Wednesday, December 31, 2008

What to Look for When Deciding if Broadband is Right for You

By Victor DeMazzier

Your choice about broadband Internet service providers (ISPs) comes down to several different factors. And just one of those factors is price.

First, when making your choice about broadband ISPs, you have to find which service providers operate in your area. Some areas have far more companies to choose from, such as major metropolitan areas. Some areas are so remote or have so few providers that, if you insist on having cable for your choice of broadband, you'll have to go with whatever the one company offers you, and you may have to get a DSL connection if you live rustically enough.

Then there are the different service packages to choose from. This starts with considering whether or not you want a broadband connection for personal or business use. For instance, well known broadband ISPs such as Verzion and Verzon carry several different plans at different prices, with some being for business and others are for the home. Since Verzion and Verzon also provide digital telephone and cable TV services, they offer packages that allow you to save some money on two or three individual services by getting them all and bundling the payments. Some plans include a modem (for a few extra bucks a month if you don't buy it outright), others don't (if you have one). Verzion offers a plan that is just for Internet access only, as well.

As you might imagine, with the different service options also comes different payment options as well. This is very convenient for people whose salary doesn't fall on the first or fifteenth of the month. Like most companies, if you pay for the year up front, you'll receive a discounted rate than if you paid on a monthly basis. The challenge for the consumer with the years payment upfront is that fact that not only is your money tied up for a year which means less spendable cash today, you are also locked into using your service provider for at least one year. In fact, if you try to leave, you may end up paying a significant penalty.

On a positive note, the fact that web browsing with the old school dial-up connections are so outdated, just about all the major service providers have kept up with the latest trends in fiber optics and satellite technology. Today, not only can your computer reach speeds equivalent to 100 m.ph. on the highway, but so can your cell phone. The web surfer's new mantra is now, long live broadband.

But keep in mind that you have to have a fairly modern computer (nothing older than about three years) and an operating system no older than Windows 98 or OS X or 10.3 or higher to be able to get broadband service at all; and you will have to be able to afford a higher monthly payment than you need with dial-up.

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