E-Commerce (electronic commerce) refers to the buying/selling (or exchange) of goods and services through the Internet. Generally speaking, there are four basic components to an e-commerce enabled Web site: A shopping cart, a secure environment, a payment gateway and a merchant account (although this list can vary).

A shopping cart is an essential component for most e-commerce Web sites, as it allows users to browse for and purchase products online. Some Web hosts provide free (usually more basic) shopping carts, while others provide a shopping cart for an additional fee. Different shopping cart programs range greatly in usability, functionality and features.

A visitor uses the virtual shopping cart to choose which items (and how many of each) to buy. The transaction then begins over a secure connection (SSL). The payment gateway enables the authorization, processing and managing of online transactions, while the merchant account enables the processing of credit cards online.

There are many different levels of e-commerce integration — the more customized the system, the more complicated (and costly) the process can get. If you are in need of a complex e-commerce solution, you must be willing to pay a bit more for a reliable, flexible hosting plan.

Compare Web hosts now or find answers to more commonly asked Web hosting questions in our FAQ area.

Posted in Web Hosting, Small Business | Permalink

The technology behind high speed dial-up services varies from company to company. With that in mind, most high speed dial-up ISP’s use some form of data compression to provide a faster Web surfing experience.

Most high speed dial-up ISP’s optimize Web pages by compressing images and other page components, which speeds up the download these pages. Most also utilize some sort of caching technology to speed things up. Caching involves the storage of commonly viewed Web pages (or parts of Web pages), which allows for faster downloads of these pages in the future.

Because high speed dial-up services don’t speed up your actual Internet connection, they will not help speed up your large file downloads. The benefits of a high speed dial-up service come mainly in the form of faster Web browsing, especially of commonly viewed pages - including Web-based email accounts.

Compare high speed dial-up ISPs now or get answers to more ISP-related questions in our ISP FAQ section.

Posted in Internet Service | Permalink

Recently, long distance rates have been only minimally regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Minimal regulation in the long distance market has led to increased competition, which ultimately has led to more choices and lower overall costs for consumers

In this now highly competitive long distance market, many smaller, lesser-known long distance providers have surfaced and are able to offer extremely cheap rates to consumers

These smaller, lesser-known long distance carriers actually use the same networks to transmit calls as the larger, more well-known long distance carriers. The main difference between these smaller and larger long distance carriers is usually in the area of customer service. These smaller companies provide their own customer service and have their own billing departments.

These (smaller) companies often “rent” in bulk from a major carrier and then re-sell this to consumers at a cheap rate. They are able to provide cheap long distance rates by keeping costs down. These companies avoid the large costs associated with advertising and marketing and don’t have to worry about many other expensive aspects of running a large-scale corporation.

Compare long distance plans and rates now or get more answers to common questions in our FAQ section.

Posted in Long Distance | Permalink

I see all of these so-called deals out there that include a free cell phone - what’s the catch?

Most deals that include a free cell phone (or cell phones) require that you sign a one-year or two-year contract to stay with a specific wireless carrier. If you cancel or change service before this agreed-upon contract is up, you face an early cancellation fee. The amount of this early cancellation fee varies widely with different carriers and plans.

Also, some of these free cell phone deals are, in fact, rebate offers. In these cases, the consumer actually pays for the cell phone when signing up and then is required to mail in rebate forms, proof of purchase, etc. in order to be reimbursed. So, as long as he/she mails in the required information in a timely fashion, the cell phone will be free. Not all free cell phone deals are rebate offers, though. Some deals actually do include a cell phone at no cost when signing up.

So, there is no real “catch” with this type of free cell phone deal, as long as you honor the terms of your contract (usually 12 or 24 months) and mail in rebate forms when necessary. Before signing up with a carrier, be sure to check the length of the contract and what kind of cancellation fee you would incur if you had to cancel service before the end of the agreed-upon contract for whatever reason.

If you are not currently under contract with a carrier and/or are in need of a new cell phone, there is no reason not to take advantage of a free cell phone offer. The wireless carriers are in a heated competition for your business, and they’re often willing to offer up a free phone or two if you’ll sign on with them as a paying customer.

Compare cell phone deals now or get more answers to common questions in our FAQ section.

Posted in Cell Phones | Permalink

Students generally have little or no credit history. Because of this fact, students may often find it difficult to get approved for traditional consumer credit cards. Luckily, student credit cards do exist and are available to help students build up the credit history that most don’t already have.

Student credit cards can be scaled-back in terms of rewards, features and other benefits, but can still be valuable commodities. If the credit card is used wisely, the student can take the first steps toward building a solid credit history.

Students can also consider applying for a credit card that is made for anyone (not just students) with limited or no credit credit history. This type of credit card can be very similar in features to a student credit card and can offer many of the same benefits. Again, if the card is used wisely, it can help to start building a solid credit history.

Compare student credit card offers now or learn more about different types of credit cards in our FAQ section.

Posted in Credit Cards, Personal Finance | Permalink

What is the difference between high speed dial-up internet service and broadband internet service like cable or DSL?

High Speed Dial-up vs. Broadband Internet Access

High-speed dial-up internet service can allow you to surf the Web at near-broadband speeds but will not help speed up your large file downloads. Broadband service brings the convenience of an always-on connection, while high speed dial-up plans do not. With any dial-up plan, you must tie up a phone line in order to be online.

High speed dial-up service can be considerably less expensive than broadband service and the set up process for high speed dial-up is generally less expensive and takes less time. In fact, some high speed dial-up ISP’s allow free trials of their service. Free trials are tough to come by with broadband providers, although some broadband providers do offer initial discounts.

All in all, high speed dial-up service provides a faster and less-frustrating surfing experience than traditional dial-up service but lacks some of the perks that broadband service can provide.

For more information about this topic, check out our ISP FAQ section. Or see what Internet Access options are available in your area now.

Posted in Internet Service | Permalink

We are making improvements to e-wisdom.com continuously, and the last section to benefit from this fact is the Insurance section.

The new and improved Insurance category offers a number of direct partnerships with top insurance Web sites to help you find both the type of insurance and the specific insurance plan that is right for you.

Whether you are searching for auto insurance, health insurance, or life insurance, e-wisdom.com is a good starting place.

Check it out for yourself and send any comments, suggestions or questions. We value your feedback!

Posted in Site Updates, Miscellaneous, Insurance | Permalink

The e-wisdom cell phone section continues to get stronger and stronger. If you have one free minute, browse the new and improved and see for yourself.

Here is a brief list of some of the features that you can access while researching a cell phone purchase or switch from one wireless carrier to another:

- Cell Phone Finder Tool
- Cell Phone Plan Finder Tool
- In-Depth Expert Cell Phone Reviews
- Compare Cell Phone Specs Side by Side
- Search for Deals by Wireless Carrier
- Search for Deals by Phone Manufacturer
- All Free Cell Phone Deals and Other Specials

If you have any unaswered questions, find the answers:

- Glossary of Cellular Terms
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Pick the Right Cell Phone and Plan

All of the tools are there to help you make your next cell phone carrier, plan and/or phone decision a knowledgeable one.

Posted in Site Updates, Cell Phones | Permalink