Phung

Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating task even in the best of situations. There's lots to consider in order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you'll find some help when evaluating Fractional DS3 vs DS3. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Cost.

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Technology: Fractional DS3

Speed: 3 Mbps - 44.736 Mbps

Description: A fraction of a full DS-3, which is comprised of 28 T-1s or 672 channels.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Provides very high speed access directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A Fractional DS3 will likely start at around $2,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)....not including the local loop. A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers will probably cost more than local/regional Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their network. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) DS3 service.

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Technology: DS3

Speed: 44.736 Mbps

Description: dedicated connection made up of the equivalent of 28 T-1s.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Circuit runs directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A full DS3 obviously will cost more than a Fractional DS3. Expect cost to start at around a $3-5,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider).....not including the local loop. A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers may cost more than local/regional Tier2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their network. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) or bonded (multiple DS3s bound in 1 network....option vs full OC3) DS3 service.

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Technology: E3 (Europe)

Speed: 34.368 Mbps

Description: European equivalent of T-3. Made up of the equivalent of 28 T-1s.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Circuit runs directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A full E3 usually costs more than it's North American counterpart. Expect cost to start at around a $6-8,000 for a stable, reliable 45 Mbps system (e.g. from an equivalent Tier 1 provider). A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor (not common in Europe). Local loops range from $1,000 - $3,000/month. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....just as with the North American version the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Estate agents have long been the bane of home sellers who are wary of the value of service that they, the estate agents, offer. With the proliferation of the internet (it is estimated that eighty nine percent of buyers use the internet when conducting their initial searches) and the myriad of property search engines available online it comes as no surprise that you can now sell your home yourself, cutting out the middle man - and their charges!

There are many websites dedicated to bring the private home selling market together and it is thought that last year fifty thousand homeowners sold their property privately. These sites will charge you a one off fee to advertise on their site (your property will also be featured on all the leading property search engines as well).

Selling your home privately seems to have more benefits than going through an agent, most notably the massive monetary savings that can be made from not paying the estate agents commission charges; private home selling websites point out that it is usually the home owner who sells their property as more often than not the seller ends up showing potential buyers around their property with the estate agents simply supplying possible buyers for the seller something that the internet can now do for you.

It is possible to do both, advertising with an estate agent as well as doing it yourself, without suffering any financial penalties. This can happen so long as your contract with the estate agent specifies that they are the sole agent rather than the sole selling agent. The sole agent means that they will market your property but if you find a buyer yourself you will not have to pay their fees, a sole selling agent means that if you find a buyer yourself you will still have to pay their fees. One plus point is that the estate agent will give you a market valuation for your property something that youd have to work out yourself otherwise.

The one thing you will need to do before you sell is to get a mortgage for the new property you will be buying. This of course is possible to do yourself via the internet which will also cut out the need for a mortgage broker and thus saving yourself even more!

James Quinton is a writer based in the UK. He has had articles published worldwide. Compare mortgages rates online.

Every boat insurance company has their own policies regarding their insurance and may offer you more or less than what you expect to get from them. When your first look for a boat insurance company to do business with, whether you decide to go through an agents office or get insurance online, you should always do your research on the company first to see whether or not they insure the type of boat you have.

If the insurance company has a website, go to it and take a quick look at the boats they insure, this is all you will need to do in order to determine if they can insure your boat. A boat insurance company will usually list the boats they insure on their web site. After you have got a list of about 5 different companies that offer the boat insurance you need, you will be able to contact them online or visit an agents office.

Some people feel more comfortable talking to an agent in person, while others find it more convenient to find quotes online and buy their policy over the Internet. Make sure you choose the method that is most convenient and comfortable for you. If you are a new boat owner, I would suggest that you sit down with an agent to see what options they have available to you. When you sit down with an agent in person you are able to ask probing questions and get quicker feedback than if you were to get insurance online.

Remember, each boat insurance company will have different types of coverage for boats and their parts. Make sure you are talking with an agent who understands what a boat owner needs and can provide the necessary help in selecting the right coverage for you. Depending on where you live, you may need more natural disaster insurance, theft insurance, or personal item insurance.

As I mentioned earlier, you can use the Internet to find multiple quotes, which is a great feature if you know what you are looking for. Each boat insurance company can give you a quote in just a few minutes. By going to each companys website you are able to read about their company policies, you can contact customer service and talk to an agent, or you can email any questions you have about a policy before purchasing one.

Another feature that some companies have on their sites is their live chat. If you are not in the mood to talk on the phone and you dont want to wait for an email reply, this feature is a time saver. Many times, you can purchase your policy in the same day. This is another great feature if you want to use your boat as soon as you buy it.

A boat insurance company will try their best to make buying insurance as easy as possible. Each company has to compete against each other, both online and off, so you will find that agents and customer service representatives will be very helpful. Even though you will receive quotes that are similar in price and coverage, the amount of customer service you receive may be what draws you to a particular company.

Once you have gone through every quote and reviewed each policy and have chosen one that fits your needs, you will need to make sure you store your agents information on the boat as well in your office at home. This way in case you have an emergency, you are able to file a claim quickly or ask questions about your policy. What you will find is that each boat insurance company will usually have twenty-four hour customer service lines you can call when you need to file a claim.

If you are interested in finding a boat insurance company, Brent has a site at Boat Insurance Company. There you will find useful articles, news, links and other resources on all your questions about boat insurance. While there, don't forget to get your FREE GUIDE, "Tips, Tricks, and Resources for Financing the Boat of your Dreams!" Go there now, Boat Insurance Company.