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Internet Providers

An Internet Provider is simply a company that provides Internet access to the public at a designated fee. There are two main types of Internet providers that can be used to gain access to the Internet: Online Services and Internet Service Providers. They each have their own advantages, which will be discussed in the following sections.

Online Services

A commercial Online Service operates computers that customers connect to using a modem. Once connected, they can access information on an array of subjects, browse through an on-line encyclopedia, enter an on-line shopping mall, send E-Mail, and connect to the Internet. All of these things, and much more, can be done using software provided to the customer by the online service. This software is usually easy to use, with a point-and-click interface. Although an online service usually costs more than using an Internet Service Provider, many people feel the special services offered by the online service, and the user-friendly interface is worth it. The phone numbers and addresses of some national online services are provided below.

Internet Service Providers (ISP)

An Internet Service Provider, or ISP, operates computers that are directly connected to the Internet. Customers use a modem to connect to these computers and, depending one their type of Internet account, either connect directly to the Internet or use software on the ISP's computers to access the Internet. Although there are a few national ISP's (which are listed below), most ISP's are regional and might be restricted to a single city or geographical region. ISP access charges vary widely, so potential customers are urged to shop around thoroughly before choosing a service.

In recent months, many ISP's have dramatically reduced their access charges, and in most communities, one should be able to find an ISP offering a Shell Account for $10 to $20 a month or a SLIP/PPP Account with no hourly charges for $15 to $35 a month. In addition, some ISP's charge setup fees to initialize your Internet account. This could range anywhere from $5 to $45. While keeping these prices in mind, it must be emphasized that ISP rates vary greatly and in some communities, one might be able to find an ISP charging well below these figures, or one might not be able to find one nearly as inexpensive.

There are some things that the potential customer should ask an ISP before purchasing an account. First, make sure that the ISP has a low user to modem ratio (number of customers per modem). It should be no higher than 15 to 1, which is still a bit on the high side. A low user to modem ratio means that the provider has enough modems to support its number of customers. Since every customer is obviously not going to be online at the same time, a 1 to 1 ratio is not necessary, but if there are too many customers per modem, you will frequently receive a busy signal when trying to connect with your ISP, which can obviously be quite annoying.

The hourly charges are another important factor. Many ISP's have no hourly rates, which is commonly reffered to as an unlimited account. Other ISP's have high hourly rates, which will leave the user feeling as if he is "on a clock" trying to spend the least amount of time online. The services provided by the ISP constitutes yet another factor. Does the ISP have technical assistance available? Are users allowed to have a personal web page? All of these things should be considered when choosing your ISP.

National Internet Service Providers

How can I find an ISP?

There are several ways you can find out about local or regional ISP's. One of the best resources of information about local ISP's is on the Internet. Yes, it does seem kind of unusual that the best way to find out how to get on the Internet is on the Internet, but if you could somehow find a way to "borrow" a friend's Internet account, or use an account at work (which you might be doing now if you are reading this), it would be of great value to use this resource. The resource that is being referred to is called simply, "The List." "The List" provides an easy-to-use database of many local and regional ISP's in the entire United States and some of Canada. It lists each ISP's services, prices, special offers, service range, web site, and phone number. You can search for an ISP near you by name, by area code, or by state. You can access "The List" on the Internet at the following World Wide Web address: http://thelist.internet.com.

If you do not have access to the Internet at this time, there are still some places you can look. ISP's are often listed in the Yellow Pages under the following categories:

Of the preceeding categories, your best bets are probably Computers - Bulletin Boards and Computers - Designers & Consultants. Because of the fact that ISP's are relatively new institutions, the phone books of most cities do not have a Internet Service Providers category at this time.

Another place to look for ISP's is your local newspaper. Advertisements for ISP's are often found in the business section. If your local paper has a section devoted to the Internet, that is also an obvious possibility. One last method of finding an ISP is by word of mouth. Get out and talk to some people that you know have Internet access through an ISP. Ask them for the name and number of their ISP and give them a call. Even if it begins to seem hopeless, remember that you should never jump right into an ISP account. Always consider the factors mentioned earlier when making your final decision.

Online Services vs. Internet Service Providers (ISP)

Most online services now offer direct Internet access in addition to their special services offered online. While introducing thousands of customers to the Internet, this move has confused some people who aren't quite sure how online services and ISP's differ. The main difference is that online services have some things that are simply not available to Internet users. For example, many online services have their own chat rooms, discussion groups, and online encyclopedias or reference libraries. Online services also usually provide customers with self-installing software that can be used to access every part of the online service, as well as the Internet.

This all comes at a cost, however. Online services are usually significantly more expensive than their ISP counterparts. They also usually have hourly rates for Internet connection, which many ISP's no longer have. In addition, some services available to users with a direct connection to the Internet are not available to online service customers.

Internet Service Providers provide the customer with a direct connection to the Internet. And as previously mentioned, ISP's are usually much cheaper than online services. In some cities, an ISP account can be purchased for a mere $10 a month, with no hourly charges. While this is at the bottom end of the scale, ISP charges average at about $19 a month, with no hourly rates. And with the increasing influence of the point-and-click interface of the World Wide Web, a direct Internet connection is becoming less intimidating to the average computer user.

As in online services, ISP's also have disadvantages. First, they do not offer any of the specialty services offered by online services. Also, customers usually have to set up more communications software themselves, which can be confusing to the less experienced computer user. Overall, the major issues are services and cost. Online services are more expensive than ISP's, but have a few extra "frills." Internet Service Providers, on the other hand, are cheap, but leave most of the software setup to the customer and do not usually have many special services.

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