XS4ALL has come top again in the Consumentenbond's Provider Monitor. In this monthly test, XS4ALL has succeeded on all but one occasion in fulfilling its mission of being the best.

XS4ALL achieved the highest scores of all the tested providers in the following sections: internet quality (8.3), general satisfaction (8.0) and customers without technical problems (81%).

The Consumentenbond conducts monthly tests of internet and telephony providers. The results of the Provider Monitor are based on consumers’ opinions and experiences. The key criteria are service quality (internet and telephony), technical problems, service and the way in which telephony and internet providers handle problems.

Read the test results
About the Consumentenbond’s Provider Test

Today XS4ALL is launching XSPhone: a free application for the Apple iPhone and 2nd generation iPod Touch. XSPhone enables iPhone users to make calls at low call costs via the internet (Voice over IP) and if desired using their home landline number.

With the introduction of XSPhone, XS4ALL aims to increase ease of use for its customers. Now it is even easier to communicate with the rest of the world, wherever you may be. XSPhone allows you to: place and receive calls, view information on recent calls, create your own favourites list and directly access your contacts and voicemail.

The application is suitable for use with XS4ALL’s Talk subscription, but also for other VoIP providers that use the SIP protocol. XSPhone currently still only operates via WiFi (wireless internet), as VoIP via mobile internet is not yet permitted. However, XS4ALL sees this application as a significant first step towards VoIP via mobile phone.

Download XSPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=317967733&mt=8
Talk from XS4ALL : http://www.xs4all.nl/en/allediensten/bellen/

Today XS4ALL is launching XSPhone: a free application for the Apple iPhone and 2nd generation iPod Touch. XSPhone enables iPhone users to make calls at low call costs via the internet (Voice over IP) and if desired using their home landline number.

With the introduction of XSPhone, XS4ALL aims to increase ease of use for its customers. Now it is even easier to communicate with the rest of the world, wherever you may be. XSPhone allows you to: place and receive calls, view information on recent calls, create your own favourites list and directly access your contacts and voicemail.

The application is suitable for use with XS4ALL’s Talk subscription, but also for other VoIP providers that use the SIP protocol. XSPhone currently still only operates via WiFi (wireless internet), as VoIP via mobile internet is not yet permitted. However, XS4ALL sees this application as a significant first step towards VoIP via mobile phone.

Download XSPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=317967733&mt=8
Talk from XS4ALL : http://www.xs4all.nl/allediensten/bellen/

XS4ALL has introduced a new colocation service. From now on, the service Half Rack is available in the DC2 datacenter. Half rack is a sealed off half cabinet part (27U high). Customers with a Half Rack have 24x7 access to the datacenter.

Included with Half Rack are ample amounts of data traffic (2,5 TB) and energy (2x5 ampere). Customers with a Half Rack gain day and night access to their own sealed cabinet section. With this new service, Colocation offers a appropriate solution for every company.

The DC2 datacenter is the heart of the XS4ALL network. Many XS4ALL and business customer servers are located in this systemroom. The datacenter excels in security and reliability and is easily accessible. XS4ALL's power usage utilises green electricity and recycled cooling.

More information: http://www.xs4all.nl/en/allediensten/eigenserver/colocation/

XS4ALL is substantially expanding its Mobile Internet portfolio. In the existing accounts, the download speed is being doubled and the data limits are being increased. There is also a new, low-cost account: Mobile Internet Go. With this updated portfolio, XS4ALL aims to make mobile internet more attractive for consumers and small businesses.

The new speeds and many inclusive extras set XS4ALL’s Mobile Internet portfolio clearly apart from those of other providers in the Netherlands. Naturally, XS4ALL’s existing Mobile Internet subscribers will also benefit: from 1 February 2009, the speed of their accounts will be doubled free of charge.

For €20 (excluding VAT) per month, the new Mobile Internet Go account provides speeds of 768/384 Kb/s (down/up). As with all Mobile Internet accounts from XS4ALL, Mobile Internet Go comes as standard with a range of extra features:
- Five 1GB mailboxes,
- A virus scanner and firewall from McAfee,
- Free access to the 900-plus KPN Hotspots throughout the Netherlands.

