1) DIAL UP INTERNET SERVICE
Dialup internet service is a service that allows connectivity to the internet through a standard telephone line. By connecting the telephone line to the modem in your computer and inserting the other end into the phone jack, and configuring the computer to dial a specific number provided by your internet service provider (ISP) you are able to access the internet on your computer.
Dial up internet service is provided through several ISP. The majority of internet service providers give you a set of telephone numbers either national or local that allows you to dial into a network that feeds into the internet. This allows you to receive and send email, search the World Wide Web, participate in chat rooms and plenty of other features the web has to offer.
In order to get a dial up internet service a person must definitely have a computer and even more important a modem. There are different types of modems, and most of them are inexpensive to purchase. You can have an internal modem installed in a free slot of your computer, or you can have an external modem that's hooked up to the computer through cables. A telephone line is linked to the modem.
The modem whether external or internal is controlled by software on the computer. With Microsoft Windows operating system that software is the Network Connection utility which allows you to connect to the internet. How? In the Network Connection utility you have to set up ISP profile so that the modem knows what phone number to dial so that you can connect to the internet.
Once you have found an internet service provider and joined you must choose a password and username. Why? When the modem dials the phone number you are given by your ISP, a connection is made, and then information is swap between the modem and the remote server. A remote server is the computer and related software that is established to handle users who want to access a network remotely. The username and password you choose for the modem allows access to the dial up gateway to the internet. The gateway to the internet is a network that allows entry into another network.
If you are looking for an inexpensive internet service dial up is the way to go. Not only is it the cheapest but also the slowest type of access you can get. Since the bandwidth is limited it will take some time for the modem to send and receive information. It will be slow loading web pages, listening to music and watching videos online. There are all kinds of software available that can help speed up your dial up internet.
With dial up internet you cannot use the phone and search the web at the same time. How come? Remember while one end of the telephone is linked to the modem the other end is in the phone outlet. There are internet services available that allows you to use the phone at the same time and be online.
So as you can see dial up internet has its pros and its cons. If you are looking for a inexpensive internet service and don't mind not being able to talk on the phone and use the web at the same time then dial up is definitely for you!
BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTION
DSL Broadband
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL internet can be purchased through your telephone company, which provides broadband internet access through the telephone lines already installed in most businesses. A few variations of a DSL connection have evolved specifically for business:
HDSL – High Data Rate Digital Subscriber Line
VDSL – Very High Data Rate Digital Subscriber Line
DSL’s speed depends on your proximity to the closest telephone company facility. The further away you are, the slower it will be. DSL’s top speeds usually range from 3 to 12 Mbps but in some urban areas as high as 20-100 Mbps, which can serve the email, download and browsing needs of many small businesses.
Cable Broadband
A cable internet connection can be purchased from your cable company. Cable broadband utilizes the coaxial cable lines already installed in most businesses.
With a simple cable modem installation, the same lines that deliver audio and video to your television set will deliver internet access to your computers.
Cable broadband is much faster than DSL and offers speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
This speed is especially helpful to businesses with video conferencing or video streaming needs – or which share memory intensive files, engage in ecommerce or collaborate online.
Fiber Broadband
Telephone companies and cable companies both offer fiber broadband internet connections in most markets.
While fiber internet connections are becoming more common and more affordable, fiber may not be available everywhere. Fiber-optic cable has not been run to all business centers and locations.
Fiber-optic cable is made up of transparent glass fibers about the diameter of a human hair. Transmitting data as light, fiber broadband offers incredible speed up to and exceeding 1 Gbps. Of all broadband internet connections, fiber broadband is by far the fastest.
While fiber-optic cable may not be in the walls of your business, this by itself does not prevent you from enjoying the speed of fiber broadband. If the fiber-optic cable has been run to the curb outside or to a location somewhere between your business and the provider’s facility, you may still be able to subscribe to a fiber broadband Internet connection.
Wireless Broadband
To be clear, we’re not talking about “Wi-Fi” here. A wireless broadband internet connection is not the same thing as having “Wi-Fi” within your business location.
A wireless broadband internet connection uses a radio link to connect your computers – via an antenna – to a service provider’s facility and then to the internet.
Wireless broadband internet connections are used primarily in remote areas where telephone and cable lines do not exist. The antenna needs to have “line of site” to the service provider’s facility to be effective. Speeds are comparable to DSL.
Satellite Broadband
For businesses in remote locations where line of site to a provider’s facility or tower is not possible, then a satellite internet connection may be the right choice.
This connection requires line-of-sight to the satellite. Admittedly, this can sometimes be hampered by the weather. But geosynchronous satellites, which are always above the designated service area, provide links for broadband internet access in the same way they do for telephone and television service.
While slower than DSL and Cable, satellite connections are ten times faster than old dial-up speeds. Service requires a dish antenna and can be quite expensive compared to other types of connections.
