Stay connected, always
Imagine the world thirty years ago. The internet didn’t exist then. Cell phones were big, clunky, and rare. Today everything literally moves at the speed of light through fiber optic cables buried into the ground. Telecommunications companies are either enjoying record profits or are being competed out of the industry; they go bust.
As a consultant, having constant internet access is pretty much a requirement these days. Blackberries, laptops, anything that helps provide instant access is the norm for an average consultant. I don’t understand it, but some people have multiple phones, too… I guess one for family and friends, and one for work.
To keep constantly in touch via the internet, you need a solid ISP. There are probably several in your city such as DSL Service Providers or Cable internet providers. You don’t want to end up locked into a junky contract with a junky company. So do some research and run some comparisons. See what the experience of others has been like before you make the leap.
I have a friend who lives … well, out in the country. He’s definitely not in downtown. He is about 300 yards from where Bellsouth and Charter will run cable to service his home. They won’t pay for the extra cable, and he’s even offered to pay for it himself. They refuse — talk about customer service. So he ends up with either dial up or satellite internet. Neither of which are great, but it is definitely better than nothing. Dial-up hasn’t changed much over the years other than getting cheaper and cheaper. You can compare discount ISP providers like NetZero, PeoplePC and Juno these days to see what company best matches your needs.