ISPs

ISPs are the companies who sell connections to the internet.

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider.

Everything you send or receive online goes through your ISP - they are your essential link to the world wide web.

What connection do I need?

There are so many ISPs out there and so many different types of internet connection that it can be confusing.

You may have heard of a variety of different options such as 'Pay-as-you-go', 'Anytime', 'Broadband' or 'Dial-up' - it can be a bit bewildering.

This guide will explore what each of these options provides to a user, and you can then decide which one best fits your own type of internet use.

Pay-as-you-go

Like the mobile phone connection of the same name, a 'Pay-as-you-go' internet connection means you only pay for the time you are online.

There are no fixed monthly fees and no separate internet bills.

You simply pay by the minute on a 56K dial-up connection , and you just pay for the cost of the call to your ISP on your phone bill.

In case you were wondering, most computers have modems that can cope with a 56K connection - the standard for dial-up connections.

And dial-up simply means that your computer has to 'dial' a number to get connected to the internet - which is why you pay for it via your phone bill.

Why use 'Pay-as-you-go'?

With Pay-as-you-go the longer you stay online the more it costs you.

It is good for people who do not browse much, but mainly use the internet in short bursts to check e-mail - not for those who like a long luxurious browse.

The cost of the phone call to your ISP normally changes depending on the time and day - similar to peak and off-peak rates on your regular phone.

Anytime

Anytime connections are often described as unmetered.

That's because you do not pay anything for the cost of the call on your phone bill.

All you pay is the same amount each month to your ISP for a standard 56K dial-up connection.

Why use anytime?

With unmetered connections it does not matter how long you stay online as the phone call itself is free.

Anytime connections are good for people who like browsing the web and don't want to worry about big phone bills.

The single monthly payment to your ISP will cover the cost of the internet connection and the phone call, so you can use it as often as you want.

Broadband

The best thing about a broadband connection is that it is ten times faster than a normal dial-up internet connection.

Broadband connects at around 512K which is almost ten times the standard 56K speed of a dial-up.

For a fixed monthly fee you are always connected to the internet. And broadband doesn't clog-up your phone line like normal dial-up - so people can call you up even when you're online surfing the net.

Why use broadband?

You would normally need pay to pay a one-off fee to get a broadband connection installed on your phone line.

You will also need to buy a special broadband modem.

From then on you pay a fixed monthly fee with no extra phone costs.

Broadband can be up to twice as expensive as a normal 56K unmetered connection. But it is great for online multimedia content such as animations, movies and music.

Making your choice

Once you have chosen the type of connection you want, you still need to choose an ISP

ISPs vary in price, reliability and speed so it's important to choose one that is right for you.

Amongst our top tips on how to choose a good ISP are: asking a friend which ISP they use; looking in internet magazines for reviews of the major providers; look for how much it costs to call technical support or the help line; and always read the small print to make sure there are no extra charges or restrictions.