1c. Dial-up – uses an existing telephone line, which is shared with a standard phone and/or fax.  This was the typical type of connection for the last ten years.  Most ISPs provide data transfer speed up to 56 Kbps for download and up to 33.6 Kbps for upload.  The typical connection speed is about 28.8 Kbps.

Advantages:

• Low cost.  This is a relative value (see Disadvantages - Low cost? in the next paragraph.)

Disadvantages:

• Low cost?  Compared to the quality and transmission speed provided at this cost, this is one of the most expensive type of Internet connection nowadays – high TCO (Total Cost of Ownership);

• Low speed;

• Waiting time for establishing the dial-up connection and logging in to the ISP;

• Uses an existing telephone line, shared with a standard telephone – only one type of connection can be established, either Internet connection or telephone call/fax transmission;

• The client is responsible for purchasing and installation of the modem.