Streamyx

Broadband Internet is the American way when it comes to Internet service of choice. Americans love things that are bigger, faster and stronger. In the auto Industry we Americans are addicted to SUV's. Our fast food places have our favorite giant burger, like the Big Mac, and the all American Internet service of choice is of course, broadband.

Though we prefer bigger and better, there are those who are content with small economy cars, a burger from the dollar menu, and dial up ISP. No, these people aren't cheap, their frugal, and a wise group at that. In today's economy it pays to pinch your pennies. Some people just aren't impressed by high speed Internet since it cost's more.

What the frugal may be unaware of is the usefulness of broadband Internet access can far outweigh the cost and even save you some money. Not just a little money, a whole lot of it! I know, you're wondering how broadband can save money when it costs more than dial up ISP. In a word, technology. That's right, put your broadband Internet to work.

Broadband Internet can save you money in ways you never thought possible, like gasoline and wear and tear on your automobile. Broadband Internet can even save you money on entertainment cost's such as movie rentals, and music CD's. Broadband Internet even saves you time wasted browsing online, and for some of us time is money.

How can broadband Internet save money on gas? Just think about this, how much money in gas does it cost you to go out and rent a movie on DVD from the rental store? Just one gallon is over 2 dollars. How much gas do you burn making that trip each year? How much rubber is worn off your tires and how many miles is added toward the next oil change?

With broadband Internet you can download your own movies. Some online movie rental stores charge you the same amount for 30 days as your local rental store charges for 24 hours! You can even download some movies for free and burn them to DVD. The same concept applies to things like movies and video games. The list is endless.

Did you know broadband Internet can save you a ton of money on phone service? If you have broadband cable or DSL you can take advantage of VOIP or voice over Internet protocol. VoIP also known as broadband phone service can cost as little as 15 dollars a month, and the big advantage to this is it offsets the higher cost of broadband Internet access immediately.

Even if dial up ISP were free, it could never save you any money and is hardly as useful as broadband. I am sure you can think of other ways to reduce your cost of living by using broadband. So to the frugal I say, keep your economy car, order from the dollar menu, but by all means, take advantage of the overwhelming usefulness of broadband Internet access. You'll be glad you did.

Daymon Hoag is the founder of Cheapest Service where you can shop for Broadband - High Speed Internet - Cable - DSL - Wireless

Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating task even in the best of situations. There's lots to consider in order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you'll find some help when evaluating Fractional DS3 vs DS3. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Cost.

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Technology: Fractional DS3

Speed: 3 Mbps - 44.736 Mbps

Description: A fraction of a full DS-3, which is comprised of 28 T-1s or 672 channels.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Provides very high speed access directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A Fractional DS3 will likely start at around $2,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)....not including the local loop. A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers will probably cost more than local/regional Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their network. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) DS3 service.

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Technology: DS3

Speed: 44.736 Mbps

Description: dedicated connection made up of the equivalent of 28 T-1s.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Circuit runs directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A full DS3 obviously will cost more than a Fractional DS3. Expect cost to start at around a $3-5,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider).....not including the local loop. A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers may cost more than local/regional Tier2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their network. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) or bonded (multiple DS3s bound in 1 network....option vs full OC3) DS3 service.

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Technology: E3 (Europe)

Speed: 34.368 Mbps

Description: European equivalent of T-3. Made up of the equivalent of 28 T-1s.

Application: Provides access from a location into the Internet for a large business or ISP (Internet Service Provider).

Pros: Circuit runs directly into the carrier's backbone. Bandwidth guaranteed by SLA (Service Level Agreement). Very reliable.

Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.

Costs: A full E3 usually costs more than it's North American counterpart. Expect cost to start at around a $6-8,000 for a stable, reliable 45 Mbps system (e.g. from an equivalent Tier 1 provider). A required router is additional unless provided as a "freebie" incentive by the vendor (not common in Europe). Local loops range from $1,000 - $3,000/month. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However....just as with the North American version the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.