Chapter 5: Better Access To Better Data

Internet Hubs

A growing number of public Internet service providers - or Internet hubs - offer high-speed, dialed ISDN access to the network through what are often local calls. Performance Systems International, for example, offers ISDN-to-Internet nodes throughout the country, including metropolitan areas such as Albany, Boston, Islip, New York City, Portland, Rochester, and White Plains.

Other typical hubs are Digital Telemedia, Inc. and the Internet Channel Corporation, both in Manhattan. "One major reason to use a hub is cost," says DTI's Karl Kister. "Many companies don't need to camp on the Internet. Rather they just want access when they need something."

"A dedicated line could cost $1,200-1,500 a month," adds Internet Channel president Hal Eisenstein, "while the same high-speeds through ISDN, with reasonable usage, could save as much as a thousand dollars a month." The Internet Channel's Ascend Pipeline equipment offers speeds of up to 512Kbps.

In the Boston area, both The Internet Access Company and Terranet offer dialed Internet access through ISDN Intellipath(TM) switches. Lines to remote users can be "foreign exchanged," and while line costs increase, the Intellipath connections offer unlimited usage at no additional charge.

Other Sections Of This Chapter:

Beginning Of Chapter 5
Making Images Useful
Coping With Government Records
California's RealityLink
Surfing The Internet
Getting On The Information Highway
Internet Hubs