 
Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
 ·Hawaiian Telcom
| Wait a second I have Hawaiian Telcom DSL (3Mbps/768K). I signed up for
a year contract @ 29.99 a month. For that same rate,
you get 768K/256K at regular rates. To get up to 1.5Mbps/256K
its 36.99 or 49.99 (for business). So your assertion
Hawaiian Telcom DSL is more expensive is wrong.
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 | ksmithofwa
join:2006-08-04
Honolulu, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
|  Re: Wait a second
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| | ksmithofwa
join:2006-08-04
Honolulu, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Woops Forgot To Correct Konaman's Rates The rates for Clearwire is $34.00 a month for 768/256, $43.00 a month for 1.5Mbps/256kbps. The Business plan is actually higher at $54.00. These prices include the leasing of the modem for about $5.00. Just for the record these prices do not include taxes and the prices quoted are rounded to the nearest dollar. Also for the record, Clearwire has promotions that make the actual cost a little less over the period of 1 year, but so do Hawaiian Telcom and Oceanic Cable/Time Warner's Road Runner services. Again, DSL is faster at the time of this writing. Road Runner is faster also. So you get what you pay for. Have a need for speed? Pay more. I look at Clearwire as another choice for consumers which is always a good thing not to mention competition. Also at the time of this writing DSL and RR have not changed their prices in response to Clearwire's launching. I guess if they see a significant market share begin to disappear then they will do something. Now that would be nice for we, the consumers. I welcome the new kid on the block ! | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second Yes you have to have a landline to get Hawaiian Telcom DSL.
I don't know where you got your 57.00 figure from. But when
I had a landline in the past it costed 25.00 approximately.
The 29.99 rate for Hawaiian Telcom DSL is with a year contract .Yes a landline is required for DSL, but to get the DSL at the discounted rate, you just have to sign up for a year. As for as I recall, Clearwire has similar contract terms 1-2 years. Plus a 4.99 modem rental fee.
I've never had an extended outage with Hawaiian Telcom. I've
had DSL through them since April 2004. They've been courteous and helpful whenever I've had issues.
Why should Oceanic or Hawaiian Telcom adjust their rates ?
Clearwire has pathetically slow speeds for about the same
rate as Hawaiian Telcom DSL or Road Runner. | |
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| | | ksmithofwa
join:2006-08-04
Honolulu, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second I got my $57.00 figure from Hawaiian Telcom. It's pretty easy. You just call 643-3456 as that is Hawiian Telcom's customer service. You select the Internet service choice then talk to the customer service person. You let them know that you want the cheapest possible rate you can get and they will let you know that your phone bill will be around the $25 dollar figure you posted so I don't disagree with you on that point. But you gotta take into account that if you don't sign up for the "bundle" (back when they were Verizon that was the deal) then you gotta pay the full rate for your DSL service, but now Hawaiian Telcom just considers your phone service enough even if it is the absolute basic phone service. So you get the $8.00 discount off of the $37.95 price(actual DSL price) which brings you to $29.95 which you add to the $25.00 for the telephone line which brings the high frequency signal to your DSL modem (and that is why you have to use a filter on your telephone line so you won't have that high frequency sound ripping your ear apart when you talk on the phone) and that totals $54.95 plus all the insane taxes and weird this and thats they add on which takes you to about $57 bucks give or take a few dimes or nickels.
As for Clearwire, yeah they require either a 1 year contract or a 2 year contract. That is true and so is the modem rental fee. The rental fee is included in my figures stated above. So the bottom line is that you pay more for DSL and you pay less for Clearwire. The bottom line on speed is that DSL is faster and Clearwire is slower. Like I may or may not have said, you get what you pay for. You want more speed you pay for it. For many people who just check their email and surf the net when they gotta get info on something Clearwire is sufficient. For others who either are power users or simply aren't as patient or just plain have more money than time then I totally agree that DSL or RR is the way to go.
I don't think that pathetically slow is correct. I have tested Clearwire and it runs quite quickly just as long as you have a good signal. It runs on the same principles as cell phones right now and you need a signal. There are areas that don't have the signal. Kona for sure. Heck there is no Clearwire service in Kona right now.
