What is an ISP?
"ISP"
stands for Internet Service Provider.
These are businesses who provide browsing and email
access to the World Wide Web and, in many cases, website
hosting as well.
They can range in size from one-person operations
all the way up to the likes of Telus and AOL.
The challenge is to choose the one that will best
meet your needs, so on this page we have
included some useful tips to assist you in making
that decision.
For more about ISP services and what they cost please
visit What will it cost?,
and for information about hosting go to Hosting.
Why only the
best will do
Once
you've established yourself with a particular ISP,
it can be a real headache should you have to make
a change down the road.
Your website is located on their equipment
along with your email (in most cases). You may
be dependent upon your ISP's in-house shopping cart
and secure servers for form processing, along with
statistics reporting and other utilities.
Having to move to another ISP can result in email
being delayed or lost, website downtime, and functions
that no longer perform because the "gadgets" you had
come to rely on may not be compatible with the next
ISP's system.
A little research can be your best protection!
- Ask
friends and business associates who they are using,
and get their opinion of their ISP's technical
support, downtime record, pricing, available free
software and services.
- How
long has the ISP been in operation? Give
higher marks to the established ISP with roots
in the community. Longevity counts!
- Check
them out with the Better Business Bureau.
- Does
bigger always mean better? Sometimes smaller
can mean a higher degree of personal service and
flexibility when it comes to decision-making on
the fly.
- Review their Terms of Service before committing yourself.
Although one TOS can appear much like another,
look for exceptions that you just don't feel right
about.
- Ask
questions. Any reputable, professional
ISP will welcome them, and will assist you by
giving you the answers you need to make an informed
decision.
Where ISP's are concerned,
It's always best to get it right the first time! |
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