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The right information and access to the same has become very important in the present day world. People need to remain in the knowledge of the multitude of news, views, opinions and developments to stay ahead in their respective areas of work. The importance of the internet can be understood in this context. As a matter of fact, the world wide web together with internet connectivity has brought in a revolution of sorts in way we are 'networking' with others - here and now.

The point is that for some time now, the internet has been the facilitating medium wherein users can connect, socialise, chat and keep in touch with people and events. The availability of "broadband" internet has accelerated this entire process. Users are now connecting with others at speeds that were unimaginable even a couple of years ago.

These connections are better than dial-up ones. This is because the speed at which the internet can be accessed is significantly higher. As a matter of fact, the speed of data transmission is more than 200,000 bits per second in one direction. This is possible due to the incorporation of the latest transmission technologies. The text, images and sound are converted into digital bits before being transmitted.

High speed internet connections are quite invaluable for both professional as well as casual users. One can attach personal computers to these connections and make the most of some very unique services. It is possible, for instance, to use the high speed broadband connections to make long distance calls at very economical rates. Broadband users can also go for online shopping and web surfing and be assured of a completely trouble-free experience. Moreover, unlike dial-up connections, the phone lines are free and can be used for making calls.

They have several merits to their credit. It is very easy to transfer and upload important files and documents, for instance. There is also an element of cost efficiency, wherein users can do without printing all the information that is required in specific instances.

Jack Daniel is an expert author and the webmaster of Mobile Phone Blog. The website having details of Internet Phones and Broadband Internet Connections.

So what's is the relationship between bandwidth and latency? If your internet connection speed has the proper bandwidth, why does latency slow it down? Or does it? Just how exactly does latency affect your internet? These are just some of the common questions asked......what follows is some answers in both technical and layman's terms.

Latency is the time it takes your data (packets) to get from point A (your house/modem) to point B ( the destination). Latency happens because of each of the "stops" your data has to make on the way to point B. These stops, called hops, are the different routers and in some cases servers across the internet that handles and routes traffic accordingly. The more hops that get added into the route of your data, the higher your latency will become. The farther away point B is, typically higher latency is experienced, simply because there is more distance and hops encountered. Also, each of these hops can also become busy so to speak, therefore the busier they get the more time it will take them to respond to your traffic requests, hence higher latency.

Most file transfer over the Internet uses TCP/IP. The receiver constantly sends messages back to the sender (ACKS) letting it know all is will or if not which packets need to be resent. If the channel has high latency this reverse communication take too long causing transmitter to stop sending until ACKS are received.

TCP also has a slow start mechanism. The sender has no idea of end-to-end channel capability. A slow start is designed to prevent overwhelming intermediate slower links.

Esentially, your bandwidth is the speed between you and your ISP, anything outside that, your ISP has no control over.

Actually, latency may or may not be an issue. Because latency is the delay between getting information from point A to B, it's much more of an issue in interactive applications then large transfers.

With large transfers, if your bandwidth is sufficient, reliable, and properly configured, you won't notice much of a latency issue with high latency connections. Once the "pipe is primed", the data is flowing at full speed. As long as the ACK packets are returned at a regular interval frequent enough that retransmissions don't occur, the flow will be steady and the only delay is really just during the initial startup of the transfer.

However, with interactive applications, that initial delay is what really can kill you. While it's exaggerated, say you have a 1 second latency and sending a packet takes 1 second. If you are sending a file that's 10 packets long, your total connection time is 11 seconds. If you are sending a single packet and waiting for a response back of a single packet, and you do this twice, your total connection time will be 8 seconds but yet you only sent 40% as much traffic.

Web traffic is kind of in between the two. It's not typically a large transfer, but it's not highly interactive like a online game. Typical page traffic is short bursts of requests (high latency) followed by longer periods of inactivity while you look at the page. There are a few tricks that can be done to help reduce this as an issue. There are proxy servers and pre-fetch utilities that will "preload" the page for you. During that time where you are looking at the page and your connection is setting idle, the prefetcher can download pages that the current one is linked to. When you request one, hopefully the page has been cached and can be displayed much quicker. If not, you are no worse off then having to wait for it to be loaded. This can work good for more static pages but if you are looking for something for dynamic pages (e.g. Google Maps), a prefetcher doesn't work as well or at all. Also, checking to see if your browser is using the appropriate number of connections can improve things.

