About ISPs

History

The Internet was born in the early 1960s. The U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) formed ARPAnet in 1966. At first, the network included of a series of nodes at major universities such as the University of California at Los Angeles and Stanford. In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee was the first to propose the World Wide Web. He wrote the first web server, as well as a program which served as both a web browser and an editor. Although many people today use the terms Internet and World Wide Web interchangeably, they are not the same thing. The Internet is a global network of computers. The World Wide Web uses hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) as its method of sharing information across the Internet. Other methods include simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP), file transfer protocol (FTP) and Internet relay chat (IRC). Among the first Internet service providers were CompuServe and PSINet.

There are four basic types on Internet service. These are dial-up, integrated services digital network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable. Dial-up service is the slowest, and it is limited to download speeds of 56 kilobits per second (Kbps). ISDN offers speeds up to 64 Kbps. DSL is the next fastest service. It takes advantage of unused frequencies over ordinary telephone lines. The lowest DSL tier at certain ISPs may be as low as 128 Kbps. Higher tiers may provide speeds up to 6 megabits per second (Mbps). Cable Internet service can support speeds up to 30 Mbps.

Unlike dial-up connections, DSL and cable connections are open all the time. This leaves your computer more vulnerable to attacks by viruses and hackers. This makes it that much more important to keep virus software on your computer at all times. If you use free anti-virus software, consider using a free online scanner such as Kaspersky or Norton Antivirus. Also, remember that hooking up an older computer with a slow processor and very little memory to a fast Internet connection will not result in faster surfing or downloading.

DSL prices have recently plunged. Typically, you can get a DSL connection for the same price or less than dial-up. It makes little sense to restrict oneself to slower speeds. Also, you can make telephone calls and surf the web on DSL at the same time, whereas on dial-up, you have to disconnect to make or accept a call. If you regularly download or upload large files, watch a lot of streaming video or spend long periods surfing the web, DSL may not be fast enough for you. In that case, a cable Internet connection will definitely be worth the price.

Some providers such as NetZero offer limited dial-up service for free. AT&T offers both dial-up and DSL service. Their basic DSL service features speeds up to 768 Kbps. Earthlink is another popular provider that offers both dial-up and DSL. Earthlink's DSL speeds begin at 1.5 Mbps. You can also get email-only service from either provider. Comcast and Time Warner are the most common cable Internet service providers. Typically, providers bundle as many as ten email addresses with an Internet service packages. You must check with the service provider of your choice to see if the company offers service in your area before signing up.