7 point checklist to choose a web hosting service
by Josh Bender

Before you can launch your web site, youll need to engage the services of a web hosting company.

A web host, quite simply, allows you to rent space on a web server. Your web pages are then stored on this server, and the host computer allows other people connected to the Internet to view them.

There are literally hundreds of web hosting companies to choose from. How to choose the right one?

As with trying out any new service, you wont really know how good a web hosting company is until you try it. Therefore, ask around and see whether you can get any recommendations from those who already use a web hosting company. You might also want to consider how long the company has been in business, how reliable it is known to be, and how expensive it would be if you want to upgrade your plan in future.

Other areas to consider include:

* Disk space
How much disk space do you need? Does you website have less than 10 pages? Youll need only a small amount of space. Is it a huge site that has thousands of pages? Youll be needing a lot of disk space. Most web hosting plans limit how much space you will have, so make sure the plan you choose meets your needs.

* E-mail accounts
How many e-mail accounts do you need? Youll probably need one for each employee and one for each department (sales, accounts, support). Make sure you purchase a hosting plan that has enough e-mail accounts. Also, do you want full POPS access, Web-based e- mail, or both?

* Data transfer
How much data do you need to transfer? Most hosting plans limit how much data transfer you are allotted each month. If you expect a lot of people to visit your site, youll need a plan that allows for plenty of data transfer.

* E-commerce
Will you be selling goods or services through your site? If not, theres no need to sign up for an e-commerce web hosting service. If you are, e-commerce web hosting services such as shopping cart software, SSL support and a merchant account will be vital.

* Database, script and extension support
Some hosts will try to blind you with all the features they provide: Frontpage, MS Access, MySQL, MS SQL, Peri support, PHP support, ASP support and SSI support. Do you really need all these features? If not, make sure you are not paying for extras youll never use.

* Operating systems
Do you want a UNIX hosting plan or a Windows hosting plan? Unix is the most commonly used operating system among Web servers. It is known for its flexibility, reliability and stability. Windows hosting plans give you the ability to utilize many forms of dynamic content and specialized databases. Windows hosting plans are often used for sites utilizing Frontpage, ASP, MS Access databases, MS SQL Servers and other Microsoft applications.

* Support
Is customer and technical support available 24/7? Can you easily get through on the customer support hotline? Or are you on hold for hours?

• Small Businesses Dissatisfied With Credit Card Processors (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)
  
  A new survey shows small businesses are dissatisfied with their credit card processing arrangements. Transparent Financial Services, operator of the only comparison shopping website for business financial services, today released the results of a survey that indicates many small businesses have little trust or loyalty to their credit card processor (also known as a merchant account provider). ...
  


• eBay to Tell Shoppers, No Checks or Money Orders (AuctionBytes)
  
  Sellers are saying eBay's ban on checks and money orders is, in effect, a move to a PayPal-only policy - at least for the many sellers who don't have their own credit card merchant account.
  


• Catechism of Political Economy (Ludwig von Mises Institute)
  
  What do you understand by the word wealth? Are not gold and silver preferable to other wealth? That is preferable in which the greatest value is to be found. One hundred and ten guineas in corn are preferable to one hundred guineas in gold.
  


• Welcare ties up with BankMuscat for Al Mazyona Children's account program (AME Info)
  
  Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (Welcare DTC), the multi-specialty medical center in Oman, has announced a tie up with BankMuscat offering health care facilities at a 15% discount to all BankMuscat's Al Mazyona Children's account holders.
  


• PRIVACY POLICY (Whittier Daily News)
  
  This policy describes the privacy practices of MediaNews Group, Inc., and MediaNews Group Interactive, Inc. and MediaNews Group affiliates , collectively referred to herein as “MediaNews.”