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Internet Service Providers Definition
by Janeile Cudjoe
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Overview
An Internet service provider or ISP, as it is usually abbreviated, is a company that provides access to the Internet. They can offer this access to individuals or business, and sometimes also provide additional services such as web hosting, email addresses and domain name registration. Most also can offer wireless or WiFi Internet connections for their customers.
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Internet Service Providers Definition
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History
Prior to ISPs, the internet was only accessible to universities and government agencies. In 1994, the National Science Foundation charged four private companies -- WorldCom, Pacific Bell, Sprint and Ameritech--with creating public Internet access points in Washington D.C., San Francisco, New Jersey and Chicago. As Internet demand grew, smaller ISP's emerged, consolidated and formed partnerships to compete.
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Function
The main job of the internet service provider is to provide access to the Internet. However, some providers also offer additional services in related areas for their customers such as web design, email addresses and web hosting. Many web design and development companies act as ISP resellers or affiliates to offer their clients a seamless, hassle-free web service. Other ISPs offer Internet packages that can include phone and high definition/digital television services.
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Significance
Internet service providers have made it possible for the public to communicate on a worldwide scale. This has totally transformed the way we interact, do business, research and get information. They provide a way for businesses to present, market, collaborate and sell online.
Once limited to computers with power cords and other cables, ISPs can now provide wireless Internet access, or WiFi, for those with laptops, thereby opening the Internet in an even wider arena for their customers.
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Security
Security is a big deal in the ISP arena because of computer hacking and identity theft. To help ensure your privacy while online, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team or US-CERT recommends reviewing a website's privacy policy, ensuring a site is encrypted when submitting personal information, doing business with credible companies, using only one credit card if making a purchase online and not allowing websites to store password information for convenience.
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Market Share
According to the ISP Market Share Report by statowl.com, Comcast, which offers broadband cable, dominates more than 13 percent of the ISP market share in the first half of 2009. Then there is, in descending order, SBC/AT&T, Road Runner, Cox Communications and Verizon Internet Services ISPs with less than 1 percent market share actually make up almost 24 percent.
A whopping 92 percent of those online are using broadband or high speed Internet, while a measly 5.7 percent still use dial-up.
