Thanks to our relationship with iiNet, we’re thrilled to bring you a brand new section to MyWestnet; Westnet Freezone!

The Westnet Freezone will give you access to an expanding range of hot content and the best thing is - it’s free! Freezone is a selection of servers and sites on the internet where you can download from without it counting towards your monthly download limit. Freezone will take the place of Westnet Neighbourhood and Westnet Vault for unmetered traffic. You will get on-demand access to:

• 2008/09 Barclays Premier League

• NASA TV

• Drift Racing

• Golf: Overcoming the Majors

• Wake up! WA

• Cruizin’

• Macquarie Digital

• New Radio Stations

• Online Gaming Sites

• Download Sites and Mirrors

Click here to find out more!

Have you heard about our hot new webmail platform? It’s an exciting product development for Westnet and will see fresh, feature rich, more complete email products offering users an innovative email experience.

We’re so close to launching ‘Webmail’ and we’re calling on YOU to be among the first group of customers to experience it – and all you have to do in return is offer your feedback and complete a mini survey for us. By agreeing to take part in the beta stage of this major rollout, not only will you enjoy all of the new features listed below (and more!), you also stand to win one of two iPod touches (worth $399!) or one of three sets of $50 Myer Vouchers.

Some of the new features include:
• innovative new design
• integration between web pages and your mailbox
• greater email management functionality
• enjoy a faster and more powerful search function
• user tags and message flags
• preview URL images and documents
• import calendars
• exporting emails
• share calendars

The trial will be available from the 3rd June through until the 16th of June and will give you an opportunity to help Westnet refine its email system and assist in its reliability. If you would like to help out by being a beta tester for Webmail and get your voice heard, please email webmail@westnet.com.au .

We will acknowledge your application and be in touch with the next steps.
Please note : We are unable to take applications from Westnet Mail Hosting customers and those who require the mailr.westnet.com.au service.

What is actually happening?
Westnet and iiNet are joining forces. iiNet have reached an agreement to purchase Westnet 100%.

Why is Westnet joining forces with iiNet?
Both iiNet and Westnet saw a great opportunity to combine two ISPs and create the 3rd largest internet customer base in the country. Both CEO’s believe that consolidation is inevitable and essential in the Australian ISP industry, and with iiNet being Perth based, it makes a lot of sense for the company.

iiNet sees great value in Westnet’s achievements, notably in sales channel management, marketing and customer service excellence. Operating the two businesses side by side will allow us to share the best of two performing companies.

Will iiNet be integrating Westnet into its business?
No. The two companies will continue to manage two separate brands and operate separately. From a Westnet member perspective, it will be business as usual, and the key difference will be that we will benefit from knowledge-sharing and products from iiNet.

What are the benefits to members of this acquisition?
Westnet members will benefit from a broader range of products available to them. This should include unbundled ADSL2+ available to more members, naked DSL and VoIP, which we hope to offer to members over time.

What are the benefits to Westnet of this acquisition?
Westnet will be able to offer more products to members, and will benefit from a solid platform for future growth.

What are the benefits to iiNet of this acquisition?
iiNet is set to benefit in a number of ways, such as:
• Access to strong email and hosting product innovations currently in development at Westnet
• Access to a strong national Agent network
• Access to award winning customer service techniques

What will happen to the Westnet management team?
The current management team will remain in place.

Will the call centres merge?
No. Westnet will not be taking iiNet service calls, nor will iiNet be taking Westnet service calls. Westnet will still operate their single call centre. Both companies want to learn from each other to improve how we deliver service.

Will Westnet be supported to drive its growth strategy?
Yes, Westnet will be supported in its efforts to grow and continue to provide award winning customer service.

Have any more questions?
Keep referring back to this page for updates and additions, we will post these as they come to hand.

After 2 weeks as a beta product, the full MyWestnet has now been launched! We’ve received heaps of valuable feedback and public response has been very positive - fantastic news for everyone involved in bringing the project together. Now that the site is live, we will continue improving the service and bringing the best of the web together in one place. Enjoy!

After much time in development, we are pleased to announce the launch of the new MyWestnet beta site – a comprehensive online portal providing a range of web services including account tools, Google search, news and video, classifieds and lifestyle services, online information and much more!

Open the MyWestnet beta site and you’ll see cleaner design and a realm of new content and services. You can now personalise the page by choosing your own colour theme, select your own location to get local weather, news and fuel information and minimise any content panels that you don’t need. You wanted more control over the site and we heard you!

Site features include:

• Google Search
• Web Links
• eBay, Amazon, Wikipedia, YouTube, MySpace
• News
• Video
• Weather
• Member Login to MyEmail, MyAccount, MyFoto
• Fuel Prices
• Property from Realestate.com.au
• Cars from Drive.com.au
• Careers at Seek.com.au
• Dating at RSVP.com.au
• Movie Guide
• MyFoto / Photo of the Week
  
• Horoscopes
  
• Quiz
  
• Westnet News
  
• 3FL News
  
• Quote of the Day
  
• Dictionary
  
• On This Day
  
• Finance
  
• World Time
  
• TV Guide

Whilst we gather your valuable feedback and continue to make improvements, the beta site is currently running in conjunction with the current live site. We aim to launch the full site in early May so keep you eye out for further blog posts!