Since the topic is speed then let's talk speed. The truth is that depending on where you live you will experience RR as slow as a turtle. How do I know? Because I had RR. It simply runs like a turtle most of the time where I live(like after work when everybody gets online). As for DSL it runs fast, but at times will slow down to right around to the 550 to 600 down speed at certain times during the day and never slower. Most times I average on my DSL connection at least 1000 to 2000 which is quick enough for MY purposes. Everyone has different needs and different tolerances for what they think is slow and what is fast enough or what they consider simply fast. It is a subjective thing for many people. Clearwire I have seen average at least right around 850 plus at any given time. I have seen it fly all the way up to 1800. I believe that Clearwire will slow down as more and more people hop on board, but then again so does DSL. Most people buy that hogwash that they have an individual straw on the commercial, but anyone who has read up on DSL here on DSL Reports knows the truth. So DSL is not impervious to slowing down and without a doubt RR has proven itself to being slower than a turtle yet at times (like after everyone has gone to bed) I have clocked speeds from 1500 to 2000 plus. Rarely does it stay that fast and slows to turtle speeds at peak internet use times. It makes me upset to pay the kind of money that RR asks for that kind of service. DSL is a great alternative to RR where I live currently.
The best thing about Clearwire (right now) is that it runs at a consistent speed. It doesn't slow down to unbearble speeds but I must admit that I use my DSL the majority of the time because it is simply faster. Clearwire on the other hand simply can't be beat when I need to go somewhere and need internet access. The one thing that RR and DSL can't do is go somewhere else.
It is a totally different experience to be able to use my laptop nearly everywhere I go. (again I say that you have to be able to get a signal) Until you've experienced using Clearwire while sitting in the middle of a park or while visiting a friend who has no internet connection then you can truly see that there is more to Clearwire than just broadband speed. Clearwire for me simply allows me to take my internet connection with me rather than being stuck to one geographical location. No more having to wait to get home to email someone a link to something that I am talking about. Now I can just whip out the laptop, connect and show them. | |
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| | Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Excuse me but most of us have Hawaiian Telcom landline because we errrr...need a telephone and it is the ONLY Carrier Class service in Hawaii at this time. We have no choices ...we have Hawaiian Telcom or no reliable phone service. So, I, and probably Konaman too, consider paying for our landline as a simple necessity that has nothing to do with internet services and is not something we can just blow off. So, don't try and tell me that DSL from Hawaiian Telcom costs $57 a month! It costs $30 a month as long as you get it for a year. I would get it but it is not available in my area of Hilo. I have Road Runner and I don't pay $45 a month either. But if I could get DSL here, I would even though it is slower on the down speed than RR but on the upspeed where we desperately need a higher upspeed on RR...DSL shines. RR is getting a speed increase in January to 7000/768 but the upload is not set yet and may only be 512.
Another thing, why would I want to pay $30 a month for DSL as backup as you mentioned when I get UNLIMITED dialup backup from Road Runner? Why don't you have Road Runner and can DSL and Clearwire? Road Runner is actually still a better deal than Hawaiian Telcom DSL because of the free dialup....unless you consider customer service.
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.ie7.com/ | |
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| | | ksmithofwa
join:2006-08-04
Honolulu, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second I agree that having a telephone line has nothing to do with internet access until you decide that you need internet access. At that point you have to decide if you are going to pay the $37.95 less the $8.00 discount because you now have the phone service AND the DSL service. Funny how you need the phone line to get the DSL service. You can't just say to Hawaiian Telcom, "hey brah, I no need to talk on the phone so just hook me up with the DSL and no charge me for da ability to talk." No with DSL you MUST have a phone number whether you use the phone number or not. So it becomes a chicken before the egg thing. You won't get any egggs(DSL) without a chicken(the phone line.) I totally understand you living in Hilo that you can't use your cell phone to do your talking and just hook up with RR, but I think that if you're gonna hook up with the cable company anyways to get your television that you might as well get RR. You're not happy with the RR upload speeds? Bummers as you don't have a choice since the phone lines in your area must be old and can't handle the high frequency signal. I still remember getting my DSL and they had to test the line so that they could guarantee me good service. Once that was done then they got back to me and I signed up and bye bye went RR.
No doubt that you and the Konaman probably have to have landlines so you can talk on the phone because there simply isn't the 'critical mass' of people living in your respective areas to justify the cell phone companies putting up antennas. Those antennas cost quite a bit to put up so the companies have to be able to justify it by having a certain level of customers to make a profit.
