "The partnership with BT reinforces the brand's reputation as a leading player in the development of technology. The Wi-Fi initiative will provide excellent exposure for Heineken among its key target audience and build greater affinity between the brand and its consumers."

Chris Bruce, CEO, BT Openzone, said: "Using Wi-Fi to deliver free and exclusive content, Heineken is engaging and exciting pub goers and will undoubtedly increase business. It's an exciting time to be involved in hospitality marketing."

Wi-Fi access is completely free to over five million BT Broadband customers, plus users of iPads, iPhones, iTouch, Android, Samsung and Blackberry devices and smartphones through other BT partnership agreements.

In further developments to the UK’s largest Wi-Fi network, BT has also added Wi-Fi access at John Lennon Liverpool, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Teesside regional airports.

BT Wi-Fi is also available at 13 Shepherd Neame hotels in Kent, Starbucks, major hotel chains including Thistle, Guoman and Ramada Jarvis, Welcome Break and Roadchef Costa motorway service areas, Network Rail stations, airports and thousands of homes and independent businesses.

BT also extended its relationship with Hilton in June to provide a fully managed suite of Wi-Fi internet services to more than 17,000 bedrooms, public areas and meeting and conference spaces in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

ENDS

About BT:
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services, operating in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and phone products including business broadband and fibre broadband, as well as converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group’s revenue was £20,076 million with profit before taxation of £1,717 million.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

Plusnet log on as Four Nations sponsors

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:47:07 GMT

The RFL has agreed a deal with Plusnet, the telecommunications company, that will see the internet provider become the official broadband partner of the 2011 Gillette Four Nations.

The partnership will see leading England players feature in the UK broadband provider's creative marketing campaign both before and during the tournament, which also involves Wales, Australia and world champions, New Zealand.

To mark its first international sporting partnership, the Sheffield-based company has offered new customers a pair of tickets to a Four Nations game of their choice, up to a value of £90, and a month's free broadband when they sign-up to 12 months broadband and home phone. Further details can be found at www.plus.net/fournations.

"I am delighted to confirm that Plusnet has agreed to become a partner of the 2011 Gillette Four Nations and am looking forward to working closely with them Plusnet over the coming months," said the RFL’s Commercial Director Paul Kimberley.

"Our partnership will see Plusnet's branding feature prominently at all the Four Nations fixtures, including the eagerly-anticipated double-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday November 5, and become heavily involved with some proactive promotion involving our England stars.

"Plusnet has quickly established itself as a company with clear customer-led focus making it a perfect fit with Rugby League’s own philosophies."

Plusnet has recently been named a recommended provided by Which? magazine and won the uSwitch 2011 Best Customer Service Award. It is currently running a successful high profile television advertising campaign.

Nick Rawlings, Plusnet's Commercial and Marketing Director, said: "This is a great opportunity for Plusnet to make its international debut in sporting sponsorship.

"We will be utilising the deal in a number of ways to reward both new and existing customers."

-ends-

About Plusnet:
Back in 1997 Plusnet was born. Its plan was simple - to think and act differently from other providers and save its customers money. That's not changed since the day it launched. More than a decade later, the company is still providing great value phone and broadband from its HQ in Yorkshire. In fact, Plusnet guarantees it "won't be beat" on price for standalone broadband.

Plusnet customers and industry professionals think the home broadband provider supports them so well they've been given a stack of awards to prove their status as one of the best broadband providers. Customers and industry professionals think Plusnet support them so well they’ve been given a stack of awards to prove it. The company were especially proud to have won "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction" in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey and be an official “Which Recommended Provider” for Plusnet Value home broadband.

The company helps fix problems and talk about pretty much anything related to broadband over on its Community site, blogs and forums. Plusnet customers also get generous rewards for telling their friends about the company.

Plusnet is recommended by Which?

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:22:03 GMT

Plusnet, the broadband provider from Yorkshire, has been recommended by Which?, the UK's largest independent consumer body.

Plusnet Value home broadband has been given a five star recommendation for "value for money" and a four star recommendation for connection speed, connection reliability, customer service and technical support.

Broadband providers must score well for customer service, ease of set up, connection speed, reliability and technical support and receive an overall score of 70% in their consumer survey. Over 750 Plusnet customers were questioned in the survey and gave on overall score of 72%.

Which? magazine this month states that today's broadband services are - to many people - as vital as their electricity or water supplies. Plusnet will now have the opportunity to use the Which? Recommended logo across all marketing for the next six months.

Jamie Ford, Plusnet CEO said: "This is a landmark achievement for Plusnet. What is great about this award is that it is an independent survey with the findings fully dependent on the feedback of actual customers."

To switch to Plusnet's cheap broadband users simply visit www.plus.net/switch to choose a broadband package that suits them. They then enter their MAC (migration authorisation code) key when they sign up (available the customer's current provider) and Plusnet will do the rest of the hard work.

