Connections: You need to think about these before installing the latest Internet browser on your machine. Unlike a BBS or on-line service like CompuServe, Internet access requires some type of direct connectionusually through a UNIX or Windows NT server with a TCP/IP connection. If you've got enough people in your company who require Internet access, you may set up your own server. Some of us have neither the time nor the inclination to make such an investment, however. In that case, you need an Internet service provider. A provider is someone who gives you access to their host to the Internet. In essence, you call the provider, who in turn provides access to the Internet.
Unfortunate as it may seem, some people are intent on making the Internet as mysterious as possible. This includes getting a connection. There are a lot of different ways to get a connection, most of which are very easy. The cost and level of service you'll see when using a particular connection type is one of the big determining factors.
The following sections look at several types of Internet service providers. I'll tell you up front that this list is far from complete; more service providers are entering the market every day, and it would take an entire book to list them all. My purpose is to give you an overview of the kinds of connections you'll find. You can decide on a connection type and go from there. Hopefully, one of the providers listed in this appendix will meet your needs. If not, don't stop looking here. Use this appendix as a basis for finding other service providers who will meet your needs.
There is a certain amount of logic to using a telephone company as your Internet service provider, especially if you already use it for other services, such as long-distance telephone services. All the major long-distance telephone companies offer some type of Internet service, and you may find that some of the smaller ones do as well. Paying one bill per month for all your communications needs certainly reduces the number of stamps you'll use. Beyond mere convenience, there are some other practical reasons to use your telephone company as an Internet provider (if it supplies that service). Getting combined services from one place might make it easier for the vendor to provide price breaks as well. I've heard of some people who have gotten quotes as low as $19.95 per month for unlimited Internet access. This particular quote included a one-time service fee for the software required to make the connection. You'll want to check with your telephone company first, though, to see exactly how much it will cost; rates and level of service vary widely.
Don't discount the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs) when it comes to Internet service either. Pacific Bell (among others) has been making headlines in the trade presses recently because of the types of service it offers. You'll want to give your local telephone company a call to see what, if any, services it provides. Some companies will only offer business-related services; others cater to both home and business. As with the long-distance companies, service and rates will vary.
Using an on-line service provider, such as CompuServe or America Online, is another way to grab an Internet connection. This is probably the easiest and fastest route to go if you're already a member of the on-line service. In many cases, the software for accessing the Internet is provided as part of the on-line service provider's software. For example, WinCIM (the software offered by CompuServe) includes a Spry Mosaic browser as part of the package. Accessing the Internet is as easy as starting your communications software.
I've found a few problems with this approach, though, and you need to be aware of them. One of the biggest is a lack of bandwidth. Bandwidth determines how smooth your Internet access appears and how fast you can grab information. I've found that most of the on-line services don't provide enough bandwidth to make long-term Internet access feasible. It takes me almost twice the amount of time to download a file from an FTP site using CompuServe as it does with a dedicated Internet account from AT&T, for example.
You may also hear the ticking of a meter if you use the Internet though an on-line service. CompuServe currently provides 10 hours of free Internet access as part of your monthly fee. After that, you start getting charged an hourly rate for continued access. If you're a light Internet user, 10 hours per month may be more than sufficient. For others, 10 hours is probably enough for a week or even less in some cases.
Do all these limitations mean that on-line services provide inherently less value than a dedicated connection? Not really. You've got to consider that at least part of your Internet access needs will be taken care of by the service though other methods. I can send as many mail messages as I want to someone on the Internet from CompuServe without charge, for example. You'll also find that some of the services you'll find on the Internet are also repeated on the on-line service. Microsoft maintains forums on both CompuServe and the Internet, for example. I've found more than a few vendors that follow the same plan. The bottom line when accessing the Internet from an on-line service is that you may have to pay for the convenience of using it in both time and money.