Mobile Internet from XS4ALL gives users wireless internet access wherever they are. The service is aimed at people who are often on the move in the Netherlands and want to be able to go online at any time. Users can access the internet and e-mail directly via a laptop. Mobile Internet from XS4ALL is now more advantageous when combined with the purchase of a laptop.

Mobile Internet from XS4ALL
Attractive laptop offer with Mobile Internet
Overview of the new portfolio

XS4ALL is delighted to have been declared the best internet service provider in three highly regarded tests in December 2008. The tests were carried out as part of surveys conducted by the Dutch Consumers’ Association, Tweakers.net and Emerce.

XS4ALL emerged as the best provider according to the new provider monitor of the Dutch Consumers’ Association. Every two months, this survey gives an insight into the performance of internet service providers. XS4ALL scored highest for internet quality (8.1), general customer satisfaction (8) and fault clearance (7.6). In the sections devoted to value for money and telephony, it came in third place. The Dutch Consumers’ Association declared: “XS4ALL is the best provider according to the participants in the provider monitor. It scores at least 10% above average in most areas.”

The Emerce 100 is the annual image survey of the hundred best e-business companies, conducted by TNS NIPO. XS4ALL came first in the Internet Service Provider category, as in the previous year. On Tweakers.net, a vote takes place every year on the awarding of the Golden Spanner, covering 15 categories. On New Year’s Eve it was announced that XS4ALL had come first in the ‘best internet service provider’ category, as in the previous year.

XS4ALL’s CEO Theo de Vries is proud of these results: “This is a reward for our efforts. We focus on the customer and set high service and quality standards. Naturally we will continue to do everything to maintain and continuously enhance our high level of service.”

XS4ALL in surveys and tests: http://www.xs4all.nl/en/overxs4all/feiten/tests.php

XS4ALL has adjusted her opening times over the holiday period:

Thursday 18 December: closed from 17.00
Wednesday 24 December: closed from 16.00
Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day): closed
Friday 26 December (Boxing day/St. Stephen's Day): closed
Wednesday 31 December: closed from 16.00
Thursday 1 January: closed

XS4ALL wishes all her customers a happy Christmas and New Year!

There was a technical problem with the last version of the McAfee software that was available for download from the Service Centre. It is therefore necessary that you install the most recent version of this anti-virus/firewall software on your computer.

Please take care with the following: if you have installed the McAfee software that was available for download earlier this month, then you first need to uninstall this. In Windows: Start - Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs. You can now install the most recent version which is available in the Service Centre since 15 December: https://service.xs4all.nl/?mod=software&os;=winnt

If you experience problems with the removal, installation, registration or updating of the McAfee software, please contact McAfee. XS4ALL does not provide any support for this software. McAfee specialises in this product.

McAfee offers support via: http://service.mcafee.com

If asked by a McAfee employee which McAfree product you are using, the answer is: VirusScan 12.

After ten weeks, ten winners and more than 5,000 entries, XS4ALL has successfully rounded off the photo competition. In the past weeks, XS4ALL customers could win an ASUS Eee PC by sending a photo of an X, in line with the 'X is more' campaign which XS4ALL began earlier this year.

Each week, the jury chose the most beautiful, most original or most eye-catching photo from the entries that had been received. XS4ALL was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm and by the huge amount of photos submitted. See the winning photos here: http://www.xs4all.nl/fotowedstrijd/winnaars.php

XS4ALL has substantially increased the storage limit for all her customers. Mailboxes have doubled in size from 500 MB to 1GB, and the standard disk space from 200 to 500 MB. By doing this, the provider meets the increasing wishes of internetters to store all their mail, including larger files, centrally.

The big advantage of online storage with XS4ALL is that customers can always access their mail, any time, wherever they are: at home and at the office, en route in an internet caf´ or with a mobile phone or PDA. With the expansion of disk space, it will now be even easier for customers to publish a website with large files such as videos or photo albums.

