INTERNET ACCESS PROVIDERS
Concentric, MindSpring, IBM
WITH MORE THAN 5,000 Internet Service Providers, or ISPs, in the U.S., it's hard to know which one to pick. Chances are you just want one that will actually get you connected, provide help when you need it and download Web pages faster than paint dries. And is it too much to expect all of this for just $19.95 per month? Of course not.
Getting Started
But first things first. When you're looking for a new ISP, make sure the company has a local access number that is truly local. If the ISP lists your home town, then you can be sure that every time you log on, you'll be charged the standard rate for a local call (which typically is free, unless you live somewhere like New York City). But if the town listed is not your own, then check with your local phone company to make sure that you won't be charged an extra fee every time you log onto the Internet. Even if it's in the same area code, you still might be charged for the call.
Also, you need to make sure that the ISP works with your modem. Right now there are three different standards of 56 kbps modems -- the x2, the K56flex and one that is compatible with both, the new V.90. Still, many ISPs can only handle one platform.
Concentric
Concentric earned top marks in the most recent review of ISPs published by Inverse Network Technology, a company that tests ISP performance. The system is fast, reliable and you'll pay $19.95 for unlimited service, with no startup fees. If you want to save some cash, you can prepay six months, at $17.95 per month.
And if you're only going to be logging on for a few hours a month, you can also select a $7.95 per month option. The plan covers five hours, after which you'll pay $1.95 per hour. With all options you get 5MB of space to create your own Web page. And many markets can handle 56kbps modems. You can try the service for free for 30 days by signing up online or calling 800-939-4262.
MindSpring
This ISP is pretty much just running with the pack when it comes to its call success rate. And it isn't the fastest ISP around. So why recommend it? Service. This company prides itself on being "patient," says Ed Hansen, company spokesman. So when you pick up the phone, you not only should expect to talk to a human being within a reasonable amount of time -- you can also expect that person to be nice to you.
Is MindSpring's human touch worth its $25 annual startup fee? The truth is, MindSpring will waive that fee for anyone who signs up on its Web site. Just use this. Even though it says it is for AOL subscribers, MindSpring doesn't mind if you use it, too. You can also save money by prepaying your service for a year or two. This will knock an additional 10% or 15% off your costs. And don't worry, the prepay options are refundable.
MindSpring offers several plans, starting with a $6.95 per month "light" offering. This plan provides five hours of monthly usage, after which you'll be charged $2 per hour. At the other end of the scale there's "the works," which for $26.95 per month gives you far more than the average Netizen would need, including three email accounts and 10MB for your personal Web site.
We recommend the standard $19.95 per month option, which will give you unlimited access, but not much else. For example, the $6.95 per month option provides you with 5MB of personal Web space but the $19.95 option does not. Finally, MindSpring can handle only one type of 56kbps modem, the x2. But that is only in some markets.
Unfortunately we aren't the only ones that like MindSpring. The company has a policy to limit new subscribers in cities where its capacity has reached its limit. Assuming you don't live in one of those five cities, you can sign up online, or call 888-MSPRING.
IBM Internet Connection
If you're looking for a fast, reliable ISP, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one than IBM Internet Connection. This ISP has earned top ratings in its call success rate and Web throughput (a measure of how quickly data is transmitted), according to Inverse Network Technology.
What's the catch? With the $19.95 option you're limited to 100 hours a month. After that you're looking at an additional fee of $1.95 per hour. (Ouch!) But if you're certain you're not going to be online for more than approximately three and a half hours per day, this could be the plan for you. IBM also offers a base plan at $4.95 per month that covers you for a grand total of three hours -- and then charges you $1.95 per hour after that.
IBM Global Networks (of which Internet Connection is the consumer component) tends to cater to business customers, rather than individual users. So don't expect a super friendly home page with games and your horoscope. But if you want solid service, chances are you'll be happy with this provider. It uses the V.90 standard in some markets to support 56kbps modems. Try out the service for free for 30 days or 30 hours (whichever occurs first) to see for yourself. You can sign up online, or call 800-821-4612.
Still don't think we've found the best plan for you? With more than 5,000 ISPs out there, you just might be right. If you're looking for a local ISP, a place to start is the List thelist.internet.com which offers information on no less than 4,672 ISPs. Enter your area code and you'll get a list of the local and national ISPs that serve your area. We tried 907 (the area code for Alaska) and came up with 37 listings.
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