Tip: I've listed the common on-line services here; don't stop here if your needs aren't met. In addition to standard on-line services, many BBSs now offer Internet access for a nominal monthly fee. You'll find that they provide top-notch connections, but the connection might not be available all the time because most BBSs have limited connections. One of the advantages of using a BBS is that "small-town feel" to the service you'll get. In addition, you'll be supporting a small business in your community. Obviously, you'll have to spend some time researching a BBS before you choose one. Make sure that they have the kinds of connections you'll need and that the owner is solvent enough to stick around for a while.
The following list gives you the names and addresses of some of the more common on-line services:
America Online
America Online, Inc.
8619 Westwood Center Drive
Vienna, VA 22182
Voice: (800) 827-6364, (703) 448-8700
Internet e-mail: fulfill2@aol.com
Web site: http://www.aol.com
CompuServe
CompuServe
500 Arlington Centre Boulevard
P.O. Box 20961
Columbus, OH 43220
Voice: (800) 848-8990
Internet e-mail: 70006,101@compuserve.com
Web site: http://www.compuserve.com
Microsoft Network
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
Voice: (206) 882-8080
Sales: (800) 426-9400
Fax: (206) 936-7329
BBS: (206) 936-6735
Web site: http://www.microsoft.com
Prodigy
Prodigy Services Company
445 Hamilton Way
White Plains, NY 10601
Voice: (800) 776-3449, (914) 448-8000
Web site: http://www.prodigy.com
These Internet service providers fall into a special group. They're normally attached to a university or a public service organization. In most cases, you'll have to pay a nominal monthly free; in other cases, access is free. The majority of these connections use low-speed modems and other old technology components, so you shouldn't expect very good performance from them. (On the other hand, some of the supercomputing centers provide state-of-the-art connections.) In addition, some of these lines aren't available 24 hours a day or seven days a week. A few of these sites are set aside for educational or scientific use; you might have to work a bit harder to get a connection in the first place. You'll need to check with the provider for details on pricing and limitations.
The following list provides you with some ideas on where to look for public access to the Internet:
BARRNet
Service area: Northern and central California
Specialties: Business, education, and government
Voice: (415) 723-7003
Internet e-mail: info@barrnet.net
FTP site: FTP://ftp.barnet.net
CERFnet
Service area: California and international
Specialties: Business and education
Voice: (800) 876-2373, (619) 455-3900
Internet e-mail: help@cerf.net
FTP site: FTP://nic.cerf.net
CICNet
Service area: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois
Specialties: Education
Voice: (313) 998-6104
Internet e-mail: info@cic.net
CONCERT Network
Service Area: North Carolina
Specialties: Business and education
Voice: (919) 248-1999
Internet e-mail: info@concert.net
FTP site: FTP://ftp.concert.net
Global Enterprise Services, Inc.
Service area: U.S. and international
Specialties: Business, education, and government
Voice: (800) 358-4437
Internet e-mail: market@jvnc.net
MichNet/Merit
Service area: Michigan
Specialties: Education, research, and community organizations
Voice: (313) 764-9430
Internet e-mail: info@merit.edu
FTP site: FTP://nic.merit.edu
MOREnet
The Missouri Research and Education Network
Service area: Missouri
Specialties: Business, education, government, and research
Voice: (314) 882-2000
Internet e-mail: bill@more.net
MRNet
Service area: Minnesota
Specialties: Business and education
Voice: (612) 342-2570
Internet e-mail: info@mr.net
FTP site: FTP://ftp.mr.net
Gopher site: GOPHER://gopher.mr.net
Msen
Service area: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
Specialties: Business and education
Voice: (313) 998-4562
Internet e-mail: info@msen.com
FTP site: FTP://ftp.msen.com:/pub/vendor/msen
NEARnet
Service area: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York
Specialties: Business, education, and research
Voice: (617) 873-8730
Internet e-mail: nearnet-join@nic.near.net
FTP site: FTP://ftp.near.net
NevadaNet
Service area: Nevada
Specialties: Education
Voice: (702) 895-4580
Internet e-mail: mitch@nevada.edu
Note: If you decide to use the NYSERNet Gopher site, it'll ask for a login name. Use the generic name of nysernet (all lowercase).
