Why should I choose dial-up?

Choosing dial-up Internet service

Dial-up Internet service is the most affordable choice of any type of Internet service. This option may be ideal for families on a budget, seniors and others who do not use the Internet very often.

Dial-up is cheaper than other types of Internet access but is not as functional. The speed is considerably slower than cable, DSL or satellite Internet service. The major lag is in how long dial up takes to connect to the Internet. Depending on your connection, it could take anywhere from 20 seconds to several minutes.

Also, because dial-up uses a telephone line, you may need to have a separate line for your Internet service. In the past, if you used your normal phone line and were on the Internet, you would be disconnected if a telephone call came in.

In recent years, many dial-up Internet service providers have offered features that allow you to stay on the Internet and be alerted when someone is trying to call you.

Another problem with dial-up is that the connection can be dropped while you are browsing the Internet. This can become very frustrating if you are doing research or are in the middle of a project.