Choosing your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is like picking out the right restaurant: you have to consider which one caters to your craving and budget.

By Jen Kwan

Most ISP packages now come in colorful servings of types, speeds, and plans. They can be bundled with a phone service or cable television; and there is also a choice of mobile broadband. Below are some freshly picked packages that may help you in knowing what ISP works best for you:

Full Course Meal

For the ladies who own a business, like a small Internet cafe or a quaint home office like a mini-call center, a main concern is satisfaction, not just for yourself but for your clients and workers as well. It’s like hosting a dinner party wherein you know you want your guests to be served with quality and speed. You might be interested in postpaid plans like:



If you’re a mom or a working ate who provides for a full house, it would mean catering to multiple Internet users as well as ingesting many hours of Internet-surfing, which includes a lot of chatting, video calling, online gaming, and music and video streaming or downloading. Moreover, if you’re the photographer or lay out artist who’s fussy about speed for your uploads, these set of postpaid plans would suit your taste:




Value Meal
The career-minded gal who lives on her own and uses the Internet for random or required surfs, Facebook or Twitter updates, and e-mail checks doesn’t have to sign up for speed she won’t fully utilize. Given the economic situation, practicality matters most to her. The following postpaid plans would seem convenient:




Meal-to-go
Reloadable plans are suitable for those with hectic schedules and spontaneous adventures; the kind of girls who would just have yogurt for breakfast, and probably a sandwich for lunch and dinner in between activities. Some of the new prepaid plans provide you Internet through a bite-sized USB Stick. Plus, reloading won’t be a hassle since such plans are reloaded via card or electronic load which can be found almost anywhere. And don’t worry: there are also postpaid plans available for this kind of package.





Initially, you may be charged for CPE (the modem) for some of these plans. It might cost around P2,500, depending on the provider, so don’t get surprised. There will be an additional charge if you also opt for a router.

Your ISP really depends on what you need and what you can afford. Before subscribing, the following tips can help in your decision making:
Nose around. Start by asking friends and neighbors about their own ISP experiences. Ask about connection speed, reliability, customer service, and technical support.
Read the menu. Make sure to read the provided contract before officially subscribing. You’ll learn about the terms of lock-in periods, early termination fees, usage limits, and fees for additional services, so that you don’t feel puzzled when you’re caught in a questionable situation.
Spend wisely. Some Internet packages seem practical as you can often lower your monthly fee by bundling Internet services with phone, and/or cable TV service. But if you don’t need cable or a landline, you could just subscribe to a broadband service.