Choosing an ISP software depends on the ISP you select. If you have a choice, choose one that suits your needs, such as offline mail access, multiple email addresses, and chat capabilities. Consider availability, price, and usage when choosing an ISP. Dial-up is slow and requires a dedicated phone line. Choose a static IP for reliability or dynamic IP for protection from hackers.
The first choice you have to make in choosing Internet Service Provider (ISP) software is to choose an ISP. In many cases, the ISP you select will require you to install their own proprietary ISP software, a computer program that works exclusively with that particular ISP. In these cases, choosing an ISP essentially acts like a decision about ISP software. If your ISP allows you to choose your ISP software, however, the best one to choose will be one that suits your individual needs, such as being able to read your mail offline, being able to archive email, or other files online, being able to have multiple email addresses, being able to chat online, or being able to have your own website. There are many options available, and when you know which ones are important to you, you’ll be able to choose the ISP software that’s right for you.
To access your mail offline, choose ISP software with an email client that allows you to download messages to your computer’s hard drive. If you prefer to maintain a large archive without using hard drive space, web-based email allows you to send and receive messages via a web browser. If you want separate email addresses for family members or for a business, choose ISP software that allows multiple email addresses for each account. If real-time chat is important to you, make sure your ISP’s software package includes instant messaging or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) components. Other considerations include access to newsgroups and hosting for personal or corporate Web pages.
When choosing an ISP, the main considerations are availability, price, and how you plan to use the service. If you live in a reasonably well-populated area, you should have a variety of choices. An inexpensive choice is digital subscriber line service (DSL), often offered through your local telephone company. Cable modem service, offered by cable television providers, is another popular choice.
Fiber-optic ISPs that transmit high-speed signals over thin glass strands are becoming increasingly available, albeit at premium prices. If you opt for fiber optic service, make sure your ISP offers a connection directly to your home or apartment, rather than a switch box and then using regular cable for individual connections. If you live in a rural area, expensive satellite ISPs may be your only option for high-speed Internet access. Wireless or Wi-Fi service may also be available in rural areas, with low or no setup costs and lower monthly prices than satellite ISPs.
If your budget is extremely tight, dial-up Internet service uses a phone line and analog modems to connect to the Internet. If you just want to send or receive email or chat via instant messaging (IM), or if there simply aren’t any reasonably priced high-speed ISPs available in your area, dial-up is the way to go. For web browsing, video streaming, gaming, and other high-demand uses, dial-up is too slow. Another major drawback with dial-up Internet service is that it requires its own dedicated phone line or occupying a regular phone line. Data transmission and voice conversation cannot occur simultaneously on the same phone with dial-up service as they do with DSL service through a telephone company.
If you need or want technical support to be available at all times, make sure your ISP has a good reputation for service. The last important decision is choosing between having the same Internet Protocol (IP) address every time you access the Internet, otherwise known as a static IP, or choosing a dynamic IP, which assigns a different IP address to each new session. If you are a gamer or intend to use VoIP extensively, a static IP offers a more reliable connection. On the other hand, dynamic IPs are cheaper and have some protection from hackers and data mining operations that scan the Internet for information.
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