The bottom line is there is a relationship between bandwidth and latency. But it may or may not be an issue.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.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.

Securing a home wireless network is a two step process. The first step is to ensure network security by securing the wireless access point or router. All of this can normally be done through the web based software interface of the device, by typing in the default address of ?92.168.0.1?

The first thing that needs to be changed is administrator username and password. Many networks are hacked into, simply because nobody bothered changing the default values. This is the same as most VCRs still blinking 12:00 because no one changed the time. Once this is done, enable MAC address filtering, and add computers based on their MAC address. This option will allow only those specified computers to connect to the network, but will not however guarantee total security.

The network SSID defines a name for the network. The default value of this should be changed to an obscure and long string. This value should be written down in a safe place and entered into the machines that are allowed to connect. Disabling the broadcast of the network SSID also provides an extra layer of security as the network will not advertise itself to outsiders.

Encryption should also be enabled. The default encryption is normally weak and can be easily broken. Normally WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) is used for data encryption, however where available try and use WPA-PSK encryption. This method uses 256 bit encryption for transmitting data and the key also changes so provides a far more secure alternative to WEP.

Some routers have firewalls built in. Where available make sure that this option is enabled.

The second step of securing a home wireless network is securing each individuals PC. This can be done by installing a software firewall (this may not always be necessary if a hardware firewall is installed), antivirus software, anti-spam and pop-up blocking software. It is essential to keep this software up to date, as downloading the latest security updates for the operating system and web browser you are using.

You can manage your home network yourself if you have the time, or you can buy a home networking software that will monitor your network and alert you to any intruders or weak security measures for about $30. Whichever way you choose to do it make sure you secure your home wireless network.

About the Author

Wallace Renckers is a wireless networking fanatic who runs Home Wireless Network. Get your free wireless network software that makes setting up a home wireless network a breeze. Solve your own connectivity and security problems and leave tech support alone.

In a world where broadband internet access is everyone's goal, one device rules them all: the awesome HTC Shift.

Due to be released on Orange very soon, the HTC Shift is all set to shake up the world of mobile broadband, because it is, simply, the ultimate all-in-one solution. Combining all the good stuff of a UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC, to the uninitiated) with a built-in HSDPA modem, it's the perfect tool for getting the internet on the move.

Features of the HTC Shift

Known round the world as an Ultra-Mobile PC, or a sub-laptop, the HTC Shift is an absolute powerhouse of a device. The trap many are going to fall into, though, thinking it's a mobile phone. Because it's not, it won't do phone calls (and dear lord, if it was, that'd be one BIG mobile phone!) What we have here is essentially a laptop in a squashed-down body. You know it's a fully featured PC, because it comes complete with Windows Vista Business, the latest in the long line of Windows operating systems, designed to give you all the grunt and power of a what you might call a 'proper' laptop. But combined with that, it also includes a stripped down version of Windows Mobile. Why, you may ask? Well, once you've finished using one of the many programs in Vista, you just switch it to mobile mode, and you get a lot of functionality, and you get your messages, without Vista being left on, draining the battery. That's just an awesomely clever thing for HTC to have built into the Shift.

And then, of course, you have a long, long list of other features. You have full Office functionality, you have full internet functionality and of course, full email functonality. So, whether you're using the HTC Shift for work, rest or play, it will instantly shift (geddit?) into whatever gear you need! Add in to that a massive 7 inch screen, and security in the form of biometrics (fingerprint scanner, the ultimate in security, to you and me), and it makes the HTC Shift one hell of a powerful device.

Mobile broadband - the future!

But the HTC Shift mobile PC's real party trick is mobile broadband. At speeds of up to 3.6Mbps. Built in. Just imagine that for a second. You're out on the train, trying to organise tickets to go see a film after work. The cinema's automated booking service is a nightmare. But you're not worried, because you have an HTC Shift, so you change it from Windows Mobile to Vista mode (a process that takes all of, ooh one button-press!), and book the tickets online. And then jump on Messenger and tell your friend the tickets are booked without having to pay for a phone call.And all the time you do it, you'll be getting that lovely warm feeling inside, knowing that with mobile broadband, you're getting internet speeds twice as fast as the average your friends get, sat at home!