Why is it called Naked-DSL ?
It’s actually a technical term for providing DSL access without the need for a customer to rent a phone line. You’ll be able to choose whether you keep your existing phone line, or move to a DSL only service.
How fast will it be ?
We’ll be using ADSL2+ technology, that can deliver download speeds up to 20Mbps. That’s 78 times faster than the entry-level 256bps plan that Bigpond offers. 20Mbps is our top speed and, in reality, this is influenced by the quality of the connection into your home and the distance to your nearest telephone exchange. We expect half of customers on the service will access speeds between 8Mbps and 20Mbps.
How much will it cost ?
We’re keeping prices close to our chest at the moment. But we think it’ll be attractive to most families looking to save on the combined cost of their broadband and phone bill. If you download heaps of movies and consume 50Gb of data a month, you’ll probably find a better deal elsewhere. That said, soon after TiVo is launched we expect to offer some IP-TV downloads outside your normal data allowance.
Can I use the service, but stay with my current phone company ?
No. You’ll need to switch your entire service over to Engin. For most people, that will mean you won’t receive a bill from Telstra. That’s good news, because we expect we’ll be able to save you some money in the process.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
Yes. If you pay line rental you will be able to keep your current phone number. If you choose the DSL-only price then you will have to surrender your old phone number and use the number attached to your Engin service. On most plans, for your first few months you won’t be charged line rental but will still have your phone line connected. That gives you enough time to decide which service you’d like to choose in the long term – DSL only, or DSL with phone line rental.
If I don’t pay line rental, how do I use my telephone ?
Every Engin broadband plan includes access to our broadband phone service. That means you can connect your phone to an Engin VoiceBox that, in turn, connects to your broadband modem. Your phone calls are then sent across your broadband connection. It works just like an ordinary phone service, but it’s a lot cheaper and includes heaps of free features. Visit engin.com.au for more details. You can sign up for this service now and upgrade to our broadband offering when it is launched.
How easy will it be to move from my existing provider ?
You will “port” your phone and internet service from your existing provider(s). It might take a few weeks for this process to be completed, but you’ll receive a minor disruption in your service when the switch is made to Engin. Basically your phone and broadband connection will be out of action for as long as it takes for someone at an exchange to unplug a cable from one box and plug it into another.
When will it be available ?
We can’t say for sure right now, but we’re aiming to trial the service soon, with a full service available shortly after that.
How can I ensure I’m one of the first to sign-up ?
We will be trialing the service for a month or two with a selection of current Engin customers. So if you want to be one of the first on board, sign-up to Engin now at www.engin.com.au and start seeing the savings of calling over broadband. Also, add your name to our interest register.
Can I use it for my business ?
Engin will be offering a broadband service primarily for residential use. It will be suitable for home-workers who need broadband access, but it will not be intended for people running a server from their premises or seeking a static IP address for their connection.
Will my Engin phone service sound better ?
Most Engin broadband phone customers receive excellent quality voice calls, but that quality can be influenced by the speed of your broadband connection, congestion on the network you use and the quality of the equipment you use. Our customer research has shown that users of some Internet Service Providers have more issues with broadband calling than others. We will have greater control over all the elements that influence quality if you move to an Engin service.