A Contrast between Internet Service Providers and Application Service Providers.
In our society today, technology is definitely the wave of the future. The .
Internet is a perfect example. The Internet simply defined is a collection of local, regional, national, and international computer networks that are linked together to exchange data and distribute processing tasks. The Internet's history can be traced all the way back to the Advanced Research Projects Agency or (ARPA). ARPA began working on a project in the 1960's designed to help scientists communicate and share valuable computer resources. Their project called the ARPANET was created in 1969 and initially connected computers at four universities. This project essentially marked the beginning of the Internet, as we know it. Today the Internet is the largest and most widely used network in the world with over 200 million people connected throughout 200 plus countries. The Internet connects computers all over the globe and supplies information to people of all ages and interests.
In order for an individual to access the Internet and Information Superhighway, they must first have a service provider. For this paper, I will concentrate on two different types of service providers, Internet Service Providers (better known as ISPs) and Application Service Providers (better known as ASPs). There are many differences between ISP's and ASP's and I will examine their dissimilarities with a focus on their history, current uses, and future directions. .
A simple definition of an internet service provider (ISP) is a company that provides Internet access to businesses, organizations, and individuals. Many ISP's also offer services such as web site building and virtual hosting. An application service provider on the other hand (ASP) is a company that offers individuals or enterprises access over the Internet to applications and related services that would otherwise have to be located in their own personal or company computers.
