The Internet can be compared to a shopping centre. Much as the shopping centre contains stores that offer different products, so the Internet offers a variety of communications services. An on-line service furnishes a multitude of pay as you use services, such as access to travel reservation systems, chat rooms, etc. An account with an Internet service provider is just that, access to the Internet. Subscribers can access services such as by dialling a local phone number from most anywhere in the world.
Commercial services have excellent customer support.
Other features often Internet related, such as e-mail, are subject to hourly connect fees. However, such services do not provide direct access to the Internet. Internet service provider accounts normally charge a flat rate per month for all services for a specified number of hours of connect time. The only additional charges are for extra hours on-line. Direct Internet Access.