Survey: IBM Rates Highest Among ISPs
[September 4] The IBM Internet Connection received high grades from those polled in a survey rating Internet service providers, with America Online rating the lowest.
In an online poll conducted by HomePC magazine surveying 20,000 readers, IBM was rated the highest followed by MindSpring Enterprises and Concentric Networks, with America Online receiving the lowest accolades among the 11 ISPs graded.
Rounding out the list were, in fourth place, EarthLink Network, followed consecutively by AT&T WorldNet, GTE Internet Solutions, Netcom On-line Communication Services, Prodigy, Microsoft Network, CompuServe Interactive, and AOL.
To add further fuel to the low ratings, HomePC enlisted the help of Santa Ana-based market research firm Inverse Technology Network to get a more scientific assessment of how ISPs rate. Again, AOL ranked the lowest; both IBM Internet Connection and AT&T WorldNet received high marks from the firm.
Of those surveyed needing technical support, IBM and MindSpring subscribers were put on hold for the least amount of time--averaging 5.1 and 7.5 minutes, respectively. EarthLink's members spent the longest time on hold--an average of 21.5 minutes.
After having called tech support, more than 85% had their problem solved; again, MindSpring's support was rated among the highest.
More than 44% claimed that when getting a busy signal trying to log on, they were given a second number. CompuServe and IBM were rated as having the least busy signals, with AOL and GTE having the most.
The good news is that more than 95% reported no problems when sending or receiving e-mail, and nearly 3 out of 4 rated their ISP as "good" or "very good" in terms of reliability. |
