The broadband availability checker tool works by dialling 0870 833 5155 (call rates vary according to telephone provider). The prompts then guide you through either checking the phone line you are calling from, or another phone number which you can enter using your telephone keypad. The service even works with mobile phones, allowing ADSL resellers to quickly check the suitability of a line on-site with a customer without needing to connect a phone say into a fax line. The test typically takes a moment and the results are read out to you over the phone. The system will detect the presence of conflicting services such as ISDN.
"I built this tool to de-mystify and simplify the broadband buying process. Anyone with a phone can check their own or any other line there and then. It beats logging on to slower website systems especially when most users don't have a broadband link to do it." Chris Lacy-Hulbert (Developer), Mailbox
Mailbox have also announced a broadband diagnostics tool available 24x7 to Mailbox customers to try and work out what could be causing a problem. The tool, also written by Chris Lacy-Hulbert asks users certain questions including whether 'disruptive' tests can be carried out which could affect the broadband connectivity on the line. Once completed, results are shown which help in fixing any issues that are discovered.
The company is planning to offer both services to other ISPs in due course as a custom-branded service. Tools such as these are likely to reduce the support overhead, particularly for smaller ISPs who may not all have the same level of automation as some of their larger counterparts