Choosing the right Dial-Up or Broadband ISP

Before joining up with a dial-up Internet Service Provider (ISP), there are a number of questions that should be asked first. Don't automatically go for the cheapest service first as it may cost you in the long run.

If you are planning on using the Internet as a business tool (e.g. to develop your website), then it's important to have a reliable ISP. Having a broadband connection isn't so important (but definitely nice if you can afford it), but having a dependable host is.

Below, I've outlined a list of the most important things to consider when you are choosing a service provider. If you already have an ISP (which is more than likely), you should consider changing services if you aren't happy with your existing service especially if you have received poor customer service or experience downtime and connection dropouts.

Local numbers - your ISP should ideally have local numbers in your area and /or a number of dedicated lines in the area in which you live for each customer to ensure that you will be able to connect without any problems.

POP Addresses - make sure you get at least 1 private POP email address, it's much more convenient than having to rely on internet mail (although that has it's advantages now that Yahoo and Google are both providing mail services with reasonable storage space). There are some free POP mail providers - I don't recommend any of them!

Storage space - shouldn't be a huge deciding factor when you are considering an ISP, but it is handy to be able to host a personal homepage and use an FTP service to back up important files that you might need from different locations. (Most ISP's will provide you with a small amount of storage space for free).

Unlimited access - in today's market, if you don't have unlimited access (especially with a dial up account), then you are paying too much. However, when choosing a broadband connection this should be a consideration. To work out how much bandwidth you need (in terms of downloads) it's a good idea to monitor your Internet usage for a month before switching to broadband, that way you'll have a good idea of the most appropriate DSL or broadband package (a lot of the time, these accounts are 'capped' and charge you extra of excess usage).

Technical Support - If you are proficient with Internet troubleshooting (I'm definitely no!), then shouldn't be a huge factor. It is important to have 24/7 technical support so you can minimise down time. If you aren't satisfied with your existing service then it may be worthwhile changing providers. I'm usually based in Australia , but when I'm in the States I've tried a number of services including AOL, a handful of local providers, and of course the freebies. Some of them have been good, but most of them have been pretty average.