Internet Service Provider – Select the most reliable one.
Internet has become a commodity, and access to service is often beyond the funds of a common laborer. However, the rise of free ISPs is not entirely heroic. Just like the way most of the decisions around us are made, the motivation is partly commercial. Remember that ISPs pay for the Internet service that they get from wholesale ISPs, or upstream ISPs take a percentage from the profit of advertisers. It is nobler, relatively, but the quality of service is doubtful, as it is disturbing for clients to surf the page with the pop-ups that appear all over. Yet, it was one fine way to further the mass consumption of the Internet. Because of the increasing presence of the free ISPs, the more chances people are given to join in the party in cyberspace. Surprisingly, there are clients that both want the free stuff and quality service. Free ISPs are now being rated according to the service that they provide.
Internet service providers are being compared according to eight categories:
1) Banner ads. These are the advertisements that are shown in windows. These windows are somewhat ‘forced’ because they cannot be minimized nor hidden.
2) 56k. This indicates whether 56k modems are supported, because some only supported 33.6k or slower.
3) Usenet. This tells the client whether the free ISP provides for a news server.
4) Web space. This shows how much hard disk space they provide so a client can set up his own web page.
5) E-mail. Because all free ISP provides clients with free e-mail address. This compares that e-mail services of the free ISPs.
6) Platforms. This tells the clients what platform the Free ISP supports. Some supports Microsoft Windows and some support Macs, and others support Linux.
7) Available. This tells the clients of the availability of the free ISPs local dial up number. Most are available throughout the US, but only a few are available in other areas.
8) Comments. This is where the other features of the free ISP are discussed.
AT&T, Yahoo dial and AOL 9.0 have good offers from one to seven categories, except that the offer is no longer free after 30 days. AvantGo also has good offers. However, it is only for mobile internet use on palm tops. Juno is really good, no Banner ads, no usenet 14MB disk space, with e-mail and supports windows. Unfortunately, this service is only available in the USA and top Alberta Internet service providers or within the entire Canada. The service is offered for a limited time of 10 hours per month.