As well as becoming "Which? Recommended Providers", Plusnet has won seven awards and been highly commended 13 times across the industry for its product and services in 2011*. With 24/7 call centre support based entirely in Sheffield and free to call from a UK landline, all advisors are technically trained, do not work from scripts and look to resolve any problems first time.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:
* Several accolades in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey including; "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction", "Most Likely to be Recommended", "Best Customer Service", and "Best Quality of Connection". JD Power award for "Best Fixed ISP", "Best Budget Broadband" at the Broadband Genie Home Broadband Awards 2011 & Broadband Choices 2011 "Highly Commended" all providers quality and reliability.

About Which?
Which? is the largest consumer body in the UK, with over 650,000 members. It is a registered charity and completely independent.

About Plusnet:
Back in 1997 Plusnet was born. Its plan was simple - to think and act differently from other providers and save its customers money. More than a decade later, the company is still providing great value phone and broadband from its HQ in Yorkshire. In fact, Plusnet guarantees it "won't be beat" on price for standalone broadband.

Plusnet's telephone and online support provides loads of help right around the clock and the company offers customers the chance to compare broadband prices online to ensure that they are getting the best deal possible.

Plusnet customers and industry professionals think the home broadband provider supports them so well they've been given a stack of awards to prove their status as one of the best broadband providers. Customers and industry professionals think Plusnet support them so well they’ve been given a stack of awards to prove it. The company is especially proud to have won "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction" in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey and be an official “Which Recommended Provider" for Plusnet Value home broadband.

Fasthosts launches hosted Microsoft Exchange 2010 email packages

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:37:34 GMT

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has launched a brand new range of high quality email packages based on Microsoft Exchange 2010. The solutions offer businesses and private users alike the very latest functionality for email, including mobile emailing and can improve productivity with shared calendars, tasks and contacts accessible from any computer. The feature-packed and robust email platform is ideal for small or medium sized businesses to equip their staff with varying levels of mailbox functionality for different types of user. In addition, Fasthosts new email packages deliver an efficient mobile email system which can lead to increased productivity and better response times for businesses in handling customer enquiries.

Fasthosts is a long-standing expert in delivering hosted Microsoft Exchange email solutions. The high quality features and reliability of the platform make it a popular choice for many UK firms. Fasthosts' new Microsoft Exchange 2010 based packages provide ways to handle email more speedily and professionally. Free inclusive Microsoft Outlook software for PC or Mac enables users to synchronize email from multiple mailboxes, track email conversations, share calendar availability within groups, and manage work schedules with ease. Auto responders can be used to automatically respond to incoming emails. Forwarders and Catch-all Email can be used to distribute incoming emails effectively and manage which addresses are used as public-facing.

Remote access to email is now an important issue for many firms. All Fasthosts email packages now benefit from Microsoft Outlook 2010 Web App, a webmail solution for working flexibly from any computer. Email, contacts and calendars are updated in real-time so users always have the latest data to hand. Fasthosts Business email packages feature Microsoft ActiveSync, a simple to set up software that makes it easy to use the platform from a mobile device or tablet. The solution provides email, calendar, contacts and tasks synchronized directly to a mobile device.

For personal users, the Fasthosts Personal Email package is a highly affordable way to send professional, personalised email from a domain name. The 2 x 1GB virus and spam protected mailboxes are ideal for handling large attachments, an additional 5 x 100MB mailboxes included, and 10 email forwarders. For users whose mobile devices do not support full Exchange, IMAP Access enables users to access email in a slimmed down format on most handsets.

The Fasthosts Business email range now starts with the Business Standard package, which features 1 highest specification Professional mailbox, 5 Starter mailboxes and 20 email forwarders. The Business Premium package includes 3 Professional mailboxes, 2 Starter Plus mailboxes, a further unlimited Starter mailbox and unlimited email forwarders. Especially important for business users, all email data is hosted in Fasthosts' highly secure state-of-the-art UK data centres, and benefits from industry-leading virus scanning and multi-level spam filtering. Fasthosts also provides the reassurance of a dedicated technical support team on hand 24/7.

Steve Holford, marketing director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, said: "Firms of all sizes are learning that how email is handled can affect customer spend and loyalty. Our latest Exchange-powered packages enable a business to handle email and calendars more effectively across teams, and access important materials 24/7 from outside the workplace. The newest functionality can further help drive efficiencies and ensure that maximum value is had from every email sent and received".

About Fasthosts:
Fasthosts is a leading web hosting provider. Based in the UK and operating 24x7 from their dedicated UK data centres, Fasthosts keeps over 1 million domain names running smoothly and ensures over 42 million emails are delivered safely each day. All Fasthosts services can be self-managed through the award winning Fasthosts web-based control panel. Services include domain registrations, shared web hosting, business-class email, virtual private servers, dedicated server hosting, software-as-a-service, online back-up, secure online storage and unlimited broadband.

Plusnet blows its own trumpet in new TV campaign

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:22:47 GMT

Plusnet, the Yorkshire-based ISP, has announced it will return with a new TV advertising campaign in August.

