AT&T; offers DSL Lite through its subsidiary BellSouth, while a number of different companies supply dial-up Internet access. Both dial-up and AT&T;'s DSL Lite provide relatively inexpensive ways to use the Internet at speeds, which prove adequate for many purposes but don't match those of regular DSL or cable Internet services.
Cost
Regarding price, dial-up retains an advantage over AT&T; DSL Lite. It usually costs no more than $10 per month for dial-up in the United States. A few companies offer free dial-up services, but they limit the number of hours and often require the user to view extra advertisements. BellSouth indicates that DSL Lite costs $14.95 monthly, as of 2011. The cost to start using dial-up will be higher if your computer lacks a dial-up modem, while it costs more to set the computer up for DSL Lite if it doesn't have a network interface card.
Features
AT&T;'s DSL Lite provides a maximum of 150 gigabytes data transfer per month, according to BellSouth. This does not limit normal web "surfing" or typical downloads and will not affect most users. It also comes with a dial-up account limited to 20 hours per month (AT&T; charges extra for more hours). Subscribers can use this account during DSL outages and travel or to occasionally use a computer without the hardware necessary for DSL. As for dial-up, its features vary depending upon the specific Internet service provider. Dial-up remains accessible in many more areas than DSL Lite.
Speed
AT&T; DSL Lite's greater speed provides its main advantage over dial-up. The San Antonio Business Journal indicates that AT&T; raised the maximum speed of its DSL Lite service to 768 kbps (kilobits per second) in 2007. This means that it can download up to 96 kilobytes per second, allowing most websites to load in a second or two (it may take longer depending upon your computer's processor). AT&T; does not guarantee a specific speed for DSL Lite access, according to BellSouth. Dial-up generally operates at between 28 and 56 kbps.
Security
The security of an Internet connection can affect the safety of your personal information and the overall reliability of your computer. The Linux Information Project indicates that dial-up is safer than DSL. It's harder for outside users to hack into and misuse a dial-up connection. BellSouth indicates that subscribers can purchase a security services add-on for AT&T; DSL Lite at extra expense.
References
- BellSouth: Pricing Terms and Conditions
- Linux Information Project: Dial-Up Definition
- San Antonio Business Journal: AT&T; Bumping Up Speeds and Lowering Price on DSL
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images