I apologize to you and Konaman if I have offended you in anyway since the scenario is different as I live in the Big City so the choices are much more plentiful here. People here live on their cell phones and many have simply abandoned their landlines. I just meant to comment on the fact that Clearwire is a great alternative to DSL and RR depending on what your personal needs are. Obviously it is not something that you and Konaman can hope to use as your areas won't see Clearwire until maybe Clearwire decides that their Wimax technology can be executed on the Big Island successfully and profitably. If you read up on Wimax technology then you will see that if they ever do launch Wimax technolgy that you will find that you will probably want Clearwire at that time as you will be able to take your laptop and other internet accessing devices anywhere you want. Until then I guess we can agree or disagree that DSL costs you about $30.00 since you have to have the landline anyway so from your standpoint it is an add-on. But you are getting a discount of $8.00 and the real price is $37.95 less the $8.00. The actual price is the $30.00 figure you quoted. So you already are paying for the chicken(phone line) and you want to add the eggs(DSL) but for you in Hilo it just won't happen until they improve the infrastructure. As for Konaman, well he seems to be more concerned that I am pushing for Clearwire and I am not. I think that Clearwire is a great way to get some reasonable internet speeds and has a great feature in that you can take it just about anywhere you go and be able to access the internet. If you and or Konaman believe that Clearwire is more expensive then just think of it as paying for that ability to take your internet just about anywhere you go something that RR nor DSL can ever do. | |
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| | | | Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Re: Wait a second i wasn't offended....I just was puzzled by some of what you said. You do have a great deal more choices on Oahu (in Honolulu particularly) than we on the Big Island where quit a few folks cannot get anything except dialup internet access from HawaiianTel. Actually, there are areas on the East of this island outside of Hilo (Puna) where DSL is available and yet I, right in Hilo, cannot get DSL. The reason I can't is because I am too far from the CO. There is only one CO for Hilo. There are three condos here next to each other, on the beach, as well as homes but Verizon and now Hawaiian Telcom have no interest in putting a remote terminal out here. The area surrounding Prince Kuhio Plaza also cannot get DSL.
I don't have a cell phone. I would like to have one but I can't justify the cost of a cell phone plus the cost of a landline phone. Hawaiian Telcom and Verizon cellular cover almost all the Big Island now. Other carriers are much more spotty and I don't want either of the ones that cover most of the island. But the main reason I don't go to cell phone only is because cell phones don't give you reliable 911 coverage. You have to have a landline for emergencies and I can't afford both cell and landline. The reason I don't leave HawaiianTelcom landline and go with Oceanic's VoIP is partly because VoIP is more expensive than a landline and also because it too requires (in Hawaii) that you also have a landline for emergenices. Oceanic decided to NOT apply to the PUC for Carrier Class service for its VoIP. Oceanic has told me that they will never apply for this status and that they recommend anyone having VoIP with them also have a landline for emergencies.
Hawaii is wonderful but in technological areas we are very far behind the Mainland and will remain behind especially outside Oahu. VoIP in almost all Time Warner franchises except Oceanic is Carrier Class and you ditch the landline. Oceanic would have to spend a lot to make VoIP here carrier class and they don't want to do that. Hawaiian Telcom is showing no signs of ever giving us fiber ....again...Hawaii is a bad place to live technologically.
As for your experience with Road Runner getting slow at peak usage hours, did you speak to tier 3 about this? Did Oceanic send out someone to fix the problem? What did they say? Both Konaman and I have extensive experience with Oceanic customer service and extensive experience with the difficulty in getting Oceanic to fix problems. You can read about our experiences at »www.fix.rr.com (the archived old main page is what you want).
I would never put up with the speeds you say you were getting....at best you got 2000 down? When was this? You realize we went to 5ms down in January 2005 and are going to 7ms this January (that is what I have been told)? Did you have RR when we went to 5ms down? The network was very shaky back then ...it was a major mess. You may have read my posts about it in the RR forum. But Oceanic got that fixed end of July 2005 and most folks, on Oahu especially, began to see high speeds. I still had problems. When RR was at 3ms down (Sept 2003-Jan 2005) I got 3ms down 24/7 even to the East Coast. Then came the speed increase and I started getting 2ms down. I happen to know many of the tier 3 techs so I complained and complained.
Did you have RR after Oceanic bought us the excellent MySpeed test from VisualWare? What speed did you get on that during prime usage hours? I get 4800 down usually at any time and just recently VisualWare put a server in San Jose (as well as their original server in Virginia) and I get 4600-4700 on the test to San Jose...to Virginia it is about 3800-3900 which is too low and I continue to complain to Oceanic regarding Road Runner's peering agreements.
