Evolving technology allows Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) to provide better services for customers, and many will compete for your business by offering better internet plans. While this can be to your advantage, especially if you’re struggling with your current service provider, switching to another ISP is not a simple matter. Here are five things to understand when considering a switch.
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• Internet speed: Internet speed is usually the main reason people choose a new ISP. It’s important to know what speed is ideal for your use. There are three types of internet connectivity: DSL, which while inexpensive is very slow and comes with almost no customer support; Cable, which has a large capacity for downloads; and fiber, which although newer, has the fastest speed and can handle a lot of bandwidths. 
• Investigate: When considering a new ISP, investigate its firewall and router, which are responsible for handling your outbound data traffic. 
• Email provider: While hosting is typically not a problem for homes and private connections, it can be a major issue for businesses. If your current provider hosts your e-mail, make sure to do updates updates before switching. You’ll need to do the same for your website if your current provider also hosts that. 
• Time: Before switching ISP’s, make sure you know how long installation will take. With some companies, it can take one to two months before they can install new services. 
• Support: Consider your new ISP’s customer support. When a problem occurs, you need to be able to get help quickly and easily. Check out reviews on line and ask friends and colleagues for their recommendations. 

A reliable internet connection is essential in today’s world. If you’re ready to switch internet service providers, Simplified can help you choose one that’s right for your specific needs. 

​On Dec. 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Republican Chairman Ajit Pai, voted to repeal regulation passed in 2015 that prevented broadband companies from blocking or slowing access to websites or services. The move was met with opposition from consumers and tech companies, and now, individual states are responding with their own legislation in response.

What has happened since the regulation has been repealed? 

• 65 bills have been introduced in 28 states requiring internet service providers to ensure various net neutrality principles.
• In 13 states and the District of Columbia, legislators introduced 23 resolutions primarily expressing opposition to the FCC repeal of net neutrality rules; urging the U.S. Congress enact legislation reinstating and requiring the preservation of net neutrality; or stating the chamber’s support of general net neutrality principles.
• Governors in five states—Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Montana, Vermont—have signed executive orders.
• Attorneys general from 22 states filed a protective petition for review against the FCC in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

 
To learn more about how the repeal of the law or the proposed bills may affect you and your business, contact a Simplified agent today.  

5G technology, the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, is expected to launch across the world by 2020, bringing three types of innovation: greater speed to be able to move more data; lower latency to improve responsiveness; and the ability to connect many devices at once. While many are focused on what they will be able to do with faster smartphones – 5G is expected to provide average download speeds of 1GBps – others are looking toward the innovations 5G will make possible.
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“5G will be the platform for invention,” says a PSB Research report commissioned by Qualcomm. The survey found that 91 percent of worldwide respondents expect 5G to generate “new products and services that have yet to be invented,” and 87 percent expect new industries to emerge.

It’s predicted that 5G technology will bring opportunity to many industries:
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• Healthcare innovations such as stroke rehab through Virtual Reality, smart bandages that track healing and the opportunity for parents to interact with babies confined to incubators.
• Automotive executives foresee 5G being used to provide quick location-based services, collision avoidance, roadside assistance and more. In fact, an autonomous car with 5G technology could hit the brakes with a stopping distance of one inch compared to the 4.6 feet it takes today with 4G.

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5G will also contribute to the Internet-of-Things through machine learning and artificial intelligence, and its evolution will be used with appliances, alarm systems, health monitors, parking meters and traffic signals as well as for ultra-fast wireless delivery of video and data files.