If you are exploring different options for high speed Internet access one of the major cable companies is Time Warner. Currently it is one of the largest cable and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the United States and offers high speed Internet access in more than 38 states. Time Warner primarily services highly populated areas but in recent years they have branched out more to rural areas.
And if you live in a rural area where there is no connectivity in terms of high speed Internet access, if enough people get together and petition for high speed data services and share the cost of implementing the service, Time Warner will install RoadRunner or Earthlink along the road where you live. The Internet connection speed is capable of reaching data speeds of up to 50 Mbps depending the plan you choose, the time of day and the number of users accessing the service simultaneously.
Time Warner Cable Features and Services
Since Time Warner Cable is a large company which covers many areas of the US they often are criticized for poor service. However, when tested by third party users the hybrid fiber coaxial connection proved to be able to support speeds of up to 30 Mbps for the Road Runner service and up to 50 Mbps for other connectivity services.
The criticism mainly comes from problems which require a technician to visit your residence for troubleshooting. Time Warner will send a technician to your residence on a specific day however they do not provide you with a specific time. This can be rather inconvenient if you have plans for you day and have to wait around for hours before a technician arrives. Aside from that, there is a lot to be said for Time Warner Cable services which are comprehensive and include:
- High Speed Internet Access: If you are looking for multiple options for high speed Internet, Time Warner offers 5 different Internet packages which range from the Basic with download speeds of up to 3 Mbps to the Ultimate plan which offers download speeds of up to 50 Mbps. The upload speeds range from 1 Mbps (megabits per second) for the Basic plan to 5 Mbps for the Ultimate plan. Additionally, you can connect up to 6 WiFi- enabled devices for free when you subscribe to the Extreme or the Ultimate plan however there is an additional fee for the Basic, Standard, and Turbo plans. All plans except the Basic include free access to Time Warner Cable public WiFi hotspots.
- Email: The number of email accounts you can access depends upon the type of plan you choose and ranges from 5 accounts for the Basic up to 30 accounts for the Ultimate plan. Each email account is capable of storing up to 10MB of data plus you also receive free firewall, anti-phishing, and antivirus protection in addition to spam filtering.
- High Definition TV: Time Warner offers a wide selection of cable television services which include interactive HDTV which allows you to watch sports, movies on demand in addition to accessing the Navigator On-Screen Program Guide which provides a way for you to surf channels without interrupting your current TV program. The television service also comes with a digital video recorder (DVR) which offers 80 hours of storage and a Look Back application which allows you to go back and view a program you missed up to 72 hours earlier. Depending upon where you are located you may also be able to access remote DVR management and on-demand recording for your entire household.
- Voice Services: Time Warner offers a variety of different phone services with a broad range of features. The calling plans offer varied features according to the plan you choose and can include caller ID on your TV and PC, 3-way calling, conventional caller ID, call waiting and call waiting ID, call blocking, speed dial, call forwarding, voicemail, and VoiceZone which allows you to log into My Services on the Time Warner website to manage your entire phone service and features.
In addition to the services and features discussed above Time Warner Cable also offers their services in bundles in addition to customizing a solution if you have business needs. It is also important to mention that not all services and features are available in all areas and the actual speed of your Internet connection may also vary depending upon how far you are located from the local Time Warner facility.
If you are able to access one of the high end packages in your area it may be worthwhile to consider to ensure you always have access to higher data speeds. Overall the connectivity speed is rather dependable but if you happen to live in an area where many people are accessing the service simultaneously the chances are good you will not receive the maximum data speed which is mentioned in your plan.
What’s New?
In addition to a comprehensive set of services Time Warner Cable recently released an app for the iPad tablet PC which allows you to convert your iPad into a cable box. The app is available for free from the App Store however, you must subscribe to the Time Warner cable TV service in order to access programming with the app.
Currently, you can access more than 30 different channels using the app and you must be connected to a wireless network which is fueled by Time Warner’s Earthlink service or through the cable modem which is provided when you subscribe to the TWC service. Although the app is still somewhat limited, Time Warner recently announced they will be adding more channels in addition to being able to using your iPad as a remote control and for programming your DVR.
Time Warner Cable also recently announced that the company has been striving to boost data speeds for subscribers located in valleys where Internet speeds are typically slower. As a result, TWC has been installing an advanced fiber optic network to accommodate families in rural areas that require faster data speeds for gaming and online video. Time Warner also plans to upgrade the Extreme and Ultimate plans so data speeds come closer to 50 Mbps and 30 Mbps as stated in each plan. This is also a sign that TWC is constantly striving to expand and improve their services, especially to rural customers where the options are often limited.