Monday, December 29, 2008

Your Choice About Broadband

By Victor DeMazzier

When you are considering whether a broadband Internet connection is right for you, it is important that you evaluate many things. Price is only one of them.

Of the many factors that weigh into your decision about choosing an internet service provider, the very first should be an evaluation of your location. This is vital because you can only order service if it exist in your geographic location. It would make no sense at all to research the prices of broadband service when there is no broadband cable or access points near your home. The good news is that if you live in any semi civilized area, you'll easily have access to a number of quality service providers however many outlying communities may not be so lucky.

After you have determined if broadband is available in your area, the next step is to decide your true needs. For example, will you be using your service for personal use or more for business? Will you have one computer using the connection or multiple? The answers to these questions can mean the difference in the cost of your service. For instance, Internet service providers like Verzion and Verzon have packages that service the needs of both the home user and business. In fact, if you bundle multiple services many of these companies offer incredible discounts than you would otherwise get if ordering them separately. As an example, Verzion has a plan similar to this that it offers its customers.

Just as there are multiple things to consider when selecting an internet service provider, there are also multiple methods of payment as well. While many people pay on a month to month basis for service that is not your only option. Most of the companies will also allow you to pay for a years worth of service up front. This is a real benefit for those of you who have an income that fluctuates from month to month. This is a great option if you are truly satisfied with the service they provide and desire a significant discount.

One thing that should be abundantly clear in your decision making process is that surfing the web with a 56k modem is as outdated as the Flintstones. Now, especially with the advent of internet video and file sharing applications, you almost can't do without a high speed broadband connection. If you have ever tried navigating the internet via dial up, you easily see the overwhelming need for lightning speed broadband service.

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. - 15432

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