Broadband / phone / mobile package recommendations

I currently have a package comprising broadband / calls / line rental / 0800
number / 2 mobile phones from Utilities Warehouse. So far it's suited or
usage patterns perfectly and I've been very happy with the service.

However I now *must* have a static IP address for some VPN based work, and
that blows the bundling out of the water. Static IP is only available as a
business package and the whole lot ends up being far more expensive and
uncompetitive.

So, does anyone have recommendations for packages that include:

8Mb broadband
Home phone and line rental
Additional 0800 number
2 mobile phones

Mark McIntyre wrote:

> Sean Inglis wrote:
>>
>> However I now *must* have a static IP address for some VPN based work,
>
> Almost every consumer ISP uses dynamic addresses, so you may be SOL
> unless you're prepared to fork outt.
>
> However this will still work with VPNs - just register your address with
> a free DNS service provider, and you'll have a canonical name you can
> refer to in your VPN config.
>
> That said, are you /sure/ your VPN needs fixed IPs? I can't see why.
>
> And is this an employer-provided VPN - if so, stiff them for the upgrade
> to business class, assuming they want you to work from home. Note that
> even some business services don't provide true fixed addresses.

Freelance development work, and the client will only provide VPN access with
a fixed IP address.

The broadband part is pretty east to resolve, but pulling it out of my
current definitely-no-static-IP bundle means I'm looking at alternative
overall packages again.

In uk.telecom.broadband, on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:50:33, Sean Inglis
wrote:

>Freelance development work, and the client will only provide VPN access
>with a fixed IP address.

Can they not cope with you using Dyndns?
http://www.dyndns.com/

--
Jim Crowther

Jim Crowther wrote:

> In uk.telecom.broadband, on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:50:33, Sean Inglis
> wrote:
>
>>Freelance development work, and the client will only provide VPN access
>>with a fixed IP address.
>
> Can they not cope with you using Dyndns?
> http://www.dyndns.com/
>

It's not really up for debate :-)

Jono wrote:
> Jim Crowther expressed precisely :
>> In uk.telecom.broadband, on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:50:33, Sean Inglis wrote:
>>
>>> Freelance development work, and the client will only provide VPN
>>> access with a fixed IP address.
>>
>> Can they not cope with you using Dyndns?
>> http://www.dyndns.com/
>
> I doubt it - they'll be using his static IP address for the first
> element in authentication.
>
> Hostnames are inherently insecure, from their point of view.
>
>
I cant see why it has to be a one stop package either.

why not pick the est from each.

If people didn't waste so much time trying to find a one stop solution,
the would be able to pay for three separate ones that matched their
needs ;-)

The Natural Philosopher wrote:

> Jono wrote:
>> Jim Crowther expressed precisely :
>>> In uk.telecom.broadband, on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:50:33, Sean Inglis
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Freelance development work, and the client will only provide VPN
>>>> access with a fixed IP address.
>>>
>>> Can they not cope with you using Dyndns?
>>> http://www.dyndns.com/
>>
>> I doubt it - they'll be using his static IP address for the first
>> element in authentication.
>>
>> Hostnames are inherently insecure, from their point of view.
>>
>>
> I cant see why it has to be a one stop package either.
>
> why not pick the est from each.
>
> If people didn't waste so much time trying to find a one stop solution,
> the would be able to pay for three separate ones that matched their
> needs ;-)

It *doesn't* have to be, but I thought I'd ask and see if there was an
equivalent to the package I'm on (which, static IP aside, has been
rock-solid as far as reliability for broadband, mobile, and telephone has
been concerned).

I'm leaning towards taking my broadband out of the equation and keeping the
rest.

Sean Inglis wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>
>> Jono wrote:
>>> Jim Crowther expressed precisely :
>>>> In uk.telecom.broadband, on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:50:33, Sean Inglis
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Freelance development work, and the client will only provide VPN
>>>>> access with a fixed IP address.
>>>> Can they not cope with you using Dyndns?
>>>> http://www.dyndns.com/
>>> I doubt it - they'll be using his static IP address for the first
>>> element in authentication.
>>>
>>> Hostnames are inherently insecure, from their point of view.
>>>
>>>
>> I cant see why it has to be a one stop package either.
>>
>> why not pick the est from each.
>>
>> If people didn't waste so much time trying to find a one stop solution,
>> the would be able to pay for three separate ones that matched their
>> needs ;-)
>
> It *doesn't* have to be, but I thought I'd ask and see if there was an
> equivalent to the package I'm on (which, static IP aside, has been
> rock-solid as far as reliability for broadband, mobile, and telephone has
> been concerned).
>
> I'm leaning towards taking my broadband out of the equation and keeping the
> rest.
i think that is probably optimal, but i don't claim omniscience ;-)