Taster Course: Choosing an Internet Service Provider
Pay as you go Options for Domestic Use
For casual, low intensity,
domestic use, Pay as you go
accounts remain an attractive
proposition. The idea is that
you simply pay for the online
time that you use. There are
rarely any upfront costs, so
you don't have to hand over
your credit card details
immediately.
Telephone support always used to be the most heavily criticised aspect of these services - they made their money out of using premium rate lines and keeping you waiting. Most reputable services have smartened their act up in this area. However, they still tend to use 50p (at least) per minute telephone lines for technical support.
Most services will give you email addresses, Web access and varying amounts of Web space should you want to create your own personal Website. Increasingly, high speed connection options are offered at a slightly higher price.
It remains worthwhile keeping tabs on the amount of time you spend accessing the Internet for email or Web usage. If you spend more than 30 hours a month on these activities, then it may be worth your while to move up to an unmetered dial-up offering.
Among the services worth checking out are Freeola, Freeserve, Freewire and Beeb.net. You'll find the Web addresses for all of these on the Resources page.
If you want to separate out your email and Web browsing from your Website creation and hosting, this is possible by using two different services.
Telephone support always used to be the most heavily criticised aspect of these services - they made their money out of using premium rate lines and keeping you waiting. Most reputable services have smartened their act up in this area. However, they still tend to use 50p (at least) per minute telephone lines for technical support.
Most services will give you email addresses, Web access and varying amounts of Web space should you want to create your own personal Website. Increasingly, high speed connection options are offered at a slightly higher price.
It remains worthwhile keeping tabs on the amount of time you spend accessing the Internet for email or Web usage. If you spend more than 30 hours a month on these activities, then it may be worth your while to move up to an unmetered dial-up offering.
Among the services worth checking out are Freeola, Freeserve, Freewire and Beeb.net. You'll find the Web addresses for all of these on the Resources page.
If you want to separate out your email and Web browsing from your Website creation and hosting, this is possible by using two different services.
