If history is any indication, as the industry consolidates, we will soon have fewer and fewer Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from which to choose. For now, however, several thousand ISPs exist in the U.S. alone and thousands more around the world. Here are some factors to consider when choosing an ISP:

Cost: Most ISPs in a given market probably offer about the same price for monthly service. However, you may find that some will offer a better price than others if you can bundle all your communications services with that single provider: landline phone, mobile phone, Internet, TV, etc.

Contracts: Some ISPs offer a very attractive price for monthly service but be sure that you review the contract carefully. Some contain additional charges (perhaps for repairs or technical support), or commitments to a longer term of service than you might want.

Speed: In many residential applications, the difference in speed between a cable server and a DSL server will be slight: sometimes it's not even noticeable. If you're choosing an ISP for business especially if it's a large business that depends on electronic communications find a provider that offers maximum bandwidth. Some experts say that cable is faster, on average, while DSL might be more reliable. (Only a few people still use dial-up service.)

Wireless? Wireless Internet service continues to gain popularity. It's not cheap about the same as the most expensive cable and DSL connections and it allows you to work almost anywhere away from home. However, speed and reliability will vary depending on your location.

To view Internet Service Provider Ratings, click here:

http://www.jdpower.com/Telecom/ratings/residential-internet-service-provider-ratings/