Internet Service Provider Company (ISP)

Service Provider, company that sells computer access to the Internet, also called Internet service provider (ISP) or access provider. A user buys a subscription to a service provider, which gives the user an identifying username and password and a phone number. With his or her computer and modem, the user calls, connects to, and logs on to the service provider's computer. The user's computer then lets the service provider's computer take over, acting like a dumb terminal. The user can then utilize any of the tools the service provider's computer furnishes, which can give access to the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail (e-mail), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet, and other Internet services. Some service providers limit the amount of time a user can spend connected to the service provider's computer or charge more money for extra time.