Customers can retrieve their e-mail using IMAP, by which the e-mail remains on XS4ALL servers, including sent messages. IMAP provides customers with a synchronised version of their mail no matter where they access it.

The new storage limits have been automatically implemented for all XS4ALL customers and are available since today. The enlarging of the mailboxes is available to customers that have enabled the Spam filter in the Service Centre. Thanks to the spam filter, disk space is also indirectly saved.

More about e-mail and IMAP with XS4ALL: http://www.xs4all.nl/helpdesk/email/ (Dutch)
Service Centre: https://service.xs4all.nl/

The newest version of McAfee AntiVirus and Firewall is once again available for XS4ALL customers. All customers using Windows can download McAfee® VirusScan® from XS4ALL's online Service Centre. The latest virus definitions will also remain available via the Service Centre.

XS4ALL finds it important to offer quality software with which customers can arm themselves against the growing dangers on the internet. McAfee programmes are regularly tested as one of the best security software. The programme is available in both Dutch and English.

Customers that have other security software installed on their computer must first delete that software before they install the McAfee software. It is not necessary to delete earlier versions of McAfee - McAfee® VirusScan® Plus has an option to detect and delete those older versions.

XS4ALL's Service Centre: https://service.xs4all.nl/

Helpdesk pages: http://www.xs4all.nl/helpdesk/beveiliging/win/antivirus/ (Dutch)

FAQ: http://www.xs4all.nl/helpdesk/beveiliging/virus/mcafee_faq.p
p (Dutch)

Support is supplied by NAI, the creator of the software.
See http://service.mcafee.com/TechSupportHome.aspx?lc=2057&sg;=TS


More information on McAfee® VirusScan® Plus:
http://uk.mcafee.com/root/package.asp?pkgid=276

The Dutch Consumers' Association (Consumentenbond) conducted a security test on the wireless modems and routers of different internet providers. The security of wireless modems is questionable if the modem doesn't meet certain requirements. According to that list of requirements, XS4ALL provides a well secured product: the FRITZ!Box Fon WLAN 7170.

In order to optimally satisfy all requirements, a standard protection password will be added to the browser interface. This ensures that intruders would be unable to change the modem settings.

Read the Consumentenbond's press release

15 years XS4ALL = 15 years internet for everyone in the Netherlands. FIFI2008 is the internet and social event where you talk together, download inspiration and discover scores of new possibilities.

What do we actually know about the internet and who is in charge of it? Do we know enough about the opportunities? And privacy, what does that really mean? Or safety: do the the decision makers actually know what they're talking about? Be there: live hacks, inspirational speakers, debates, workshops and the world's first live cyborg.

With discount for XS4ALL customers.

Check out: http://www.fifi2008.nl

It is possible that a number of different telephone numbers (including voicemail and 112) are not reachable without installing new firmware on the FRITZ!Box modem. Fix this problem as soon as possible. Read the instructions here. (Dutch)

If you are dependant on a telephone connection, XS4ALL advises you to always have an alternative means of phoning at your disposal (e.g. a mobile or a fixed-line telephone).

XS4ALL subscribers can now also make calls over the internet at the many KPN HotSpots. The advantage of the HotSpots is that you can make and receive calls right away, because there is no need to log in. There are no extra charges for using the HotSpot. You will only be billed for any call charges you incur.

Talk via HotSpots has been tested extensively as an experimental service by XS4ALL. It became a fully-fledged service on 15 September 2008. XS4ALL subscribers can make unlimited use of KPN HotSpots.

http://www.xs4all.nl/en/allediensten/pack/hotspotsbellen.php

XS4ALL is launching a new campaign entitled 'X is meer' ('X is more'). The ISP aims to show that it offers not only high-quality, high-speed internet connections, but also more certainty, more security and more help if something goes wrong. Today, it is impossible to imagine business or private life without the internet. We just cannot do without it. No one understands that better than XS4ALL, which has a 15-year history as a high-quality provider with a passion for the internet.

