Kingston Communications is an established UK communications company. The Group's national business-to-business capabilities encompass the provision of fully integrated and managed network solutions, complemented by the delivery of voice, data and call handling services in the towns and cities served by the Kingston Communications network. This infrastructure comprises twenty-five metropolitan fibre networks and a long distance broadband network, which was initiated for service in May 2001. Kingston's new media activities include the DSL-based interactive television service, KIT, and satellite broadband content, storage and distribution arm, Kingston inmedia. The Group's East Yorkshire network operation has served business and residential customers since 1904.

Re costs nothing to call within Hull. I agree that the calls within the Hull area code are not priced individually but you do pay a monthly fee for this use.
As to whoopy doo!! The services re Hull City Council call centers are still worth having the contract for, so unless I have misunderstood your meaning, can't see your point.
Obviously a share price of 16 would be utterly ridiculous but I feel the present SP is just about right.

Have not seen such KCOM director buys for a long time.
59,123.20 Kevin Walsh 147,808 @ 40.00p
50,103.20 Malcolm Fallen 125,258 @ 40.00p
49,780.80 Neil Gower 124,452 @ 40.00p

Not huge amount but not bad, just hope 3 directors aren't wrong.

Dont like this share 1 liitle bit - however, your on for a 15/20% rise this week guaranteed ! May even buy a few myself against my better judgement. 38/40 by Friday, they've got a few tie ins with SKY that makes them a good punt if overlooked early in week, while big financials take up all the news could be a safe bet this week.

Pre-close trading statement to be released on Friday morning.

clunk! ..... though there should be the pitter patter of tiny feet as the rats and lemmings leave another sinking ship

Dead and gone..

Wait and see... The directors bought lately at 40p and it is run by a group of thieves and villians so a lying upbeat statement shouldn,t be a problem to put together. Hints of possible tie-in ins with others etc etc .... not a lover of this share but can see it going up rather than down Friday. Talk of take-over been going on for months from employees .

if you have money in here now, you won't for much longer!

How to upset customers.

KINGSTON Communications (KC) customers will now face a 5 late payment penalty charge if they fail to settle their bill within a fortnight.
The decision to reduce the payment deadline from 21 days to 14 days has emerged after the Mail reported on a controversial proposed 1 charge for each paper bill issued by the company.
Both moves also follow a decision to shut the payment desk at the company's Telephone House headquarters in Hull, which was used for decades by people to pay their bills.
Customers outraged over the changes are now being joined by local politicians, with the region's two councils set to launch a joint inquiry into the issue.

So if you pay bills the old fashioned way (and many in Hull still do) just don't go on a 2 week holiday.
What wally came up with this idea, as one reply I read stated re mobiles and internet calls becoming increasingly popular, are KC trying to loose customers.

For full article see http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Kingston-Communications-says-Pay-quick-face-5-fine/article-447013-detail/article.html

With todays share price, if the sp drops much more the market cap of the company won't be enough to buy one of their own iconic white telephone boxes.

Customers are not happy. This petition although concluded earlier this year help could make the Government put sufficient pressure on KC to lower it's priceing to competitors and if they are forced to, could this esult in an even lower market valuation.

Why is Hull a broadband black hole, Anita Pati, guardian Mon 10/11/08.

"We are missing out on super deals offered by companies such as Orange and Sky," say the 3,222 signatories of a petition lodged on the No 10 website earlier this year. "Scrap the monopoly that Kingston Communications hold in Hull for broadband users."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/nov/10/internet

MEMBERS of East Riding Council have formally voiced their opposition to Kingston Communications (KC) charges.
This is in response to the below charges.
The Hull-based telecoms company is introducing a 1 charge for people who receive their bills through the post.
Customers will also face a 5 late-payment penalty charge if they fail to settle their bill within a fortnight.
The decision to reduce the payment deadline from 21 days to 14 days follows the closure of the payment desk at the company's Telephone House headquarters in Hull.

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Council-calls-inquiry-KC-charges/article-487780-detail/article.html

As I previously stated when this came out. How to increase customers and keep existing ones, this is NOT.

At least if pressure is pushed re this it could just be the start of a customer revolt, as I am hearing a few moans among locals.

GAM buy more.

With a total holding now of 8.10% it's quite a slice of a company that is not appearing to be going anywhere. The present SP if looking at the fundamentals looks very cheap. Problem is an sp is only worth what people are willing to pay.
I think we have as much chance of reading the direction of this share as my wife does reading a map.

A Price Monitoring Extension has been activated in this security.

And a second extension.

Not seen this before re KCOM (or if there has been I have missed it).
Something about to happen that us poor PI's don't have privy to, or just a price glitch.

From an article (interview with Bill Halbert, Deputy Chairman) in Tuesdays Hull Daily Mail. It tells us nothing really new, but some might find it interesting..

The company is undertaking a "full and brutal review of it's operations to determine best way forward.

The interview covers the 107m that has been wiped off the value of it's internet and managed services division.
The loss may seem alarming but this is not the case ,according to KCOM executive dep chair Bill Halbert.
He goes on to speak about the tough environment, and the pulling back of cap investment. A mention is made of concentrating on KC's core market. A Mr McCafferty (stock broker analyst) stated that if asked he would recommend a sale of Affiniti. Mr Halbert stated he was not about to sell off big chunks of the business.
He then goes on to talk about being focused, and operating more effectively.
He also stated that the current sp is not a true reflection of the firms worth.
KC's local business is proving strong, and customers can expect an improvement in broadband hosting services.
KC have made 25 people in Hull redundant in the past 12 months and 100 across the UK.

Note.... I have included everything from the article I feel has any relevance whatsoever. The reason I have not filled out the detail is because I am just moving from 1 finger typing to 2, so by the time I finish typing this the facts could have changed.
But if there are any specific Questions I will endeavour to answer them from the article.
Hope this assists.

Greek

Re those price extensions. Surely this buy by Aviva PLC of 1,348,400 can't account for those and the sp rise of late.
Expect more!

greekman, they now have over 10%. I think their last large buy was only a few days back.............will I have to buy back in, it was very painful the last time!

Management Interim Statement.

With the continuing reduction in the I&MS business, the Group is undertaking a further head count reduction of 150 employees within I&MS.

At this rate the only profit from I&MS will be from 1 employee working from home.

And still the sp climbs.

And today up over 12%. On similar moves said so many times in the last 12 months that 'something is happening' I'm not doing so this time. Now just watch something dramatic happen!
Would like to see some directors buying to show confidence, and I dont mean the piddling little buys tied up to the shares scheme.

Well done to all holders.