Consequently, especially where you understand your own usage, it’s best to choose a provider without an FUP or one that clearly identifies its limitations. Just remember, the less you pay the less you get, so don’t expect the world for a pittance. Oh and always read the 'TERMS & CONDITIONS' (T&C’s)!

Additional notes:

Keep an eye out for ‘extra’ monthly usage charges, which are normally done by each additional GB consumed (if going over the cap) and should cost roughly £1.50. For most this will not be a concern, yet some ISP’s may charge ridiculous amounts.

It’s also worth keeping an eye open to see if the provider blocks any specific ports (services) that could impact your desired service, such as disallowing file-sharing (P2P) or other connections. We have known providers to block services such as MSN/ICQ (Instant Messaging) and multiplayer games, although this is rare.

Services (e-mail etc.) – What do I need?

The Internet is nothing without an e-mail address and likewise 99% of ISP packages come with one, so it’s perhaps a moot point whether you need it or not because you’re most likely going to get it anyway. But how about Website space, Anti-SPAM, Static IP’s or Newsgroups, do you need them and what are they?

For explanations sake we’ll create a hypothetical list of common service features and explain them one by one:

- POP3/SMTP Mailbox & Webmail

Simply a more technical explanation for “E-Mail”, with POP3 defining incoming (receive) and SMTP identifying outgoing (send) traffic. Webmail is often mentioned separately and highlights the ability to access e-mail via a website browser.

[Next Page (5)]>>