Google Fiber rollout detailed for Austin: connections by mid-2014, similar pricing (updated)

The Google Fiber rollout for Austin has been spoiled twice, but today it's officially official: the music-centric city will become a gigabit city... eventually, that is. Google now says that it will start wiring Austinite homes for super-fast internet access by mid-2014 -- we wouldn't cancel that cable or DSL service just yet, sadly. At least the pricing should be familiar. Google still plans to offer both stand-alone internet access and internet-plus-TV bundles, both at rates within the ballpark of what it offers for Kansas City, and there will still be a near-free 5Mbps plan that only requires a one-off construction fee. Institutions will get free gigabit access, of course. While we'd like Google Fiber as soon as possible, we're just happy to realize that our next SXSW crash pad may have a lot more bandwidth on tap.

Update: During a formal announcement call, Google and the city of Austin provided a few minor details. They revealed that Google didn't get any incentives to land a deal, and that engineering work is only beginning in earnest on April 10th. As for AT&T's me-too initiative? Kevin Lo from Google Fiber says that it's "great" to see AT&T aware that the demand exists for gigabit access. No hard feelings, then.

Source: Google Fiber

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By: Unknown On 11:18 AM

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Excluded by the UK's fiber rollout, Oxfordshire villages roll their own 1Gbps broadband service

Oxfordshire Businesses Embrace Ultrafast Broadband

Gigaclear starts installation in Frilford and Frilford Heath

27 February 2013, Oxfordshire Gigaclear, a provider of ultrafast fibre optic broadband to rural communities, has begun installing 1000 Mbps (one Gbps) network in Frilford and Frilford Heath, Oxfordshire. Residents, including several small business owners, look forward to benefiting from world-class connectivity from April 2013.

Bruce Ballard, managing director of Paddock IT solutions, runs a small business from his home in Frilford Heath. He comments, "With Gigaclear I look forward to a massively improved service at a lower cost. I choose to work from home because it is cheaper and affords me a better quality of life. The company's servers are based here and three other members of staff connect to them using a virtual private network. The company provides remote IT support to its customers and their servers are occasionally based here too. Broadband speeds are really important to us."

Bruce continues, "We use ADSL over copper at the moment but with so much upstream traffic it performs badly. We've also found our existing service provider's attitude to outages unacceptable. Until now, suitable alternatives have been either unavailable in this area or prohibitively expensive. I am delighted that the local community has opted to go with Gigaclear. Gigaclear will give us 1000 Mbps – more than enough to accommodate the needs of the company as well as my wife and children who like to be able to browse the internet and stream videos during working hours. It's like opening a door to the future."

Gigaclear, chief executive, Matthew Hare comments, "Many small business owners living in rural locations such as Frilford and Frilford Heath elect to avoid the commute and the cost of separate business premises by operating from home. The challenge is getting adequate upload and download speeds without paying prices that would make even large organisations wince. Business customers, in or near to an area in which Gigaclear is building, can get a range of access products and services at a significantly reduced price/Mbps – plus the same residential benefits enjoyed by their neighbours. We expect demand to keep on growing."

Gigaclear serves communities that are not currently served or 'planned to be served' by a high-speed broadband provider. To qualify communities must comprise at least 400 properties and 30 per cent of the community must sign up. For further information see www.gigaclear.com/can-i-get-it

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By: Unknown On 8:51 PM

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LG reveals Optimus L3II worldwide rollout starts this week in Brazil

LG OPTIMUS L3II MAKES ITS WORLD DEBUT
Second Device in LG's New L SeriesII Launches In South America

BARCELONA, Feb. 27, 2013 – Hot on the heels of the Optimus L7II launch in Russia, LG Electronics (LG) announced that the second model in its new generation Optimus L SeriesII will make its world debut in Brazil this week. This will be followed by single and dual SIM models being introduced in the other markets of South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Optimus L3II advances the styling and convenience of the original Optimus L3 smartphone with a new flair that complements its user experience. The Optimus L3II continues LG's design heritage with four new elements that make the device eye catching and fun to use: Seamless Layout, Laser Cut Contour, Radiant Rear Design, and colorful Smart LED Lighting on the home button.

Beyond the phone's sleek exterior, Optimus L3II offers an upgraded user experience with a stylish makeover. Thanks to its larger capacity battery, Optimus L3II now offers QuickMemo with Overlay mode - previously only available in LG's premium smartphones - to boost productivity. QuickMemo with Overlay mode allows users to jot notes on a transparent "layer" while still being able to view another screen in the background. This eliminates the need to split the screen and allows both QuickMemo and the other application to be viewed in full-screen mode simultaneously.

"The Optimus L3II is a versatile phone for the smart and stylish individual," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Its improved user experience makes this an attractive device for customers who want to express their sense of style without sacrificing functionality."

The Optimus L3II comes in four colors tailored to users' individual styles: indigo black, white, pink and titan. Prices will be announced at a later date.
Optimus L3II Key Specifications:
• OS: Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2
• Processor: 1 GHz Single Core
• Display: 3.2-inch QVGA IPS
• Memory: 4 GB / 512 MB RAM
• Camera: 3.0MP
• Battery: 1,540mAh
• Size: 102.6 x 61.1 x 11.9mm (Single SIM) / 102.9 x 61.3 x 11.9mm (Dual SIM)
• Colors: Indigo Black, White, Pink, Titan

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By: Unknown On 6:47 PM

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