But I have gotten way off the the topic of ClearWire. I can understand if you want portability that it would be nice to have. I don't have a laptop (two desktops) so that is meaningless for me to have portability. I don't want a laptop. You mentioned that you cannot take RR with you...that is not true on Oahu and I think one spot in Hilo now ...on Oahu there are hotspots for RR wireless connectivity and you can ask for the connectivity in an area you want. I think there may be one already in Hilo.
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.ie7.com/ | |
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| | | | | ksmithofwa
join:2006-08-04
Honolulu, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second It has been quite awhile since I had RR. I don't recall exactly what year I dumped them. It was well before the timeline that you've quoted that's for sure.
When I have some time or if I need more speed then I will look into RR again. Might as well since I have cable TV. The thing that bugs me about RR though is that if you lose your RR signal then you've lost your TV signal too so what does one do then? If you have DSL or some other carrier then you still can do your thing even if the TV is gone.
Thanks for the info on RR as you have now planted it into my brain that I should take a look at it again at a later date.
I still believe that Clearwire is on the right track in terms of what it can do versus what RR and DSL can't do. As for hotspots, those are here and there, but you are once again tied to a geographical location as the distance from the broadcast point is limited. With the Clearwire you can go anywhere you can get a signal. If one wants to they can even set up a hotspot anywhere they want using their Clearwire. Like I said before, if you(being anyone and not you in particular) think that Clearwire is overpriced then think of it in terms of you're paying for broadband access that you can take with you anywhere. In response to Konaman's comment on pathetic speeds, I have addressed that already, but I will address it here again. Pathetic to you maybe totally acceptable to others. I have no idea what Konaman is doing with his connection and why he feels the need for insane amounts of speed. Frankly I believe that most people are content with the speeds that are anywhere above 750 to 800kpbs. I know someone who is very happy with their Clearwire and they used to have RR not very long ago. I quote them as saying,"hmmmmm it doesn't seem much slower than what we had." But again I state that what is acceptable for one person may be totally unacceptable for people like Konaman. It just depends on what you're doing. Again Konaman I say, "to each his own. and it's all good brah. If you're happy with what you got then great. If others are happy with what they got then great." So to say that speeds are pathetic without actually trying it and experiencing the freedom of using your computer anywhere you want is like saying something like,"oh Mercedes Benzs are pathetic," when you've never driven one and only go by what you've heard or read. One man's (or woman's) pathetic is another man's(or woman's) perfectly fine or acceptable. I am trying hard here to be reasonable and fair. Again, I apologize if my first posting offended you Konaman or anyone else out there. I just thought that the Clearwire was good for me, but I thought that I had posted an impartial opinion. I guess it didn't come across that way and for that I apologize.
Nuff said on my part. Like we locals say too,"I no like waste my time already doing this." Yeah, I don't want to go around and around with anyone. Just waste time. It's been nice chatting with you two on this medium. I wish you both all the best and I hope that when Wimax finally gets here(to Hawaii) that they will bring it to your island also then you can get internet anywhere you go pretty much. By then they should have the speeds up higher too. Aloha to you both and to all who have spent time reading this thread. I am out of here. | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
4 edits | Let me say this,you can get Road Runner WITHOUT cable
tv service for 44.95 a month. That is for 5Mbps/384K
(soon be 7Mbps/512 or 768K in the near future). On the
other hand Clearwire's max speed is up to 1.5Mbps
for generally the same price as Road Runner. Yes
portability is nice, but the pathetic upload and
download speeds are a major knock on Clearwire's
service.
Yes, you are right a landline is required for DSL
service. My dad pays approximately 62.00 a month
for both services. So in reality, Road Runner is
a better deal than Clearwire, IF you include the
landline charges. | |
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| | ksmithofwa
join:2006-08-04
Honolulu, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second Are you including the taxes and other miscellaneous charges? I don't think you are. If I recall the price is higher with all the other stuff added on.
Bottom line is that if you're happy with what you got then great. I am coming from a good place and I am happy with what I got. I wish you all the best with what you got and if my facts don't match your facts is it really a big deal? I am sure that if someone read through this thread they would just simply pick up the phone and ask the question regarding their particular needs and they will get the answers as to exactly how much is whatever they decide they want. Thing is that is great is that all services mentioned here offer a trial period so one cannot get stuck into a contract or with service they don't like and that's a good thing.
I tired already going back and forth and back and forth with me quoting prices and you quoting prices. I will just leave it up to each individual on their respective islands to get service that works for them whether it be RR, DSL, Clearwire or even the Sprint or Verizon cards.