Check out the MyWestnet beta site here!

We are proud to announce Westnet Footy Tips is back for 2008! It’s FREE to enter, exclusive to Westnet members no matter what your footy code preference, be it Australian Football League or National Rugby leage.

Simply register for Westnet Footy Tips ‘08, enter your AFL and/or NRL tips for each round and you’re in the running to win a Panasonic 42″ Plasma Television and Home Theatre System! There are also a stack of weekly prizes up for grabs.

If you participated in Westnet Footy Tips last year, you can simply activate your tipping account from last year and keep your same profile by clicking on this link - http://westnet.footytips.com.au/ and entering your previous username and password.

Register or reactivate your Westnet Footy Tips ‘08 account before March 28 to be in the draw for a $250 Westnet account credit, there are two (2) up for grabs.

Hurry! The 2008 NRL season commences Firday, March 14 and the AFL season starts Friday, March 20.

Hi all,

Great news! Westnet is increasing the monthly download allowance on our 8Mbps Boost Broadband1 plans.

The increase in download allowance will be in effect Monday 18 February 2008.
Plan Name Peak Off Peak
Option 1 1GB /2GB
Option 2 7GB/ 10GB
Option 3 15GB/ 25GB
Option 4 25GB/ 45GB
Option 5 40GB /80GB

Members currently signed up on a Boost plan will be notified on Monday 18 February.

Changes to the member’s account can be viewed via MyAccount, as they may not be reflected in their next invoice due to billing cycles.

What if a member’s account has already been ‘shaped’ this month?
If they’ve already been ‘shaped’ but have not reached the new download allowance, ‘shaping’ will be removed. If they have been ‘shaped’ and have already exceeded the new limit, they will return to normal speeds at the commencement of the new month.

What if the account is in ‘held’ status?
As soon as the account is activated, they will receive the upgrade in download allowance.

Will excess charges change?
No – but they will come into effect as the new download allowance limit is reached (unless the ‘shaping’ option is enabled).

Yes, we know it’s a bit of a cheesy pun, but the deal is pretty cool!

We’re calling all Westnet members on a Broadband1 Starter or Everyday plan who want faster broadband.

Follow the simple steps on this page to get in now and upgrade your broadband speed for FREE - we’ll waive the usual speed upgrade fee! (valued at $19.95).

This offer is available to existing members and only when moving their current broadband speed to faster speeds.

Offer ends 17th March 2008.

Upgrade from a Starter plan on 256kbps and double your speed to 512kbps on an Everyday plan from as low as $44.95 ($34.95 when bundled with Westnet Phone).

Boost your speed all the way to 1.5Mbps on an Active plan, starting at $49.95 per month ($39.95 when bundled with Westnet Phone).

A major advertising initiative for Westnet commenced on Monday 21 January 2008, incorporating nationwide regional television commercials, local press advertising and a direct mail campaign. The campaign will promote our new two-way satellite broadband plans which waive basic set-up fees for eligible customers allowing customers to save $2750.

The free basic set-up offer for eligible households is made possible for a limited time as part of the Federal Government’s Australian Broadband Guarantee scheme to encourage the uptake of faster internet services throughout regional Australia.

The campaign puts renewed focus on Westnet’s Satellite Broadband service, offering faster internet speeds specifically catering to regional and remote locations where Broadband ADSL and wireless are not available. The campaign aims to leverage the Australian Government subsidy being provided to eligible households who have not previously connected to a broadband service.

The TV commercials feature real staff members describing the limited time offer and the award winning levels of customer service enjoyed by Westnet members.

See the new ads here::

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egqwgm4Tofg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW7dDdK1aJg

And all Westnet ads here::

http://www.youtube.com/westnetvideos

A dedicated phone number has been created for the campaign: 13 27 31.

About Satellite Broadband

The service uses a satellite modem and dish installed outside the home which communicates with a satellite positioned thousands of kilometres in space above the Australia/Asia Pacific region. The service is reliable and fast and the installation and set-up is completed by a technician, making it easy for customers to connect to the service.

Following an application, Westnet arranges a time convenient to the member where a qualified technician will come to install the equipment and ensure the customer is successfully connected to the service.

Households interested in connecting to satellite broadband can find out if their premises qualify for the service and free set-up incentive by using the Broadband Service Locator which will be accessed via the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy website (www.dbcde.gov.au/).

After entering the required information, individuals will be advised if they are eligible. If so, they will receive a reference number and an eligibility attestation form which must be completed and provided to Westnet to enable the service installation and free set-up. If customers are not eligible, the system will indicate this.

Westnet products, services and details on awards can be viewed on our homepage.