| Company | Coverage Area | Price | Additional Services |
America Online
www.aol.com
800-827-6364
Total users: 35 million
Years in Service: 7
Updated: Jan. 29, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states and "over 100" countries; extra-cost roaming available | Modem: $23.90/ unlimited or $4.95/3 hrs. ($2.50/hr. extra), $9.95/5 hrs. ($2.95/hr. extra). DSL: 768 kbps/128 kbps, $54.95 (unlimited dial-up access adds $10) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 7
Junk mail filter: Y
Virus Scanning: N
Access: Proprietary, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day; toll-free
Parental Controls: Y
Software: Win 3.1 or newer, Mac OS 8.1 or newer, required
Web server space: 84 MB |
| America Online Company Quote: "AOL provides easy-to-use, first-rate tools and features, such as industry-leading Parental Controls. Mail Controls and filters to block spam, Instant Messaging and Buddy List, music, movie trailers, news and other exclusive content, 24/7 toll-free customer support and unmatched broadband experience." |
AT&T WorldNet
www.att.net
800-967-5363
Total users: Not disclosed
Years in Service: 6
Updated: Jan. 17, 2003 | Washington and adjacent counties, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, St. Mary’s, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, plus 48 states | $16.95/150 hrs., $21.95/unlimited ($5 less w/ AT&T local or long-distance phone service) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 6
Junk mail filter: Y (Brightmail)
Virus Scanning: Y
Access: POP, Web-mail
Tech Support: 8 a.m.-midnight; toll-free
Parental Controls: Y
Software: Win 95 or newer, Mac OS 8.1 or newer
Web server space: 60 MB |
| AT&T WorldNet Company Quote: "AT&T Worldnet Service offers consumers faster log-on times and more reliable connections than the competition, plus premium-branded content, chat, and IM, at a great price. AT&T is the only ISP to offer free, automatic anti-virus and anti-spam features." |
CompuServe Interactive Services
www.compuserve.com
800-848-8990
Total users: Not disclosed
Years in Service: 10
Updated: Jan. 23, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states and “over 100” countries; extra-cost roaming available | $19.95/unlimited or $9.95/20 hrs. ($2.95/hr. extra) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 7
Junk mail filter: Y
Virus Scanning: N
Access: IMAP, proprietary, Web-mail
Tech Support: 8 a.m.-1 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.-Sun.; toll-free
Parental Controls: Y
Software: Win 3.1 or newer, Mac OS 8.1 or newer, required
Web server space: 140 MB |
| CompuServe Company Quote: "CompuServe is the Internet value leader, offering members a complete online service with great content, powerful e-mail and instant-messaging features, and dependable Internet access--all at an affordable price." |
EarthLink
www.earthlink.net
800-327-8454
Total users: 4.8 million
Years in Service: 8
Updated: Jan. 21, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states and Canada. International roaming available at extra cost. | Modem: $21.95/unlimited, $26.95/unlimited. DSL: 768 kbps-1.5 Mbps/128 kbps, $49.95 (20 hrs. dial-up access included). Satellite: 400 kbps/60 kbps, $69.95 (20 hrs. dial-up access included) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 8 (10 w/ $26.95 plan)
Junk mail filter: Y (Brightmail, blacklists)
Virus Scanning: N
Access: POP, IMAP, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day; toll-free
Parental Controls: Y
Software: Win 98 or newer, Mac OS 7.6 or newer; firewall available
Web server space: 80 MB (100 MB w/ $26.95 plan) |
| Earthlink Company Quote: "With Pop-Up Blocker, spaminator and other tools to improve and protect your Internet experience, EarthLink has received top industry awards from J.D. Power & Associates, CNET and other leaders. EarthLink has the largest high-speed footprint of any ISP." |
MSN 8
www.msn.com
800-373-3676
Total users: 9 million
Years in Service: 7
Updated: Jan. 29, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states | Modem: $21.95/ unlimited or $9.95/20 hrs. ($1.50/hr. extra). DSL: 768 kbps/128 kbps, $49.95 (10 hrs. dial-up access included) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 9
