What is an Internet Service Provider (ISP)?
An ISP is a company that deals in connecting you and / or your website to the Internet. If you want to access the Internet or have a website, you must hire the services of an ISP.

What type of services does an ISP provide?
Dialup - This service allows you to access the Internet and download web pages and is the most common type of account. AOL, MSN, and DellNet are examples of companies that provide dialup service. They
do not, however, offer Hosting Services.
Hosting Account - The second is called a hosting account. A hosting service will provide storage of your web site on servers connected permanently to the Internet and will hand out these web pages to those who ask for them. Some ISPs will allow you to have a lower priced, hosting-only account (and thus you would either not have a dialup account or obtain the service from another company) but many will require you purchase both services together.
Email - With either type of account, the ISP will usually include support of electronic mail (email). For you to send or collect this mail, you will need access to the Internet and thus probably a dialup account. Some ISPs will give you a specific number of mailboxes and charge you for any additional you might need.

Are there other services an ISP may provide and do they cost extra?
Yes. There is often software run by the ISP that you can obtain permission to use. The cost for such services varies considerably. Examples are:
• Databases such as Access, SQL, or Oracle
• Access to Programming Languages such as ASP, Perl, PHP
• Shopping Cart Software
• Secure Directory
• Statistical Reporting
• Email a Fax - This is the ability to have all emails sent to a specific address converted to a fax.

Is Kreck Design Solutions an ISP?
No, KDS works with several different ISPs located in the Bay Area. We have developed a close relationship with a couple and have thus become very familiar with their computer systems and software. This familiarity saves our clients time when we must contact the ISP with administrative issues. If you receive a bill for Internet Service from KDS it is designed as a bill consolidation convenience for our clients; it is simply a reimbursement for the fees billed to us by the ISP. We do not mark up this service at all.

I heard / saw an ad for $10.00 Internet. Why does my service cost much more than that?
Offers for "The Internet" are usually only offers for a dialup account. The competition is fierce for this common type of account. In our experience, most of the accounts that are $12.00 or less are connected to long-distance telephone plans or credit cards. The common range for full-service Internet access is $15.00 - $22.00 a month.

Why is there a drastic difference in price for web hosting?
Prices for web hosting can range from $25.00 a month to $400.00 or more a month. Much of the difference
is the type of hardware and software the ISP uses. The more perfect, redundant, and modern the hardware and software provided by the ISP, usually the more expensive the service. Most web sites do not require expensive web hosting since their needs are easily met, even exceeded, by normal hosting.

Where do I obtain technical support for my computer?
Unfortunately, different people will provide different types of technical support. We provide any technical support regarding your web site specifically. We can often help with some email problems, however your ISP is responsible for technical support of the server end of the email flow. Any problems with software on your computer will be handled by your computer's manufacturer if it is still under warrantee or by an independent consultant if it is not. We can provide you references of people with whom we have had good luck in the past if you are interested.