Broadband internet High-speed broadband access to the internet, making it easier to download text, pictures and video, etc. has now become well-established. Higher bandwidth -…

Broadband internet High-speed broadband access to the internet, making it easier to download text, pictures and video, etc. has now become well-established. Higher bandwidth - connection speed - allows better use of some applications such as webcams, for two-way video communication, and video-conferencing, where people in two or more locations can see and talk to each other. Internet TV has also emerged, with users able to watch television as it is streamed over the internet, and with video-on-demand (VOD) services such as the BBC's iPlayer to watch programmes later. Internet access is increasingly available on wireless LAN (local area network) systems, commonly known as Wi-Fi. To access the internet in this way, you have to be in a particular hotspot - a place such as a café, airport terminal, etc. equipped with the network. Mobile internet This relates to accessing the internet via mobile devices such as mobile phones, tablets and handhelds. In this area, a new category of computer has emerged: the netbook, a small, portable laptop computer with no moving parts, specifically designed to browse or surf the internet. The standard mobile communications technology for doing this is 3G or 4G. Mobile devices increasingly come loaded - equipped - with different applications or apps - programs for different uses, for example email, a music player such as Apple's iPod, etc. Another of these applications is SatNav - satellite navigation using GPS (Global Positioning System) - with mapping to see where you are and to navigate - plan and follow routes. Moore's law As ever, Moore's law is playing its part in bringing down the price of different devices. This is the principle that the computing power of a particular size of computer chip - the basic component of computers - will roughly double every 18 months. This means that the cost of a particular unit of computing power will continue to halve every 18 months for the foreseeable future. The law is named after Gordon Moore, co-founder of the chip company Intel, who made the prediction in 1965. It's not just a mobile phone - it's in a class of its own: it's a communications device, a music player and an internet browser. The Optimum 3000 has the latest 3G mobile technology and the best wireless technology. Its many other features include GPS and games that you can buy and download from the Optimum site. 1 Which technology does it use to make calls and access the internet? 2 Which technology does it use in hotspots? 3 Where can you buy new applications for it? 4 What do you use to avoid getting lost? 5 What do you use to find and access different websites?