Internet Service Providers For Free Service

If you are looking for a cheap and relatively easy way to get Internet access, then dial up Internet is one of the best options at your disposal. Dial up works by using your existing phone line to call one or telephone numbers that grant access to a number of data pipelines leading to the Internet. Dial up was one of the most common ways for people to access the Internet prior to the usage of direct subscriber line (DSL) and cable Internet service. The only prerequisites for dial up Internet service are that you have current phone service and a 56k modem. Most PCs and laptops feature an internal 56k modem, although changes in technology are slowing causing them to become obsolete, especially in favor of WiFi.

The good thing about dial up Internet is the extremely low cost of the service. Dial up is probably one of the cheapest ways to enjoy Internet access in the comfort of your own home, since it is often costs just a fraction of the monthly price of DSL or cable Internet. Another good thing about dial up is that unlike cable or DSL, there is no hardware to install, other than an external 56k modem if your PC does not already come with one.

Who Uses Dial Up and Why?
Dial up Internet service is often used by those who are on a strict budget but still want to have access to the Internet. The cost of dial up Internet, even when factored alongside home phone service, is far less expensive than cable Internet. Cable Internet often requires that the subscriber have existing cable service – this means that the overall costs of having cable Internet can be over $100 per month or more. For those on a budget, dial up Internet is considerably cheaper.

Dial up is also popular in areas that cannot be serviced by cable companies. These areas often include rural locations, where in most cases the only other alternative to dial up is Internet service provided via satellite. Satellite-based Internet service is usually slower than dial up Internet and most providers place strict limits on how much bandwidth is used. In cases such as these, dial up Internet often becomes the superior choice.

Most dial up Internet service providers offer one or more of the following features:

• “Accelerator” software to boost Internet speeds
• Anti-virus software
• Pop-up blocker
• E-mail virus and spam protection
• Technical support

The only problem with dial up is that it is significantly slower than even DSL. Therefore, dial up Internet is not the best solution for those who view content such as videos and music, as this takes up a tremendous amount of bandwidth. For viewing e-mails and web pages, however, dial up Internet is sufficient for most needs.

Popular Dial Up Deals
The most popular dial up service providers are AOL, NetZero, Earthlink and PeoplePC. All four Internet service providers feature plans that cost about the same, but some may offer features that are not provided by other Internet service providers.

AOL is a long standing name when it comes to dial up Internet service, with millions of subscribers. AOL’s Dial Up Advantage is the most expensive dial up plan at $25.90 per month, but it does come with premium McAfee security, plus identity theft insurance and PC hardware insurance coverage. If this plan falls outside of your budget, AOL also provides a basic dial up service for $11.99 per month. AOL also has a basic dial up service with “limited support” – in this case, the live technical support that is offered in the normal basic plan is removed. This service retains the basic McAfee security and costs only $9.99.

PeoplePC features an unlimited service plan that is $5.47 per month for the first three months. After this period, the plan price reverts back to the normal $10.95 per month. People PC also features a “security plus” package that includes anti-virus and anti-spyware software for $7.97 per month for three months. After this period, the normal price becomes $15.95 per month.

NetZero also offers cheap Internet deals, with their basic unlimited Internet service starting at $9.95 per month, with the first month free of charge. NetZero also features an “accelerated” dial up package that includes a pop-up blocker and Norton Anti-Virus for $14.95 per month with the first month of service free of charge.

Earthlink features similar, yet slightly more expensive plans when compared to PeoplePC and NetZero. Earthlink currently features three pricing options: a monthly service plan that requires a 12 month commitment for $14.95 per month, a monthly plan that requires no commitment for $9.95 per month (for three months) and an annual prepay option that allows subscribers to pay for an entire year of service upfront for $150, which works out to a monthly rate of $12.50 per month. The $9.95 per month offer is only for the first three months – afterwards, the plan reverts to the normal price of $21.95, making it the second most expensive plan after AOL’s Dial Up Advantage.

Extra Features
Some dial up providers include “accelerator” software that is designed to boost the speed of your dial up connection. This software does not boost the Internet connection itself – instead, it allows certain graphics and web page text to load faster. It is up to you whether to install this software or not – some people do notice a small improvement in their web surfing speed when using accelerator software. Dial up providers also offer anti-virus and anti-spam protection, using software such as Norton Anti-Virus or McAfee. Most dial up providers offer e-mail service under their domain (i.e. “example@aol.com”).