Internet Service Providers
In order to connect to the Internet, you need not only a physical connection to the Internet, but also a service provider. A service provider owns a group of computers (servers) which are connected to the Internet through very high speed connections. In addition to a connection to the Internet, service providers often offer additional benefits like e-mail accounts and server space so you can create your own Web site.
- Commercial Internet Service Provider (ISP)—Commercial ISP's are private companies which usually charge a monthly fee in return for full access to the Internet. Commercial ISPs vary widely in the support and services they offer.
- Online Service Provider—These providers charge a slightly higher fee than the typical ISP, but in addition to full access to the Internet, online service providers offer a variety of custom content and services only for their customers. The most well-known online service provider is America Online (AOL).
- Education Provider— Because the Internet was first developed as an educational tool for research, almost all colleges and universities today offer Internet accounts to students and faculty through campus networks and computer labs. It is becoming more common for primary and secondary education schools to offer students access as well.
Some ISPs have tried offering
"free" access to the Internet. In return for providing Internet access, these ISPs ask customers for personal information which can then be used for targeted marketing efforts. These services were popular when first introduced, but consumers have quickly tired of the barrage of unwanted advertising which is often viewed as an invasion of privacy. As a result, many of these ISPs have gone out of business, leaving their customers without any access at all.
The Internet is based on a set of rules, or protocols. You may have heard the term TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). TCP/IP is the set of protocols governing how data is transmitted over the Internet. It is the common language, allowing all the computers on the Internet to understand each other. In order to connect to your ISP, you'll need to make sure that your computer has the TCP/IP protocols installed. In most cases, your ISP will provide setup instructions or installation software which will do this for you.
If you have a cable or DSL connection, your cable or telephone company may require you to use a specific ISP to work with your connection. Cable companies often have exclusive agreements with an ISP or act as an ISP themselves. If you have a dial-up connection, shop around for the ISP that offers the services you need the most. If you travel a lot, check to see if the ISP has local dial-up phone numbers for the cities you visit the most (so you don't have to pay long distance charges when you are away from home). For more information about different Internet connection types, see the task Connecting to the Internet — Hardware.
