ISP’s: Connections and Contracts

An Internet service provider (called an ISP for short) is a business that offers users access to the Internet and related services. Many ISPs are telephone companies, or at least work closely with telephone companies. They provide dial-up or DSL access through “leased” lines. Generally, an ISP charges a monthly access fee to the consumer. If the ISP is the same company as your phone, then the charge will often times arrive with your phone bill. The consumer then has access to the Internet.

Internet connection speed can generally be divided into two categories: dialup and broadband. Dialup connections require the use of a phone line, and usually have connections of 56 kbit/s or less (i.e. very slow). Broadband connections have a much larger series of options that don’t tie up the phone, and theoretically, is always on and available. General speeds vary from 64 Kb to 20 Mb per second or even more.

The history of Internet Service Providers is tied directly to the development of the internet itself. While its obvious that ISPs wouldn’t exist without the internet, the modern day internet could very well not exist in its current form without ISPs to make the internet as popular as it is now. At first there were mainly a few large giants, but as the technology advanced, more and more small companies began to rise up, usually by offering good deals on local service. By the 2000s, the battle over broadband began to appear. DSL, which was over phone lines, was an option for traditional ISPs. Cable companies jumped into the ISP game by offering the “new and improved” cable modem access. Pricing, technology, and market share drove the Internet economy. Smaller ISPs, however, did not have access to a cable system and DSL was too expensive. The only way to adjust and compete was to begin using wireless technology to provide broadband access. These developments led to the advancement of the wireless technology that are used today.

Smaller ISPs offering low-cost internet have served traditional ISPs a major challenge. Popularity of the Internet continued to rise, but the companies providing the services struggled. Many of the small ISPs fared better, since they operated on revenues and not overinflated stocks. Despite the rough times, there are still hundreds of ISPs in the United States alone, and websites dedicated to showing the best deal for each area. For many people, the smaller ones offering local service are the way to go.


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Broadband ISP Comparsion

The Search for the right ISP

The search for the right ISP includes a number of factors. Cost is obviously important. So is the quality of the connection. Other features that are included can also be good. It is also important to know if it is available in your area. There are a variety of ISPs to choose from. Because of this, it is important to choose the best ISP for you.

For most subscribers, cost is the most important thing about an ISP. Even though cost is a big issue, many people are not willing to have the poor quality and voluminous advertising that comes with free ISPs. With free ISPs not worth considering, most people then begin looking at lower cost ISPs. As with most things, if there is a lot of flashy advertising, the ISP is probably going to be more expensive. Lower cost ISPs tend to have less advertising. A good way to find them is by searching on the Internet.

Even if the price is right, you don't want to go with an ISP that has a weak connection. This can be a recurring problem with ISPs that use cable or phone lines. It can also be a problem if your ISP has too many people trying to access the Internet at the same time, usually during peak times. This happens mostly with dial-up ISP's that do not have an adequate number of phone numbers. It is also smart to make sure that the tasks you do online are compatible with an ISP you are considering using. AOL users sometimes experience problems with some websites and Internet tasks. This is a result of the AOL program being so dominating. Many frequently visited sites have a listing of ISP's that have difficulties with the site. However, this tends to apply to sites that feature music, video and graphics effects but it doesn't usually apply to straight text sites.

The features offered by an ISP are an added bonus. Do some research to find the ISPs that address your needs. If you don't want the hassle of pop-ups you will want to look at ISPs that offer pop-up blockers and virus protection. Most parents have concerns about their children surfing the web. If so, you will want a feature that blocks adult sites. All ISPs offer a variety of features, and often come up with new ones, so finding one that is suitable for you is really not that difficult.

Always check for availability. It would surprise some people to know that there are ISPs that are not widely available. Free and low cost ISPs are notorious for this problem. You also need to make sure they have a local number in your area, because if not, you could be hit with costly long distance charges. Also, if the ISP doesn't have enough local numbers, you can find yourself not being able to connect during peak hours.


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ISP Features

Internet service providers are becoming more and more present as the internet makes its way into more and more homes in America. This is making it harder to decide which ISP to subscribe to. In fact, most of them have a list of benefits to entice customers into subscribing from their ISP. Here is some information on the basic features that should come with a good ISP.

First, is of coarse security. With new viruses circulating the internet everyday, you can’t be too careful. That is why it is critical for ISP’s to offer virus protection. However, they are now offering popup blockers also. These troublesome ads can become so frustrating that they too can be considered harmful to your computer. This is why ISP’s have started furnishing tools to speed up customer’s computers and create a more enjoyable internet experience. They are also protecting children from the net by providing blocks controlled by parents to block adult material on the net.

Another, feature you want to have from your ISP is multiple e-mail accounts. In fact, many ISP’s provide between 5 and 10 e-mail accounts to one subscriber. This allows every member of the family to have their own e-mail account. That way a father doesn’t have to put up with the cutsie forwards his daughter receives, and she doesn’t have to put up with her father’s daily stock tips. This is the best way to go if you have a family. The more e-mail accounts the better since it is best to have a professional e-mail account, and another for less formal messages.

If you want your own web page posted on the net, you may be able to get one without the unwanted ads. This is because ISP’s are now offering free web space. This space is limited in size, but does not always have the ads that come with other free web spaces. In fact, your ISP may also provide a template or special tools such as counters to place on your site. You should check with your ISP before placing a business site on the web space provided by them. A lot of ISP’s will not allow that kind of use.

Your ISP may also provide for use from multiple computers in your home. This may be free or may cost you a small fee. However, with multiple access you can have the freedom of completing your work assignments online, while your son is researching for a school paper. Whatever you are looking for you may find it. The key is looking around and comparing the features with more than one ISP. This way you will find just the right features for you and your family.

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