Using Account Setup Wizard to help you find a service provider

If you need to choose and sign up with a service provider, Account Setup Wizard gathers information from you and helps you do the following:
This chapter tells you what information Account Setup Wizard needs, and tells you how to use Account Setup Wizard.


Tips on choosing an Internet service provider

When you use Account Setup Wizard to find a service provider, you'll get to look at several service providers before you choose. Many service providers offer different payment plans and options. Here are some tips to help you choose the best service provider for your needs.

Payment plans

Carefully read about each service provider's payment plans. Different service providers offer plans for different needs. For example, one service provider might offer a monthly fee of $10 for 10 hours of connection time, and $2 per hour for every additional hour. Another service provider might offer unlimited connection time for one fee of $20 per month. Although the second payment plan sounds like a good deal, the first payment plan might be better for you if you think you'll be on the Internet fewer than 15 hours per month.

Publishing accounts

Some service providers offer publishing accounts. Whereas basic Internet access, lets you browse the Web, publishing accounts let you browse the Web and publish your own documents on the Web. For an overview of how this works, see Introduction in the User's Guide. If you're interested in a publishing account, look for service providers that offer them.


Get ready to use Account Setup Wizard

Account Setup Wizard will set up your Internet connection using the information you provide. Have the following information ready when you use Account Setup Wizard.


Phone line information

Account Setup Wizard needs the following information about your modem's phone line.

Phone line information Write it down here
What's the phone number?  
Does the line have Call Waiting?  
If the line has Call Waiting, what code do you use to disable it?
Check your phone bill or the phone book, or call the phone company.		  
Does the line use Tone or Pulse dialing?
Most phone systems use Tone, but some older systems use Pulse. If you're not sure, call the phone company.		  
Do you have to dial a special number (such as 9) to get an outside line?  



Modem information

You have to know the following information about your modem.

Modem information Write it down here
Manufacturer name  
Model name or number  
Speed (bps) For example, 14,400 or 28,800.  



Credit card information

Service providers bill you for the Internet access they provide (usually a monthly fee, and sometimes for every hour you're connected). You need to provide the following information so they can charge you. Your credit card information is disguised with encryption before it's transmitted, and forwarded only to the service provider you choose.

Credit card information  
Type of credit card  
Your name as it appears on your credit card  
Address where you receive your credit card bill  
Credit card number  
Credit card expiration date  



Use Account Setup Wizard

Use Account Setup Wizard to sign up with a service provider and set up your dial-up connection. Follow these steps:
  1. Start Account Setup Wizard.
  2. Account Setup Wizard appears. Follow the instructions in each screen, and click the Next button to continue.





    In each subsequent screen of Account Setup Wizard, click the Help button for convenient, pertinent information about the screen. You can click Cancel at any time to exit, and any information you've entered will be discarded.

When you're done entering information, Account Setup Wizard will tell you that it's about to call a toll-free number and connect you to the Netscape Internet Account Server, as shown in the following screen. There, you can choose a service provider, create an account, and automatically register your software.


  1. Click Connect to connect to Netscape and see the Internet Account Server's main page.

    Note: Loading the page on your screen can take a minute. Like many servers on the Internet, the Internet Account Server can get quite busy. If you get a message saying that you can't connect, wait a moment and try again.

  2. To find out about a service provider on the main page, click its icon to go to a page of information. On a service provider's page, click Back to go to the Internet Account Server's main page.
  3. When you find the service provider you want, click the Choose button on that service provider's page. Then fill out the service provider's online form.
  4. Check over the form carefully. If everything is correct, click Create a [your new service provider] Account. Your information is sent to the service provider, and the service provider creates a new account for you.
  5. A confirmation screen appears. If you want to go ahead and create the account, click the Confirm Creation of Account button. (Click this button only once.)
    Important : In the next screen, you'll see your account information. Take a moment and write it all down, including your user name and your service provider's support phone number. (And be sure to thoroughly memorize your password.)
  6. Click Configure.
  7. In Account Setup Wizard, a congratulations screen appears. Click the Finish button to exit Account Setup Wizard.

After you finish Account Setup Wizard

When you're done, Account Setup Wizard creates a connection to your service provider, and places icons for Personal Edition in your Netscape submenu or program group. Depending on whether you use Windows 95 or Windows 3.1, you'll see the following icons.


Windows 95

On your desktop in Windows 95, you'll see shortcut icons for Netscape Navigator Gold and your service provider. Personal Edition icons also appear in the Netscape Personal Edition submenu (on the Start|Programs menu).

Select the following items to perform the following tasks.



Windows 3.1

Here's what your program group will look like in Windows 3.1. Double-click the following icons to perform the following tasks.


What's next

After you complete Account Setup Wizard, you're ready to go! Explore the World Wide Web, install additional software, or watch a tutorial about the Internet.

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