Pick the right ISP

摘要

Choosing an Internet service provider (ISP) for your home usually isn't too difficult. Basically, you throw together a list of candidates, see which one has the best price and dependable support, and voila, you have a new provider. However, for those who need more extensive services, the process is bit trickier. Although everyone wants to get more bandwidth for the buck, price is only one of the variables to consider when picking an ISP for a SOHO set-up. Non-business consumers are content with just having a way to check e-mail and surf the Web, but companies and telecommuters need much more from their ISP than an easy route to Yahoo. There are questions that should be asked during the ISP search, such as: What kind of Web site hosting can the provider give you? Will there be customer support at 3 a.m.? Can your ISP accommodate different needs in the future, in case your situation changes or your business grows? Go ahead and make that price list, but when pondering which ISP is worth the fee, it's a good idea to look at what else the provider can offer beyond simple Internet access.