As dial-up is no longer the sole choice for Internet service, it's important to research all options before choosing an Internet service provider. The J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Internet Service Provider StudySM shows that high-speed Internet access is increasing in popularity as more consumers now subscribe to high-speed than to dial-up (roughly 78% of the country are Internet subscribers and 56% of them subscribe to high-speed Internet). The following are some helpful tips to use when shopping for an Internet service provider.
- For any network access product"dial-up or high-speed"look for promotions or possibly combinations of Internet access with other products and services when you can, as this will generally lead to some immediate savings.
- If you plan to travel and want to access your e-mail on the road, check with your prospective access provider to ensure they have dial-up access numbers in the areas you plan to travel most frequently.
- If your high-speed access provider doesn't have access numbers, but your computer has Ethernet or wireless high-speed access, ensure that you can check your e-mail using your prospective provider's Web-based e-mail product or find out if you will need different log-on settings to roam using your client-based e-mail product like Outlook or Entourage.
Price decreases for high-speed and dial-up Internet access
The price gap between high-speed access and dial-up access is narrowing. The price for dial-up Internet access has decreased by 8% from last year to an average price of $18.45 per month. The average price for high-speed access is $42.13, down 4% from 2005, bringing the gap between the two services to $23.68. Additionally, the double-play option of bundling telephone service and high-speed Internet access is provided by many cable and telephone companies and offers a better value for consumers....
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