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Choosing Internet Access for your Business
By Staff Writer Need for Speed? Imagine this: You’re online, trying to get to a client’s Web site. You’re under a time crunch and you need details. The page takes minutes to load, and… then… doesn’t even load fully. Or how about this: You’re on the road, and one of your employees is trying to email you that all-important, huge presentation—but merely adding the attachment bogs down the system, taking extra time to send. Sound familiar? If your business, like most these days, relies on the Internet for communication, research and day-to-day activities like purchasing and arranging travel, a dial-up connection simply won’t suffice. Lost time, too often, means lost money. But before you pull into the fast lane from the shoulder of the information super highway, take this quick driver’s course on your Internet connection options.
Broadband Broadband, roughly defined as giving you a bandwidth of at least 1.54 megabits per second, includes DSL, cable modem and T1 lines. With speeds at up to twenty-five times faster than dial-up, broadband access allows your business to work faster and more efficiently. You can send larger attachments, research in less time, and respond to clients faster, and it gives you greater flexibility, keeping you competitive. Plus, it’s always on. To get online, you don’t need to dial any number or wait for the modem to connect; you just open your browser—without tying up your phone line. Below are the four main categories of Internet access. Note: The prices listed represent charges for smaller businesses. If you plan to build a larger network, your monthly costs may be higher. DSL The typical DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) business user gets speeds around 128 Kbps download and 128 – 256 Kbps upload. That’s easily at least ten times faster than dial-up! For example, a 10 Mb file that takes up to an hour and a half to download from the Web with a dial-up connection will take you approximately 5 – 6 minutes to see.
What you pay will often depend on how fast of a connection you want, and the speed of your connection may depend on how close you are to the company’s switching station. Most phone companies as well as smaller, independent companies offer DSL service and a wide range of packages. Compare installation fees and contract requirements. Cost per month ranges from $39.95 to $79.95. Cable Modem Cable modem speeds are theoretically faster than DSL, but are often less consistent because they depend on traffic. You can realistically expect between 128 Kbps – 6 Mbps download and 128 Kbps – 2 Mbps upload. That is to say, that same 10 Mb file will take you approximately 2 –3 minutes to download. Cable modems are typically only offered by cable television companies and aren’t available in as many areas as DSL. Prices tend to be in the same range as DSL. Again, check installation fees, modem charges and contracts. T1 Line A T1 is a dedicated—and super fast—line typically only used by large businesses that experience heavy traffic. They use fiber optic cable and tend to be prohibitively expensive for the individual user and most small businesses. Sold to you through telecommunications companies, they also require that you have your own servers. Costs can run as high as $1000 per month plus installation.
Dial-up Connection If you only check e-mail once per day and do limited business online, dial-up may make sense for you. You may, however, end up paying more than what you planned because you’ll be charged additional costs for each account—and each employee will need one. Also consider this: as more and more companies further rely on email, online marketing, and ecommerce (and more customers expect it), you may be left behind. A low speed can mean a high cost for your business over time.
Choosing the right Internet connection for your business is as important as choosing the right phone service. When you’re looking at the options for a local and long-distance plan, you first examine your business’ needs. Likewise with picking your ‘Net connection. Do your homework and weigh how much you want to spend. Once you’ve done your research, it should be easier to see which is the most comfortable and practical lane for you and your business on the information superhighway. Print This Page | Email This Page |
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