NYSERNet
Service area: New York
Specialties: Education and research
Voice: (315) 453-2912
Internet e-mail: info@nysernet.org
Gopher site: GOPHER://telnet.nysernet.org
PREPnet
Service area: Pennsylvania
Specialties: Education
Voice: (412) 268-7870
Internet e-mail: nic@prep.net
FTP site: FTP://nic.prep.net
SDSCnet
Service area: California
Specialties: Education and research
Voice: (619) 534-8328
Internet e-mail: tep@sdsc.edu
UANet
Service area: Arizona
Specialties: Education
Voice: (602) 621-6666
Internet e-mail: rapagnani@arizona.edu
WEdNet
Washington Education Network
Service area: Washington (state)
Specialties: Education
Voice: (206)775-8471 ext. 4500
Internet e-mail: jhanson@wsipc.wednet.edu
Westnet
Service area: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and New Mexico
Specialties: Education
Voice: (303) 491-7260
Internet e-mail: pburns@westnet.net
FTP site: FTP://westnet.net
WiscNet
Service area: Wisconsin
Specialties: Business, education, government, and research
Voice: (608) 262-5888
Internet e-mail: wn-info@nic.wiscnet.net
FTP site: FTP://nic.wiscnet.net
WVNET
Service area: West Virginia
Specialties: Education
Voice: (304) 293-5192
Internet e-mail: cc011041@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Some service providers just don't fit neatly into a category. You'll find that the vast majority of these providers have the most modern equipment available because that's the only way they can compete with the big companies. Expect to pay a monthly payment for basic service in addition to an hourly rate for special services in some cases. Obviously, getting first-class quality service means that you'll have to pay for it somewhere along the way.
The following list provides some of the other vendors you can try when looking for an Internet service provider:
AlterNet TCP/IP Network Service
UUNET Technologies, Inc.
Voice: (800) 488-6383, (703) 206-5600
Internet e-mail: alternet-info@uunet.uu.net
FTP site: ftp://ftp.uu.net
ANS CO+RE Systems, Inc.
Voice: (800) 456-8267, (313) 663-7610
Internet e-mail: info@ans.net
FTP site: ftp://ftp.ans.net
CENTnet
Service area: Eastern Massachusetts (unless you're willing to pay the long-distance bill). It provides 19.2 Kb or 56 Kb dedicated leased lines or dial-up SLIP.
The Cambridge Entrepreneurial Network
Voice: (617) 354-5800
Internet e-mail: love@ora.com
MIDnet
Service area: Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota
MIDnet Information Center
Voice: (402) 472-7600
Internet e-mail: nic@westie.mid.net
FTP site: FTP://westie.mid.net
MV.COM
Service area: New Hampshire
MV Communications, Inc.
P.O. Box 4963
Manchester, NH 03108-4963
Voice: (603)429-2223
Internet E-mail: mv-admin@mv.mv.com
Auto-reply e-mail: info@mv.mv.com
FTP site: FTP://ftp.mv.com:/pub/mv
NETCOM
NETCOM On-Line Communication Services, Inc.
3031 Tisch Way
San Jose, CA 95128
Voice: (408) 983-5950
Fax: (408) 983-1537
Internet e-mail: info@netcom.com
Web site: http://www.netcom.com
OARnet
Service area: Ohio and surrounding areas
2455 North Star Road
Columbus, OH
Voice: (614) 292-8100
Internet e-mail: demetris@oar.net
FTP site: FTP://oar.net
Gopher site: GOPHER://gopher.oar.net
PSINet
Voice: (800) 827-7482, (703) 620-6651
Internet e-mail: info@psi.com
FTP site: FTP://ftp.psi.com.cd~uuc
SURAnet
Voice: (301) 982-4600
Internet e-mail: marketing@sura.net
FTP site: FTP://ftp.sura.net