Iserv, for instance, is a popular regional ISP that serves Michigan and other states in the area. To access information on the Internet, users need to have the appropriate software for what they want to do. Many browsers now allow newsgroup access without additional software. Many browsers now come with IRC readers built in. While many downloads can take place without a FTP program from the Web, users need an FTP program to upload files as well as download restricted files.
Some networks offer direct dial-in access.
For users to be able to access more of the services provided by the Internet an Online Service or ISP is usually required. Once the user has subscribed, Online Services and ISPs will provide a start-up disk continuing the protocols, settings and software needed to connect. This number identifies the user's computer as part of the service or provider and allows the user to dial in to the server and access the Internet. While much of the Internet will be available to the user while connected, the user is not actually part of the Internet. In fact the user's computer is only a sort of dumb-terminal for the server which is a machine that connects directly to a HOST on the Internet.