To celebrate Yorkshire Day, the Sheffield-based home broadband provider will debut the first 30-second commercial during the ad-break of "Emmerdale" (ITV1) on Monday 1st August at approx. 19.15hrs. The campaign, planned and bought by Maxus, will again make use of Yorkshire values and will feature a straight-talking character named Joe. The new advert will also introduce Joe's Dad who will enter the public's TV consciousness on a ride-on lawn mower.

The campaign, which will run throughout the remainder of 2011, will promote the UK-based, 24/7 customer support from the broadband provider. With call centre support based entirely in the UK, Plusnet is one of few broadband and phone companies where all advisors are technically trained and do not work from scripts - a point of reverence that has seen Plusnet already pick up six awards and be highly commended 13 times across the industry for its product and services in 2011*. Later in the month, Plusnet will air a second advert in which audiences will be treated to a rendition of Kaiser Chiefs' "Ruby" played by the Plusnet Brass Band. This 40-second commercial will run for four weeks promoting Plusnet's great value.

Nick Rawlings, Commercial Director at Plusnet said: "We've always been proud of our Sheffield roots. Our customer feedback suggests the 24/7 availability of our UK operations is popular so, we wanted to convey our local and friendly approach in the new campaign."

Shot on location in Ilkley and Ripon, the adverts have been created by Karmarama ad agency and directed by film and TV director, Steve Bendelack, whose work includes "The Royle Family", "The League of Gentlemen", "Little Britain" and "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)". Both Karmarama and Steve worked together when Plusnet made its TV advertising debut in 2010.

Sam Walker, the creative lead on the campaign at Karmarama said: "We have developed an ad that would best exemplify Plusnet's key differential - a UK call centre that is free to call, from a landline, at any time.

"We chose to use a local theme and convey the emotional benefits of helpfulness and community that stem from this whilst keeping the character of Joe and the sense of Yorkshire we had created in our previous advertising. We have introduced his Dad after he worked well in radio executions back in the spring."

-Ends-

Notes to Editors
*Several accolades in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey including: "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction", "Most Likely to be Recommended", "Best Customer Service", and "Best Quality of Connection". The company was awarded the JD Power award for "Best Fixed ISP" and "Best Budget Broadband" at the Broadband Genie Home Broadband Awards 2011 & Broadband Choices 2011 "Highly Commended" all providers quality and reliability.

About Plusnet:
Back in 1997 Plusnet was born. Its plan was simple; to think and act differently from other providers and save the customer money. That's not changed since the day it launched. More than a decade later Plusnet is still providing great value broadband and phone packages from its HQ in Yorkshire.

Plusnet's customers and industry professionals think it supports them so well that the company has been given a stack of awards to prove it. Plusnet was especially proud to have won "Best Overall Customer Satisfaction" in the 2011 uSwitch Broadband Satisfaction Survey.

Plusnet always takes pride in having a great relationship with its customers, offering great broadband customer service. It believes it's only fair to talk openly and honestly with them, help fix problems and talk about pretty much anything related to broadband over on its Community site, blogs and forums. Plusnet customers also get generous rewards for telling their friends about the company.

Revolver PR and SourceRail collaborate over cloud-based content monitoring and measurement application

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:23:07 GMT

Leading Digital PR agency Revolver and news monitoring specialist SourceRail have joined forces to test the company’s ground-breaking media reporting service ahead of its public launch this summer.

The project, which will see SourceRail’s cloud-based content monitoring and curation service undergo a rigorous testing phase ahead of its scheduled launch in July, has been designed to ensure the service will have been comprehensively reviewed prior to reaching the open market. Under the agreement Revolver will play an active role in the system’s ongoing development - gaining exclusive access to advance features - while the developers will have the opportunity to benchmark their platform’s performance using a raft of live campaigns.

“Having put a lot of resources into developing the SourceRail service we’re determined to make sure that we get it right first time. We’ve put in place a development strategy that will ensure the system evolves into one of the most comprehensive media monitoring, mapping and measurement tools on the planet. The final piece of the jigsaw was finding the right partner to put it through its paces during live campaign scenarios,” said SourceRail Managing Director Stephen Sheppard.

“Revolver PR provides the perfect match. They’re resourceful, dynamic digital natives with a strategic understanding of the media that’s hard to beat, and we’re confident that working with them will help hone the service as we prepare to launch.”

Providing communicators with the ability to source and republish content instantly, SourceRail’s founders intend to unveil phase one of the service this year, before beginning work on a planned series of upgrades. The company acknowledges it is entering a crowded market space, but believes that the combination of a game-changing charging structure and a continually evolving feature set will prove critical.

In a deal brokered by Scottish Enterprise fast-growth account manager Jim Scott, both Revolver and SourceRail will collaborate throughout the development lifecycle. Initial testing will focus on resource management however, with the Digital PR agency drilling down on the service’s ability to slash the time required to monitor, report upon and republish media coverage.

“Digital brings many challenges to the communications sector, not least of which is the opportunity to make our working procedures faster, better and more cost effective. As part of our continued mission to create an evolved public relations infrastructure we’ve been looking for the right reporting technology, and are delighted to play our part in the development of a service that promises to deliver real value to our clients,” said Iain S Bruce, Managing Director at Revolver PR.

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