Junk mail filter: Y (Brightmail)
Virus Scanning: Y
Access: Proprietary, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day; toll-free
Parental Controls: Y
Software: Win 98 or newer, required; firewall available
Web server space: 30 MB |
| MSN Company Quote: "MSN 8 provides rich communications tools, including 'smart' junk-mail filters with Microsoft Research technology; a customizable Dashboard; online activity tracking and other parental controls; and exclusive software for managing personal finances, researching projects and editing and sharing photos." |
PeoplePC Online
www.peoplepc.com
800-736-7537
Total users: 550,000
Years in Service: 3
Updated: Jan. 29, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states | $9.95/unlimited, $15.95/unlimited | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 1 w $9.95 plan, 4 w/ $15.95 plan
Junk mail filter: Y (Brightmail)
Virus Scanning: Y
Access: POP, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day; toll-free (but $1.95/min. charge applies w/ $9.95 plan)
Parental Controls: N
Software: Win 98 or newer
Web server space: 10 MB w/ $15.95 plan |
| PeoplePC Online Company Quote: "With PeoplePC, you get Internet access for as low as $9.95 per month with no time restrictions or annoying ads. PeoplePC has more local access numbers than AOL or MSN and Smart Dialer technology to ensure fast, reliable connections." |
SBC Yahoo
sbc.yahoo.com
866-722-9246
Total users: 3.5 million
Years in Service: 7
Updated: Jan. 21, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states | $21.95/unlimited | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 11
Junk mail filter: Y
Virus Scanning: Y
Access: POP, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day; toll-free
Parental Controls: Y
Software: Win 95 or newer, Mac OS 8.6 or newer, required; firewall available
Web server space: 60 MB |
| SBC Yahoo! Company Quote: "SBC Yahoo! Dial combines reliable dial access, compelling content, a customized portal and premium features to give consumers a rich, personalized Internet experience unmatched by competitors. SBC Yahoo! Dial offers more mail addresses, sub-accounts and online storage than other leading ISPs." |
United Online (BlueLight Internet Service/Juno/NetZero)
www.bluelightinternet.com
www.juno.com
www.netzero.com
BlueLight,800-522-0839
Juno/NetZero,
877-665-9995
Total users: 4.8 million (1.85 million paying)
Years in Service: 5
Updated: Jan. 20, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states and Canada | $9.95/unlimited or free access for 10 hrs. (Juno/NetZero only, must accept 468-by-60-pixel ad banner) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 1 w/ BlueLight, unlimited w/ Juno, NetZero
Junk mail filter: Y
Virus Scanning: Y
Access: POP, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day.; toll-free, but $1.95/min. charge applies
Parental Controls: N
Software: Win 95 or newer, required
Web server space: None |
| Company Quote: "United Online (Nasdaq: UNTD) is a leading provider of value-priced Internet access through its NetZero, Juno and BlueLight Internet Service consumer brands and costs less than half what AOL, MSN and EarthLink charge." |
Verizon Online
www.verizon.net
800-567-6789
Total users: Not disclosed
Years in Service: 6
Updated: Jan. 14, 2003 | Greater Washington area, plus 48 states and Canada | Modem: $19.95/150 hrs., $22.95/ unlimited or $6.95/5 hrs. ($1.95/hr. extra).
DSL: 768 kbps/128 kbps, $49.95; 1.5 Mbps/128 kbps, $59.95; 1.5 Mbps/384 kbps, $79.95 (20 hrs. dial-up access free w/ $79.95 plan, adds $8.95 to others) | E-mail Services:
No. of accounts included: 4
Junk mail filter: Y (Brightmail)
Virus Scanning: N
Access: E-mail access: POP, Web-mail
Tech Support: 24 hrs./day; toll-free
Parental Controls: N
Software: Win 95 or newer, Mac OS 8.1-9.1
Web server space: 10 MB |
| Verizon Online Company Quote: "Verizon Online is one of the nation’s leading Internet service providers, offering a complete selection of dial-up, DSL and dedicated Internet access services for consumers and businesses." |
