How to choose an ISP (Internet service provider)

Bright cables A reliable Internet connection is standard equipment for today's soloist. If you are yet to get online, these hints on how to choose an internet service provider (ISP) will help.

An ISP, or Internet service provider, is an organisation that provides Internet access to subscribers for a fee. This could be in the form of dial up (where a computer modem dials up a server to connect) or broadband/ASDL (where a direct connection exists when the computer is started up).

In Australia there are a range of Internet service providers. It is a good idea to shop around to choose the ISP that best meets your needs or offers coverage in your area.

The largest ISP (Internet service provider) is Telstra. BigPond is the name of the division of Telstra that provides Internet access to subscribers.

Choosing an ISP can be difficult. The cheapest provider isn’t always the best if you aren’t able to get access when and where you need it. The most expensive may be a waste of money if you only plan to use it for a few hours a month.

Some things to think about before choosing a provider are:

1. How often do I want to access the Internet?

2. Do I want to pay month by month or lock into a contract?

3. Do I want to be able to download information from the Internet – if so, how much can I download and what are the charges for additional downloads?

4. How many email accounts will I need and how many can the provider offer me?

5. Does the provider offer a 1800 help desk number and if so, what are the hours of operation?

6. How do I pay for my access? via credit card, direct debit or payment in advance?

7. How long has the provider been in business?

8. Do I know anyone who uses this provider?

9. Am I located in a major/capital city?

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As a solo business owner, it makes sense to take some extra time choosing the right Internet service provider as costs associated with reprinting business cards, promotional materials and related stationery can be quite costly if you end up changing ISPs after a few months.

Are there any technical issues you'd like to see articles on? Make your suggestions here. Thanks! - Ed

Donna Hanson specialises in computer and technology related education for business and corporate users. Her company provides customised training and resources to help users understand and increase their knowledge of computer related technology.

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Your article on choosing an ISP made reference to the costs of changing business cards, letterheads etc when changing ISPs. It missed expanding on this very important point. EVERY small business should have its own web address (URL) even if there is no content on it. For about $100 a year through various webhosts the business then can have at least one email address or an "alias". Then when they change ISP it doesn't matter one little bit because their email address doesn't change. There is nothing more unprofessional-looking than a business having an email address at bigpond / optusnet / ozemail / hotmail / yahoo etc.
I have used Netregistry.com.au as a web host for my websites for several years and recommend them for service and price. Bob Ronai from St Ives, New South Wales
The best advice I was given is to use a proxy address instead of the ISP provider name in your email adress. However, if you change providers from bigpond to iprimus (for example) you will lose all mail from people who do not know your current (new) email address. Also changing providers can be hassle free as business cards letterhead even signwriting need not change .Why change ISP providers ? Well some are far better than others and cheaper too. A Deller from Brighton VIC
Thanks for making that very relevant point Bob. Topics for future articles may include how to choose a domain name and get it hosted.
You are also quite correct, businesses withemail addresses @yahoo or hotmail tend not to be seen as serious players. Donna Hanson from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Lets face it, the advantages of broadband over dial-up make it much more attractive if you do anything more than infrequent surfing/emailing.
A great site I use is http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/ - this is a very comprehensive list of Austrlian ISPs you can search for broadband plans, features & costs to decide which is best for you .
I used it recently when I moved from dial-up to broadband - net result for me was reduced overall cost but greatly increased speed when compared with the 'unlimited' dialup plan I was on + all the call charges everytime I would connect . . .
P.S. Don't get caught in the excess download volume trap (where you pay X cents/MB of data over a certain limit!) either go for shaped plans or flat rates (that is where your 'speed' is reduced to dial-up equivalent after a certain amount of download or else you get the same rate/speed no matter how much you download!). Miroslav Dosen from Sydney
How to choose an ISP ? Carefully. Ask friends and neighbours in your immediate area who they use and how happy they are. Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Voice over IP (VOIP) is also a great way to save money in a home business. It is easy to add to an existing broadband service and can save you a packet!
Simon Jones from Nyora, Victoria

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