I say to each his own. As long as one is happy with what they get and is willing to pay the price for it then it's all good.
Like we locals say, "nuff already. it's cool." Yeah the name may say ksmithofwa, but in reality I have lived here all my life and I know going around and around with anyone be they local or not is simply a waste of time. It's all good Konaman. From now on you're welcome to post to this thread whatever you want as I don't want to spend anymore time going around and around in circles. Aloha Braddah. | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second In regards to what I download and why I need faster speeds
than what Clearwire offers. Have you heard of "Windows Update"
or "Apple ITunes". I also download a lot of software also.
So up to 1.5Mbps download speed does not and will not cut it
for me. | |
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GP8z8
@Level3.net
| Perhaps you want to factor in Road Runner Lite. Oceanic does not advertise it, but it is available. $30 without cable TV and $25 if you already have cable TV.
Sure it is pokey at 768 Kbps up and 128 Kbps down but if you are coming from dialup and are on a budget it's the low price leader in the market.
One must factor in an installation fee if you have no cable tv, but even there one could order Road Runner Lite through AOL for $27 a month and AOL eats the install fee. | |
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| | | Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Re: Wait a second Well, that is VERY interesting. I never thought Oceanic offered RR lite. I guess that means Oceanic also offers RR Premium (or what ever it is called) but doesn't advertise that either? RR lite is really too low as streaming audio will be iffy at 768 down and I can't imagine not being able to listen to Shoutcast radio stations. But I would be OK (not thrilled by any means) with 1ms down. | |
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| | Geddy2112
join:2006-10-01
Albuquerque, NM | Again, try to take your Road Runner modem with you to your friends house. I'm also hearing that once Clearwire goes full Wi-Max (they're on a "pre" Wi-Max technology now apparently) those speeds will go up as well. | |
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| Geddy2112
join:2006-10-01
Albuquerque, NM | That's only for the 1st so numbered months...you might want to check your contract with HI Telecom. Also try taking your DSL modem to your friends house... | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI | Re: Wait a second Yes 29.99 rate is with a year contract for HawTel DSL and neither RR and DSL are portable. Hopefully the speeds Clearwire has goes up.As it stands now, the speeds are pathetic. | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
| Re: Wait a second »www.westhawaiitoday.com/classifi···027b.PDF
DOCKET NO. 06-0351--CLEARWIRE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES, LLC APPLICATION FOR A COA, FILED ON AUGUST 28, 2006.
It appears Clearwire is seeking the authority to offer their VoIP service here. | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI | Re: Wait a second Hawaiian Telcom is offering unlimited long distance, HSI and your landline for 65.95 a month now | |
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| | | | | Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Re: Wait a second Yeah...but you have to be in a DSL area. I live in the second largest city in Hawaii and I cannot get DSL. So, if HawTel is really intending to give Oceanic TW a run for their money they have got to get off their duff and extend DSL to the two areas of Hilo that don't have it and elsewhere. That would be a good package if I could get DSL. What I don't understand is where are the Oceanic packages? They are sitting on their duff also.
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.ie7.com/ | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI | Re: Wait a second It will be interesting it they'll respond to this bundle.
When HawTel offers IPTV here things will get really interesting. As both HawTel and Oceanic will be able to offer a triple play. | |
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| | | | | | | Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| Re: Wait a second I wonder what HawTel will do though about the bulk rates that all the apt/condos have with Oceanic for basic plus cable? How will they compete with those prices if their offerings are individual cost only and no bulk? Seems to me that HawTel will be competitive (once IPTV gets going) only for homes. There are a ton of condos/apt buildings on Oahu where Oceanic will have the advantage of the bulk rates.
At any rate, I agree it will be interesting. Surely Oceanic will respond to the bundle. I don't understand why they haven't already bundled VoIP, RR and TV. My jitter has been extremely high for the past week going by Ping Plotter so if I had VoIP at the moment, I would be very unhappy. I have no idea why it has been skyrocket high for all hops to Mililani.
Why isn't HawTel including cellular phone in the package?
--
"If you want to do DRM on a PC then you need to treat the user as the enemy." Ross Anderson in "`Trusted Computing' Frequently Asked Questions"
»www.ie7.com/ | |
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Konaguy
Live From Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Kailua Kona, HI
·Hawaiian Telcom
1 edit | Re: Wait a second said by Mele20  :Why isn't HawTel including cellular phone in the package? Well its a matter of time that we'll see a quadruple play
here. It should be very interesting the next couple years. | |
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