ISPs / Hosting

Internet service providers (ISPs) and Web hosting companies help firms build a solid foundation for their new media operations. ISPs offer consumers and businesses access to the Internet via dial-up connection or high-speed 'always on' broadband connections. The broadband market has become increasingly competiitve in recent years, with ISPs offering faster speeds, unlimited download capacity and cheaper prices, to attract customers. The term broadband can refer to ISDN, Cable Modem, DSL, Satelite, Ethernet, or Broadband Wireless connections. The speed transfer of Internet data varies from service to service, both in terms of downstream (for viewing and downloading content online) and upstream (for uploading content to the Web) rates. Many companies offer business standard Internet access packages tailored to handle multiple office connections, and can offer higher upload speeds to let businesses update their websites faster. Web hosting companies provide online systems for storing Internet information. These services work by the hosting companies selling space on a server they own for use by their clients. The services on offer can vary from company to company. The most basic form of Web hosting is file hosting, offering a service where clients can upload files, including Web Pages, to the Internet via a user interface. However, most professional websites use more advanced forms of Web Hosting. Most hosting firms offer database support and application development platforms letting the customers write or install scripts for applications like forums, ecommerce transactions and content management systems. Some hosts also provide a Web interface to let clients manage the Web server themselves. Most hosting companies also provide extra services, such as Internet connections, 24/7 support and personalised assistance.