Whereas the initial phase of the internet was mostly about access and technology, the current phase is all about permanent accessibility, user-friendliness and comprehensive support. Director Marion Koopman: “Consumers and business operators who choose quality do not only want certainty that the connection will always work, they also want effective help from somebody who knows exactly what to do if something goes wrong.”

XS4ALL gained a reputation as a quality provider among the very first internet users. XS4ALL aims to use this campaign to present a new, fresh face as a provider that is accessible to a wide range of consumers and businesses. The campaign is set to launch on 15 August with a TV ad. That will be followed later in the month by magazine and billboard advertisements.

View the TV ad here: http://www.xs4all.nl/overxs4all/campagne/index.php

On 29 July 2008 XS4ALL will begin issuing 085 telephone numbers instead of 087 numbers. The 085 numbers are regulated and intended specially for internet telephone calls. The directive applicable to telephone providers states that charges for calls to these numbers are the same as those for regional numbers. XS4ALL has been allocated the 08587 series by OPTA, the Dutch telecoms regulator.

XS4ALL subscribers with an 087 number can retain and continue to use it for the time being. They can also cancel their 087 number and request a new 085 number. New or existing XS4ALL subscribers who start making calls through XS4ALL will from now on be issued with an 085 number.

The first two telephone numbers are provided free of charge; that also applies to combinations of an 087 number and an 085 number. Telephone numbers can be requested or cancelled in the XS4ALL Service Centre.

Talk from XS4ALL
Service Centre

XS4ALL is holding a two-day conference on the influence of technology on society, naturally devoting particular attention to the internet. The conference is being organised in an unusual way: a weblog and a wiki have been set up to enable a large group of people to draw up the programme jointly. The weblog and the wiki are accessible to the public: anyone who wants to participate is welcome at www.fifi2008.nl.

XS4ALL is organising the conference to celebrate the fact that the internet has been accessible to everyone in the Netherlands for 15 years. A lot has changed in society since XS4ALL was formed in 1993: technology has played an increasingly prominent role and the internet has rapidly become an indispensable part of many people's lives. For XS4ALL it is a good time to look back at the last 15 years and gaze forward into the future.

The conference will take place on 27 and 28 November in Amsterdam and will have the name FIFI: Technology, Fear It / Fix It? Should we fear technology or embrace it? The conference will try to bridge these two opposing views. A range of subjects will be on the agenda, including the gulf between technicians and policymakers, the internet and quality of life, and education. There will also be a lot of exciting things to see, such as robots, augmented reality and connected art.

More about FIFI

XS4ALL is to donate more than €120,000 to charity. This is due to a national network interruption that occurred in May this year. XS4ALL subscribers who were affected by the interruption in service were offered compensation by the provider in the form of a small gift. Alternatively, they were also given the option to make a donation to one of three selected charities. Of all of the subscribers who responded, almost 15% opted to make a donation.

Marion Koopman, Director of XS4ALL, is extremely pleased with this result: "The number of customers who opted to make a charitable donation was particularly high and this should be applauded! I also think it's wonderful that something positive has come out of the network interruption."

Amnesty were also delighted. "We are very pleased to receive this donation and also this recognition. We will put the money to good use within our campaigns to improve human rights across the world", stated Eduard Nazarski, Director of Amnesty International in the Netherlands.

The funds are to be donated to the following charities:
Amnesty International: €87,826.50
EDRI (European organisation for privacy online): €15,262.50
Press Now (promoting freedom of speech for journalists across the world): €17,872.50

XS4ALL wishes to extend its sincere thanks to these subscribers for taking the decision to donate their compensation to charity. We are proud that so many of our customers are happy to contribute towards a good cause.

PCzapper Pro is no longer included in the XS4ALL subscriptions. It will not be possible to download the program after 27 June. If you are a PCzapper Pro user, you'll be informed by letter in the course of the coming month that your licence has expired. If you wish to continue using it, go to http://www.pczapper.nl to request a licence. There is also a free version, PCzapper Free.