When attempting to select a suitable internet service, one is faced with a large choice of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and service packages. The following points are mainly intended for businesses, for whom a reliable professional service is first priority, but are also applicable to domestic users.
One of the first things to consider is the type of connection required. Those businesses which just need a simple website or the ability to download emails a few times a day, do not need to waste money on a permanent connection - simple dial-up access would be sufficient.
Some ISPs will provide such a system very cheaply (or even free of charge) as a sub-domain of their own domain. This means the website's URL is something like www.mycompany.cheapo-web-sites.com and the email address is in the form of mycompany@cheapo-web-sites.com. The website is also often required to carry advertising for other companies' websites as a condition of the ISP providing the service. This might just be adequate for an amateur site but it presents a very poor image of a business and could drive potential customers away. It is well worth paying a few pounds a year for your own a domain, which also allows multiple email addresses (and sub-domains). A website address like www.mycompany.com with multiple email addresses in the form of customer_services@mycompany.com and enquiries@mycompany.com (for example) gives a much more professional image of "mycompany". A complete package including domain name, unlimited sub-domains, site hosting, DNS, and email handling (with unlimited email addresses) costs less than 20 pence per week.
Dial-up access can be used for simple e-commerce. The contents of a form on the website can be sent automatically by email which can then be read and processed manually or, with suitable software, automatically.
Although it is possible to keep a dial-up connection open (almost) permanently, call charges will very soon mount up. Coupled with a connection speed of around 56kb/s (64kb/s on ISDN) dial-up is unsuitable for more intensive use and ADSL (broadband) should be considered.
Most ISPs provide ADSL services so, again, there is a large range to choose from. As most (not all) have a minimum 1 year contract term, it is important to select the right service. Some have low connection speeds with a small maximum download allowance per month. At first sight this might seem to be sufficient but your download allowance can be used up very quickly. Just viewing a web page is a download. Once your allowance is reached your connection might be suspended until the next month. That means no internet access whatsoever for the rest of the month, not even email. Some ISPs do allow continued access but then charge a very high rate for the excess usage. Some only allow one computer to be connected so are unsuitable for businesses with an office network.
Several ISPs are offering basic ADSL service packages very cheaply for the first few months. After the initial period, the monthly charge rises considerably for the rest of the contract period which could be a year or more and, when the contract ends, there may be a further charge to transfer to another ISP. Read the "small print" very carefully! These packages are aimed at the low usage domestic user and are not suitable for business or even serious domestic use. Web site hosting and email handling is not always provided or only as a sub-domain of the ISP's domains (see above). The number of email addresses (if any) is usually limited - often to only one.
When comparing prices, decide on the level of service required and compare the price different ISPs would charge for that service. Committing to a long contract for a cheap, but inadequate, service is not good business practice.
