The speed of DSL Internet Access is keeping pace with the needs of web surfers and telephone customers. As millions of Internet users continue to migrate to broadband and ditch their old dial-up modems, service providers are holding down costs and including a variety of services in their subscriber packages such as Instant Messenger, security software and long distance phone access. Since DSL Internet Access allows voice and high speed data to be sent simultaneously over the same line, it was only a matter of time before they combined services into one. The term DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a means to access the Internet over ordinary copper telephone lines, yet the speed advantage over a dial-up connection is stunning. Web surfers now need more high speed than ever as they frequently download movies, music, games, and even power point presentations. Sure, the old 28.8K or 56K dial-up connections could download music and videos—but the transfer time took hours! Those same files can now be streamed from the web in seconds with high speed DSL Internet Access. The Internet Service Providers are making a pitch to provide your local and long distance phone access as well. Now you can even switch your phone to DSL Internet Access, and make calls right through your computer! In 2003, Earthlink was the first major ISP to launch a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) service, an enhanced telephone solution to its high-speed cable and DSL subscribers. This service offers unlimited local and domestic long-distance phone calls with an arsenal of added features, like call forwarding, which are managed on the customer’s broadband-connected computer. And the phone companies are fighting to keep customers by joining the ISPs. Verizon is the largest of the traditional local telephone companies to begin offering VoIP, which is also known as Internet or broadband phone service. VoIP requires a computer with a high speed connection (and some additional hardware), but because voice traffic is treated like data the service is available with a reasonable monthly fee through a DSL Internet Access subscription. This monthly cost can be up to 80 percent cheaper than traditionally dialed calls since they travel over the Internet rather than the heavily taxed telephone network. Related Articles Mismatched:
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