Short for
Internet Service Provider, a company that provides access to the
Internet. For a monthly fee, the service provider gives you a software package,
username,
password and access phone number. Equipped with a
modem, you can then
log on to the Internet and
browse the
World Wide Web and
USENET, and send and receive
e-mail.
In addition to serving individuals, ISPs also serve large companies, providing a direct connection from the company's networks to the Internet. ISPs themselves are connected to one another through Network Access Points (NAPs).
ISPs are also called IAPs (Internet Access Providers).
