ISP with Geo-location Work-around Ditches 'Global Mode'

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

FYX ditches 'Global Mode' service one week after launch.

Earlier this week, a new internet service provider from New Zealand made headlines when it revealed that it would offer customers a way around those annoying region-specific blocks that render some websites unavailable in certain countries. However, it seems FYX ('fix') has done an about face on its highly publicized 'global mode' and will no longer offer customers the ability to circumvent region-blocks.

"FYX has a made a decision to withdraw its popular ‘global mode’ service from the market for the time being," the company wrote on its website. "FYX sincerely apologises to our customers and the New Zealand internet community for putting a halt to ‘global mode,’ which will happen tonight at 11.59pm."

The ISP says that though legal opinions 'have supported FYX's global mode,' there are matters that require further consideration. The company said it is currently contacting customers regarding its decision to pull its 'Global Mode.'

FYX launched on Friday, May 4, and caused quite a stir in the blogosphere. The first ISP to ever offer such a service, FYX's 'Global Mode' would have allowed customers to access geo-blocked sites. The company never mentioned specific sites nor did it promise access to every blocked site. It also noted in its FAQ that customers should still abide by the terms and conditions of the services they wanted to access.

With 'Global Mode' gone, FYX still has one unique feature left, in that it operates using Pay As You Go billing. Customers pay $30.30 for their connection each month and are then charged $0.30 per GB that they use. This represents a drop in price compared to earlier this week, when 'Global Mode' was still available. At launch, FYX charged $34.34 per month and $0.34 per GB used.

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Jane McEntegart
15 Comments Comment from the forums
  • hokkdawg
    Yikes, at $.30/GB, I'd have monthly bills nearing $200 (vs. $70 currently). Oh well, still cheaper than buying BluRays... :P
    Reply
  • iceman1992
    This is really too bad. I felt very strongly for that feature. I think that was a step in the right direction.
    Region blocks are ridiculous! I live in Indonesia and I get angry when "This video is not available in your country" appears on youtube (just one example). The internet is supposed to be without borders.
    Reply
  • Nakal
    Is there even remotely a valid reason to block content on the internet based on where you are from anymore? I mean, why, why would you not want to have customers from all over the world..?
    Reply
  • iceman1992
    NakalIs there even remotely a valid reason to block content on the internet based on where you are from anymore? I mean, why, why would you not want to have customers from all over the world..?Yes the licensing rights. Local media providers don't like having competitors from other countries. But that's just annoying. They should get in line with the internet age, not use geographical position as a competitive advantage.
    Reply
  • freggo
    "$0.30 per GB"

    You've got to be kiddin' me...
    Reply
  • pacioli
    If it seems too good to be true it probably is.
    Reply
  • bison88
    freggo"$0.30 per GB"You've got to be kiddin' me...

    Hell I'm surprised the article didn't focus around this part. $30 for the connection then an additional $.30 per GB when ISP's get that bandwidth for a couple of pennies (literally). Reminds me of the ridiculous Text message costs on your phones where if you don't have a plan you pay $.10 to $.20 or more per text sent or received and these guys make a killing ripping others off knowing it actually uses less of the network than a second of a phone call.

    Damn shame we got tot his point when 10 years ago everyone was just happy to be able to break out of the dial-up curse now being locked back down with lies, deceit, and greed.
    Reply
  • bv90andy
    iceman1992Yes the licensing rights. Local media providers don't like having competitors from other countries. But that's just annoying. They should get in line with the internet age, not use geographical position as a competitive advantage.
    That's what I don't get. Companies like Fox or any other channel that produces tv shows should just put them on the WorldWideWeb and make a company like google adsense that gives personalized ads according to geo. location. How hard would it be for Hulu to show personalized ads in every most countries out there?
    Reply
  • Gamer-girl
    freggo"$0.30 per GB"You've got to be kiddin' me...You think that was bad, the only other company that offered pay-as-you go here was Xnet $34.95 per month plus $1 per GB. Then there were other ISPs that charged $2 per GB excess if you go over your small cap - most caps here are under 100GB per month.
    Reply
  • $0.30 per GB is cheap here in New Zealand, considering 100GB will cost you $30,most ISPs charge over $100 per month for that and thats just adsl2.
    Reply