Internet and Businesses Online

As broadband spreads further into the workplace and home, the dial up market declines. Broadband offers many conveniences like faster downloads, split-second web-surfing, and flawless video and audio streaming. Is dial up useless and obsolete? I don't think so. Dial is still convenient, necessary and worthwhile. There are many reasons why dial isn't going away any time soon.

Many people still need dial-up. In the larger cities and other more populated areas where WiFi, FiOS, and cable are becoming prevalent, it doesn't seem possible that many thousands of U.S. citizens have very little or no access to any broadband internet-but it's true. And the majority of those people have the choice between a very expensive and potentially unreliable satellite and slow, but cheap dialup. Unless these people are using their home internet for business purposes, many of them will not find satellite to be worth the money, or cannot afford it at all.

Dial up is simple to set up. Setting up a dial up connection takes a matter of minutes. All you need is a username, password, and a local access number. You can set it up on any computer that has a dial up modem, plug in a phone cord from any analog landline, and you're connected. Finding a dial up provider is easy, and most provide a cheap, hassle-free service, unlike many broadband services that require contracts, shipping of expensive equipment, and complicated set up processes.

Some people don't need all the bells and whistles. Sure, it's slow and you can't watch YouTube videos, but dial up is perfectly fine for checking email and simple banking transactions. These are probably the top two uses for dial up internet at home, especially among the older generation. Many of these people grew up with dial up and simply don't want to change. And for the price dial up is offered, it makes an appealing offer.

Broadband is available at work. With this option, some people don't need the internet very much at home after they've had internet access all day at work. There's no sense in paying a fortune for fast Internet at home only to be used for an hour or less a day, and dial up is a nice back up solution for occasional home uses.

The "problems" with dialup can be resolved. Some dial up providers and other companies online offer solutions for slow speeds and tying up the phone line, two big complaints about dial up. With features like accelerators and internet call waiting, it is possible to be satisfied with dial up.

Dial up travels. As mentioned earlier, set up is easy, which means you can take dial up with you. If you're at a friend's house, a vacation home, business trip, or hotel, you can easily create a dial up connection, hook up your computer to a phone line and connect right away. With all the wires, routers, and modems required for broadband Internet, even moving to the other end of the room in your house can be a challenge. With the service being provisioned directly to your home, your connection is certainly not available away from home! Installation and sometimes ordering broadband Internet service must often start over in the event of moving or seasonal relocation.

Dial up internet may not be for everyone and it does have limitations. For some people, broadband is simply the only solution for their needs. Someday broadband internet will probably be much more prevalent and hopefully a little less expensive. Until that day comes, dial will continue to meet the needs of millions around the world.