AT&T Internet Service

If you’re looking for faster and more reliable Internet speeds, you might want to consider switching to AT&T’s high speed Internet service. Their DSL services come in several varieties and are available in more states than many other telecommunication providers. However, you need to understand some basics about how their service works and how it stacks up to the competition before you decide.

Some DSL Facts

When it comes to high speed Internet, most people have two choices: cable or DSL. There are a couple of important differences between the two:

•    Selection – With DSL, you’ll usually have more choices. For example, if you choose AT&T Internet service, you can pick from four different options. That means you can pick the speeds you want and that fit your budget.

•    Delivery – Here’s the real crux of the difference: the connection. With cable, you’re going to be sharing the line responsible for transferring data back and forth from your computer to the Internet with lots of other people. If all of you decide to start checking your email at the same time, you’re going to see slow down. With DSL, you are connected via a dedicated line that is yours and yours alone. That doesn’t mean you can’t see slower speeds than promised, however. Not only are their mitigating factors, such as your computer’s processing capabilities, but your location in relation to the Central Office is also important. The closer you are to that location the faster your speeds are going to be.

•    Lines Used – Traditionally, DSL uses your existing phone lines to connect you to high speed Internet. Cable, on the other hand, uses their network of lines. That doesn’t matter too much because the neither is really superior to the other. Some companies, including AT &T have introduced “Naked DSL” which does not require you to have phone lines coming into your home to receive DSL. These services usually cost more.

What’s Available with AT&T

If you’re interested in AT&T’s Internet service, comparing the four different plans is a good place to start. First, all of the plans have a few things in common. The AT & T Internet Security Suite which uses McAfee products to protect your computer is included in each of the four plans for free. All of them come with eleven email addresses and nearly unlimited email storage.

Besides the speeds, which will be compared momentarily, the biggest difference is the price of the equipment. For all four plans, you have two options: a modem or a wireless router with a built-in modem. If you choose the two cheaper plans – Basic and Express – you’ll have to pay for those yourself at a cost of either $49.99 or $79.99. However, if you choose the two more expensive plans – Pro and Elite – you’ll have to pay upfront but will receive a mail-in rebate for the total cost of the equipment making it essentially free.
Now here’s the breakdown in terms of speed for each of the four plans. At the slowest end with the Basic Plan, you’ll be seeing speeds of up to 768 Kbps for downloads and of up to 384 Kbps for uploads. While that may not sound very fast, compared to dial-up (56 kbps) you’ll definitely notice a different. Plus, the price is only around $20 per month which is roughly what most dial-up services cost.

If you want something faster in terms of download speed, the Express Plan can reach 1.5 Mbps. However, the upload speed is still only 384 Kbps. But the price is just $5 more than the Basic Plan so that’s not a very heft investment to pay for almost roughly twice as fast download speeds.

The two fastest plans boost both the downloading and uploading rates. With the Pro Plan, for example, you can see speeds of up to 3 Mbps and 512 Kbps, respectively. The Elite Plan pushes the speeds even faster: 6 Mbps for downloads and 768 Kbps for uploads. These plans cost $30 (Pro) and $35 (Elite).

When compared to some of the speeds offered by the competition, the maximum speeds seem a little on the low side. Both Verizon and Qwest, although not available everywhere, offer maximum download speeds of 7 Mbps with their DSL services. However, AT & T does offer another advantage. They do not require you to make a one or two year commitment to their service.

The Naked DSL Option

With AT & T, many serviced areas also have the choice of Naked DSL. As mentioned above, this is basically DSL service that does not require you to have phone service or an existing landline phone in your home. Because many people are switching to just using their wireless phones for all calls, this has become a more attractive option for many consumers. However, it does tend to be more expensive.

The same four plans in terms of speed are available as Direct DSL (AT & T’s name for the service). The Direct Basic even costs the same but does require a one year commitment; it’s the only DSL plan the company offers that requires this type of commitment. With the other three options, the speeds are the same but the price difference is about $10 to $15 higher.

Another difference is that if you choose the Direct DSL option, you will have to pay full-price for your equipment regardless of the plan you choose. The rebate for the equipment requires you to be a qualifying subscriber to AT & T’s phone service. If you don’t have a phone line, clearly you don’t need their phone service so the rebate is not offered.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to AT & T Internet service, you do get all of the benefits of steady and more reliable speeds thanks to DSL. While the speeds are not as fast as those offered by the competition, you won’t have to be locked into a commitment either.