Sify proves it is stupid and insensitive to end users need

24 hours have not passed since my last post where I mentioned that I was at last reached a stage when I can say I am satisfied by my connectivity considering the situation I am in and the money I pay. And they proved again, how inconsiderate they can be when it comes to customer satisfaction. Maybe they read the post I made on how to prevent auto log outs that their smart system is supposed to do when a user has stopped accessing the net for a particular period of time. But apparently the system sucked considering it logged me out when I was downloading files for an extended period of time and sometimes even when I was working on the computer surfing sites!

So, they came out with something that I consider totally insensitive and even stupid at times. Here is a screenshot from their login page at this moment:

Here are my rants point by point:

Dear Sify Broadband subcriber,

How difficult is it to use a spellchecker before you post on a screen that would be seen by thousands of people?

Please note : If you have an antivirus software other than SecureSynergy, kindly uninstall the same before installing the Sify Broadband client.

Stupid Stupid Stupid... First, they are forcing me to install their software which I am not sure is Spyware free. I do not know whether it tracks my key-logs. I do not even know what things it track on my system. Then they tell me to uninstall my current antivirus system before I can install their broadband client! What the hell... How do I know it does not contain any virus in it? And why should I install SecureSynergy? I do not trust it. What if it is not successful in saving my computer from viruses? Will Sify be responsible for that?

At least they had the commonsense to provide login software for 3 of the most popular platforms. But what about platforms other than Windows, Linux and Mac? The current system is platform free. I can login using Windows and then can return to any other platform. I would still be logged in. But here I won’t. I am restricted to Windows, GNU Linux and Mac.

Heartbeat feature : Senses if the connection is lost and automatically logs you out

This is the worst part. I do not want the client to decide when the connection is lost. It is broadband for god sake. If I am not on a time bound connection and I leave my computer on to keep receiving mails as soon as they come what should I do? The client would think I am not using the computer and log me out. Will I get a NEVER LOG ME OUT option? I do not know. Because I cannot install the software on the system. The installation failed perhaps because I did not uninstall the antivirus on my system which incidentally is not SecureSynergy.

Auto install of free anti virus software

What the hell again. Why would I want a crappy login client to install another software that has nothing to do with my internet connectivity. How can Sify dictate what software I can run on my system? And how can they dictate what Antivirus is good for my system? What next? They will tell me not to use Opera Browser and instead switch to Internet Explorer? Or they would perhaps tell me not to use Yahoo! Messenger because they partnered with MSN to launch Sify Messenger?

Please note that from 7th Oct 2004, your Sify Broadband account would be accessible only through the new Sify Broadband client.

So, they completely knock me out of the current system which is apparently working fine for me. They want me to play with their rules. And they have some seriously stupid conditions for me to follow. Which I totally find offensive as a customer and demand some reasonable explanations and solutions.

What do I want?

I am ok with the client as long as:
1. It does not force me to uninstall any of my current applications
2. It does not force me to install any stupid application.
3. It does not do anything that I do not want it to do. Like auto installing applications.
4. It does not log me out if I do not want it to. I want some setting to let me set it to keep me online as long as I do not manually log out.
5. Maybe they can start by asking users if they have any issues. And maybe they can post a number that everyone can call because my telephone does not connect me to: 1901443330