Dialup Provider Options

This page contains information about some of the dialup Internet service provider (ISP) options available to University of Illinois students, faculty, and staff.

Note that the links to the Internet Service Providers (glossary: ISPs) listed below are not an endorsement of the mentioned products and services. They are provided simply as a sampling of the options that are available to users.

For network providers which offer faster options than 56K dialup, see High-Speed Network Provider Options.

If you are an ISP manager and would like for your ISP to be included on this list, contact cites-webmaster@uiuc.edu with the details of your service's price structure and area of availability.

Least expensive options:

Most versatile options:

 

Free ISPs
Advantages
Disadvantages
  • Free.
  • Many provide dialup numbers in different area codes (or around the world).
  • Free ISPs without banner ads and surveys often limit your time per month, switching over to a fee system if you exceed that amount of time.
  • Free ISPs that don't limit your time per month often force banner ads and surveys on you, and these may take half or more of your available bandwidth depending on the service.

Some free ISPs
Limited time/ no ads
Unlimited time/many ads and surveys
  • CITES is not aware of any dialup service providers remaining in this category.
Local ISPs
Advantages
Disadvantages
  • Local call rates for local dialup phone numbers (no long-distance fees).
  • Local technical support providers.
  • Traveling to another area means you may need to call long-distance to connect to the 217 area code.

Some local ISPs
Under $12/month
Over $12/month
Nationwide ISPs
Advantages
Disadvantages
  • Local dialup numbers in a wide range of area codes (calling a number in a local area code means no long-distance charges).
  • Some nationwide ISPs charge for technical support or don't provide telephone-based technical support.
  • Some for-fee nationwide ISPs will force banner ads even though they also charge for the service.

Some nationwide ISPs
Under $12/month
Over $12/month
Worldwide ISPs
Advantages
Disadvantages
  • You can find local-area dialup phone numbers in many different countries.
  • Worldwide ISPs are likely to be very large organizations with established support channels.
  • Not all "worldwide" ISPs provide local-area dialup phone numbers in all parts of all countries -- you may have long-distance charges to call a dialup number within the other country.

Some worldwide ISPs
Under $12/month
Over $12/month
  • Maglobe (prepaid - monthly cost depends on usage)