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 Skip Navigation LinksMath Help > Webmaking > Starting > Selecting a Hosting Company

To put a web site on the Internet, you must find a hosting company.  Microsoft calls these "Web Presence Providers". 

Important: a web hosting company is not the same as an Internet Service Provider (ISP).  (Click here for an explanation of this.)

The hosting company you use must allow you to have your own domain name, about 50 megabytes of disk storage, FrontPage extensions, and run your own ASP programs.  I also suggest you pick a hosting company that offers POP3 and SMTP email services.  (explanation of email services)  Typical low-cost hosting plans use "shared servers" which give you your own IP address, but your web site will be one of many hosted on each NT server.  You shouldn't have to pay more than a one-time cost of $70 to register your domain name and then $10-$20 per month for this hosting service, including POP3 email.  If you think you might want database access, make sure it's included or that you can add it on later.

The best way to find a hosting company is through Microsoft's WPP search page, http://www.microsoftwpp.com/wppsearch/.  I used this several years ago, and selected the following hosting company:

SoftCom Technology Consulting Inc.
416-955-4664
Toronto, ON SoftCom provides low cost, high quality web hosting solutions. Our plans start at $9.95/month. No setup fees, no hidden charges! 

I've continued to use SoftCom ever since, and they have been quite reliable.  Their rate has been the same for several years.  I recommend SoftCom.


The webmaster and author of this Math Help site is Graeme McRae.