Child Friendly At A Cost (btopenworld.co.uk)

Member Name: dadofthree

Product:	btopenworld.co.uk
Date:	15/01/06 (281 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: 2MB Broadband the same price as 1MB, excellent parental controls, prompt technical help

Disadvantages: inefficient and expensive (comparatively)

During December I phoned BT about my phoneline and heard the Broadband option on the automated menu. And a month later, here I am.

I've signed up for the BT openworld 2MB Broadband with 6GB usage guideline for £22.99.

Firstly, 2MB is fast, although its now been overshadowed by an even faster 8 MB Broadband line. However, BT are actively promoting the Broadband 2MB line for regular home users - and it appears OK.

Following my order, my modem arrived promptly, the line activated on the correct day (11 hours earlier than they specified) and all that was agreed to be activated was there waiting for me. - online billing and such like.

Then came the first problem. As a member of Broadband Voice (phoning through your modem, its aparently cheaper), I needed a second cable for the phone which BT 'forgot' to enclose. This took a 30 minute phone call *(thankfully on their 'FREE SUPPORT NUMBER'. Eventually, they decided sending the wire was too hard, so they're sending a complete modem. I then need to remove the wire I need and return the remainder at their cost.

This may go some way to explaining why they are approximately £5 per month dearer than the similar service offered by Tiscali...?

However, much though this is a pain (and means I have to avoid work for a while to get to a PO and post this thing back), I am actually quite impressed with what I've got.

The helplines are superb, always helpful (even when their own company red tape limits them, they find a way to help) and I've never waited more than 3 minutes to get through. Oh, and more importantly, they are FREE :-)

But the most impressive thing about this service is easily the parental controls. I've used AOL, I've used Ticscali and I've used Demon Internet (back in the day :-)). But none can offer parental controls as good as BT.

Through the helping hands of Yahoo, BT have developed a system that lets me prevent 6 year old from talking to anyone via chat or email - without first emailing me for permission. She then has to wait until I either type in my password on her ID, or answer the email before she can speak to them. Allowing me to easily define what she can and cant do....

At the same time, my 8 year old can be stopped from downloading the latest trojan virus while she displays her far too advanced computer skills to the rest of the family...

There are so many other features of the parental control that I cant mention - limiting the time individual users can use the internet, it will automatically terminate their ID ourtwith the hours you specify. For instance, after 7pm each night, my kids ID's switch off, preventing them accessing the internet at bedtime. In fact, this was a great argument saver as even the oldest thinks the internet actually switches off completely at night.

I've also had no problems with the connection, the line is fast and downloads graphics quickly as well, the BT technicians have always responded quickly and well in case of any fault and I'm extremely happy with the service.

Although BT internet is more expensive than many of its competitors, I would highly recommend it for anyone who has children. Although those who dont might want to consider the use of a cheaper provider.

Summary: Worth the extra cash if you have children, not if you dont.