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Online Magazine
The Internet (Part II)
Getting Connected
1. Your own connection.
This is not for the small business. This approach requires lots of expensive equipment and expertise.
2. Visit a library.
This is a neat way to try out the net without spending any money. Many large libraries now have one or more computers connected to the Internet that may be used by visitors. You obviously can't use this approach for your business, but it's a great way to familiarize yourself with the internet and see what this tool might mean to you and your business.
3. Use a commercial service.
The commercial services such as America-On-Line and CompuServe provide some form of Internet access. The good news is that this approach is an easy and quick way to get on the net. However, in some cases, Internet access is limited in various ways and you can expect to pay more than with an independent Internet provider service. Furthermore, some of the internet "tools" provided by these services are not as good as what you can obtain free from other sources over the Internet.
4. An Independent Internet provider.
This is my preferred approach. It is easy to find a local "access provider" and get an "Internet account" which allows you to connect into the Internet. One way to find these providers is to check in the business section of your local newspaper. Cost is around $12-$20/month which will give you unlimited access. More good news: Required software for your computer is generally free or very low cost shareware available from the provider (or you can download it from various hosts with help from your provider).
There are different types of Internet accounts that provide various levels of service. Suffice it to say here that you will need a "dial-in PPP" account which will allow you to take full advantage of the Internet at a low cost. (PPP stands for Point-to-Point Protocol)
Be careful when selecting your Internet provider since many are coming in existence to support the demand. Some are good, some are not. Use the following checklist to help in making your selection.
* How long has the provider been in operation? (1 year minimum)
* Are an adequate number of telephone lines are available to ensure you will not receive a busy-signal when attempting to connect?
* Is a local access telephone number available? (You don't want to incur long-distance charges since you will find that you're spending hours connected!)
* Are 28.8Kbps modems (minimum) being used for dial-in accounts?.
* Are personalized E-mail addresses available? You want this for identification. It is your "name" on the Internet. For example, my Internet E-mail address is "bobs@isquare.com. "bobs" is what I've chosen for my "name," "isquare" is the name of the node of my Internet service provider, and "com" indicates a commercial account.
* Will software be provided? (It usually is).
* Are there any restrictions on doing business?
* Is technical help available? During what times? (This assistance should be free.)
* What services are offered? You must have E-mail and FTP at a minimum. Will the provider be able to support your "home page" when you're ready? (more on this below).
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