InternetNews.com - Webopedia: Online Dictionary for Computer and Internet Terms
 


   

Partner With Us
















Enter a keyword...
...or choose a category.

virtual ISP
Last modified: Tuesday, December 19, 2006  

(n.) An ISP that piggybacks its services off of a third-party provider in order to offer ISP services without the expenses and duties required in providing those services. The virtual ISP does not invest in any network, equipment or backroom/technical support needed to offer ISP services. The third-party provider handles all of the needs of the end user but is invisible to the end user who only sees the virtual ISP.

For example: Company A is an online retail bookseller that wants to extend its services to offer its customers ISP services to bring more value to its customers and to create a bigger brand name in the market. However, the company, being a retailer, does not have the resources to branch out into the ISP arena and therefore hires Company B, an existing ISP, to provide the ISP services. Company B creates a branded ISP for Company A so that Company A's customers think that they are getting their ISP services through the bookseller but in reality they are being provided the services by means of Company B, the real ISP, who remains invisible to the end user. In this way, Company A becomes a virtual ISP.

Related Categories
  • Electronic Commerce
  • Internet and Online Services
  • Internet Backbone
  • Virtualization
  • Related Terms
  • backbone provider
  • e-commerce
  • ISP
  • NSP
  • walled garden
  • XSP
  • Shopping
    virtual ISP Products
    Compare Products,Prices and Stores

    Shop by Category:
    Networking Hubs and Switches
    1 Model Matches

    Flat Panel Televisions
    0 Store Offers

    Routers
    1 Model Matches

     
    Related Links

    xSP Resources Channel
    The ISP resources channel from internet.com.


    Add internetnews.com
    to your browser search box.

    IE 7 | Firefox 2.0 | Firefox 1.5.x

    Receive news
    via our XML/RSS:
    feed

    More InternetNews.com


    Hardware Software Mobility Web Content
    Search Government Developer Business
    Storage E-Commerce Networking Security



    internet.comearthweb.comDevx.commediabistro.comGraphics.com

    Search:

    Jupitermedia Corporation has two divisions: Jupiterimages and JupiterOnlineMedia

    Jupitermedia Corporate Info

    Legal Notices, Licensing, Reprints, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
    Advertise | Newsletters | Tech Jobs | Shopping | E-mail Offers