Ordering a broadband Internet package today is as simple as going to an Internet provider’s website, reviewing the different packages offered and paying for the one you want. There’s no need to step into a physical store as you can place your order directly online or by calling a toll-free number.
Out of the many Internet providers you can select from, you can order online from AT&T, Verizon, Cricket and T-Mobile, just to name a few.
Before ordering a broadband package, you do need to take a few extra steps and precautions to be sure that your Internet package will be finalized and setup correctly.
First, you need to make sure that the Internet provider offers services in your area. Second, you need to review the terms and conditions for each Internet provider. Third, you need to look at the entire deal the broadband carrier offers to make sure that you’re getting all the equipment needed, or that the company tells you the equipment you need to purchase separately to get your Internet up and running.
Ordering DSL Online
Ordering a digital subscriber line, or DSL Internet, usually implies that you’ll have to also pay for a local phone line. Companies that offer DSL include EarthLink, Verizon and AT&T. All of these companies have “service availability” tools on their websites that allow you to input your address to determine whether the company services your area. After it determines that it does service your area, the website shows you a list of broadband plans that you can purchase online.
For DSL, you usually have several different options to choose from when purchasing it online. The two basic options you usually have include ordering it in a bundled package (the usual way) with a phone line or ordering it as a “naked” or standalone DSL package that doesn’t require a phone line purchase.
From there, you select a package based on bandwidth speeds and other defining criteria. EarthLink offers standalone DSL packages that range around $15 to $20 per month. Verizon and AT&T, on the other hand, vary in their DSL package prices, which range from around $25 to $40, on average.
When ordering DSL from a company like Verizon and AT&T, you must check to see whether you can get a lower price for their broadband services if you order it online as a bundle with the phone service. In many cases, the bundled package results in a monthly savings for the average consumer.
Ordering Cable Online
Depending on the area in which you live, you’ll typically be limited to the different cable Internet providers you’ll be able to order from. Many cable companies dominate large markets in which there is very little, if any, competition. A few of the major providers of cable Internet services from whom you can purchase broadband online include Time Warner Cable, Bright House, Comcast, Cox Communications and Blue Ridge.
When you’re placing an order online for cable, you can usually either purchase the broadband package online by itself or bundle it with cable TV and phone service. Most cable companies offer special bundles so that you can save money. However, if you only want Internet access without a phone or cable TV subscription, your best bet would simply be to order the Internet package by itself.
During the ordering process for cable, you’ll usually be scheduled an appointment so that a technician can come to your home and set up your cable Internet service, hooking your modem up to the coaxial cable that runs to the outside.
Ordering Satellite Online
Satellite is another form of high-speed Internet that you can order from online. Satellite offers a different kind of experience from both DSL and cable Internet services as the installation requires a dish on the outside of your home. When you purchase broadband satellite from online, the cost of the satellite dish and installation fees are usually waived.
Two of the major satellite companies from whom you can order online are DirecTV and Dish Network. Both companies offer varying packages, which also include satellite television. Each offers varying price points. However, you must review the terms and conditions of each contract carefully. In many cases, the price of monthly services goes up dramatically after an introductory period of six to nine months.
Ordering Wireless Broadband
Wireless broadband is another area in which you have many choices and customization options. You can order a wireless broadband package in the form of data packages for your phone. Or, you can order a mobile broadband package for your laptop or netbook.
All of the major Internet and cellular carriers offer these types of mobile broadband plans, including Cricket, AT&T, Cingular, Verizon and T-Mobile. If you’re ordering the data package for your phone, you’ll typically need to sign up for a contract and purchase a Smartphone or one that has mobile Web capabilities.
You can also order mobile broadband for your laptop or netbook. With this type of package, you can look for either USB devices or a PC Card or ExpressCard that gets connected to your computer. These cards act as Internet modems, providing access directly and wirelessly to the Internet company’s cellular towers. You’ll often see these types of broadband packages marketed as being “3G” or “4G,” which refers to the type of technology the network provides.
Some broadband providers, such as AT&T, offer free netbooks and laptops to consumers who sign up for a 2-year contract with a data plan for the laptop. For example, AT&T’s special deal charges you only $10 for the Samsung Go netbook, but requires you to purchase a DataConnect plan for anywhere between $35 and $60 per month, depending on how much Internet usage you’ll be doing.
Whether you need to order DSL, wireless broadband, cable or satellite, virtually every Internet provider allows you to make the purchase online. Although you have to pay attention to increasing rates after the introductory period, special deal offers and terms of each Internet package, ordering broadband online is perhaps the most convenient option whether you’re switching Internet providers or are a first-timer.
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