With the popularity of AOL and MSN as Internet
Service Providers (ISPs), I run into a lot of prospective clients who
run businesses with an “aol.com” or “msn.com” email
address. I always recommend they move to a different ISP. Here's why:
AOL and MSN are NOT Recommended
for Business Use
AOL and MSN use their own proprietary standards for email and Internet
access. AOL and MSN email accounts are not fully compatible with normal
Internet standards.
Don't get me wrong. AOL and MSN are fine for personal use. They are
both geared for the amateur who can barely turn on a computer. The Internet
on training wheels, so to speak.
If you establish a professional website with a service such as mine,
business email addresses come as part of the package. Unfortunately,
you won't be able to use AOL or MSN to access those email accounts. They're
just not set up to access email accounts that don't conform to their
own proprietary standards.
This means you will have to continue using your “aol.com” or “msn.com” email
address. This looks very amaturish on a business email address and gives
the impression you don't have the resources to afford a fully professional
Internet presence.
If you are currently using AOL or MSN as your Internet Service Provider
(ISP) and intend to conduct business online, I strongly urge you to switch
to another service.
ISPs to Check Out
Dial-up
Most any ISP other than AOL or MSN will work fine for standard email
accounts. If you always dial-up from your office computer, you may want
to check out the local or regional ISPs in your area. Sometimes they
can be a good bargain, provided they offer good technical support and
minimal busy signals. But beware. Local ISPs often lack adequate facilities
to guarantee you a connection during peak hours. Check them out carefully
before you commit to a long term contract.
If you travel frequently and need to connect to your ISP from locations
around the country, I recommend Earthlink as a good national dial-up
ISP. Earthlink has lots of local dial-up numbers across the US, and their
service is geared to support business users as well as individuals.
Cable & DSL Broadband
If you are switching providers, consider going with a broadband ISP.
Broadband gives you a much faster connection without tying up a phone
line. I personally have used RoadRunner since 2002 through my local
cable TV provider and have been happy with the service.
I have also used DSL service.
My biggest problem was not the DSL itself, but the installation. Because
DSL travels over phone lines, there can be problems coordinating the
DSL installer, your chosen ISP, and the local phone company. You also
have to live close enough to your local phone switching facility for
DSL to work.
Sticking with AOL or MSN
If you insist on staying with AOL or MSN, keep in mind you will run
into a variety of problems.
You cannot access standard email accounts with these ISPs. You will
have to stick with your ISP default email account, or try to get “webmail” access
to your business email accounts. Webmail is a feature that allows you
to bypass your ISP's email servers and access an email account with any
web browser. The main downside of Webmail is your email remains on a
remote server and must be periodically deleted to avoid overloading your
account. |
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