Internet Surfers Are Feeling A Definite Need For Speed
Internet surfers are expected to abandon pokey dial-up modems in droves in favor of speedier links to the information superhighway.
By 2005, the number of U.S. subscribers to high-speed Internet access should reach 42 million, up from 2.3 million last year, according to a new report by Allied Business Intelligence.
There are two technologies available today that allow low-price, multi-megabit data transfer rates — DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and cable modem. So far, cable has been the clear leader, primarily because of its earlier market entry. As of the end of 1999, high-speed cable Internet service had 2.1 million U.S. subscribers while DSL only had 500,000 U.S. subscribers, according to ABI.
In the first quarter of 2000, some DSL providers experienced 50 percent to 60 percent increases in subscription rates. At that pace, according to the ABI report, local exchange carriers are hard pressed to deploy the service fast enough, and backlogs are building in some areas.
Whether you’re still using a slow dial-up modem or a newer, faster connection to the Net, here are a few entertaining or useful Web sites to explore:
* Letting off steam: One function the Internet serves is to provide surfers an avenue to vent their frustrations, generally harmlessly.
Angryman.com is a recent addition to that category. The playful new site gives visitors a chance to vent about everyday irritations, such as baseball telecasts’ not posting the score of a game often enough.
Sports is among 13 categories on the site where a user can participate in surveys, initiate surveys of their own, learn more about topics open for discussion or call up related syndicated content, such as the latest sports news.
http:www.angryman.com
* Sounds of music: The enormous popularity of MP3s has triggered a backlash from the recording industry, which is concerned about lost royalties.
Now, a new Web site claims to have the solution. It promises to pay consumers to listen to their music - MP3’s, CD’s and Internet radio - and provide royalties to the artist and the recording industry.
Soundom.com’s software monitors a user’s musical habits. For each song played, Soundom pays the listener a percent of Soundom’s advertising revenue and holds in trust a percentage of ad revenue for the artist. Every time a site visitor plays a song on the computer using the plugin and services, both the user and the record company/artist will receive a percent of advertising revenue from Soundom.com.
http://www.soundom.com
* Taxi!!!: The Internet is the eyes and ears of surfers who find entertainment in watching everything from Iowa corn growing to friction among college roommates.
For the insomniacs among us, there’s also this: Web sites showing the routine comings and goings of taxi cabs. Mind you, these sites show the action outside the cabs, not what’s going on in the back seat.
http://www.livetaxi.com
http://www.ultimatetaxi.com
http://www.ny-taxi.com