Requirements for connection to Internet

A user can have either a permanent Internet connection, or a temporary one.

Some business organisations or universities have permanent connections, but it is more common to have a temporary connection. It is common to use a modem to provide the link from a personal computer to a service called an Internet Service Provider (ISP), which offers a permanent link, or node, into the Internet. The user’s modem will dial the ISP, which maintains what is called a point of presence (PoP) – rather like a reception area. The ISP will check that the user’s password is valid before allowing access to its file server, and it will normally offer a range of ‘customer services’ as well as access to the Internet.

The development of the Internet has given rise to a large amount of jargon – language specially created for the purpose. Try to remember the key terms and what they stand for.

The ‘customer services’ may include:

• access to news, weather, sport, financial pages
• message boards – users can have discussions, or post a message and wait for replies
• electronic mail – anyone connected to the Internet can be contacted
• instant messages – users can hold conversations
• directories of members, giving details of similar interests
• offers of free software and demonstrations
• member services – keeping track of on-line costs
• access to on-line shopping – many on-line stores provide goods at very attractive prices

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You may need to describe how to connect to the web as part of an examination question.

It is usually wise for a user to choose an ISP located near by. In addition to paying some sort of subscription to the ISP, the user will often have to pay the cost of telephone charges once his or her modem has provided a connection. (Once the connection is made, the user is said to be on line.) Local rate telephone calls are cheaper than long distance calls.

The cost of accessing the Internet is being reduced as ISPs and telecommunications companies offer a range of special deals to the millions of people who wish to use the Internet. When setting up an Internet connection, it is always worth shopping around to see who is offering the best deals. Some providers offer free connection and an allocation of free calls. Others offer unlimited calls for a set annual or monthly fee.

The modem is said to be dialling-up when it connects to the Internet. In the same way, files sent to the Internet are up-loaded, while files taken from the Internet are down-loaded. Because of costs involved, the data transmission speed of a modem is particularly important when accessing the Internet