A computer network that offers its own proprietary features and may or may not be connected to other networks.

A dial-up service that provides news, information and discussion "forums" for users with modem-equipped computers. Some of the more popular Online Services are America Online, Compuserve, Prodigy and GEnie.

A company that provides Internet access or provides e-mail, discussion forums, and Web space.

One of two services that sell access to the Web. Online services such as AOL, provide access to the World Wide Web through their own network. The way to access the Internet (and the Web) directly is via an Internet Service Provider. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | END

Online services (e.g., America Online, CompuServe, Microsoft Network, Prodigy) offer partial or full internet access along with a number of additional resources, such as travel planning, financial management services, children's areas, and chat rooms. Online services can also exercise more control over what their members see and do by blocking access to certain sites and monitoring communication, particularly in children's areas.

An Online Service provides access to the Internet and World Wide Web for a monthly fee. As opposed to an ISP (Internet Service Provider), an Online Service usually provides forums, chat rooms, database indexing and other features that can't be accessed unless you have a subscription.

A service available to all of us providing: Access to the Internet; The latest news; Special offers for its members; Information; Chat groups. The most popular of these are: AOL; CompuServe; MSN.

A dial-up service that provides news, information, an Internet connection and discussion areas for users with modem-equipped computers.

An information service that provides dial up access as well as proprietary information. Examples include America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy and the Microsoft Network. Major online services all provide e-mail, forums where users can exchange information and ideas. These days all major online services also provide access to the Internet including Internet e-mail and World Wide Web access.

A business that provides its users with a wide variety of data transmitted over telecommunications lines. Online services provide an infrastructure in which subscribers can communicate with one another, either by exchanging e-mail messages or by participating in online newsgroups or conferences (forums). In addition, the service can connect users with an almost unlimited number of third-party information providers. One online service that defies classification is the Internet. In terms of users, it is the largest service, but it is not centrally controlled by any one organization, nor is it operated for profit.

A commercial service that provides access to such online features as electronic mail, news services, and the World Wide Web for a monthly fee. Examples of online services include America Online and CompuServe.

is a business that provides Internet access plus a wide range of exclusive content and features, such as chat rooms, games, and news reports.

a business that provides its subscribers with a wide variety of information resources including news, weather, sports, shopping, travel information, etc

a collection of forums, message areas, conference rooms, and information centers all neatly organized into a consistent interface

A paid service, such as CompuServe or America Online, that provides a wide variety of interactive services and content to its subscribers. All major online services offer full Internet access to their customers.

an ISP which has organized its site features relating to news, education, entertainment and shopping features.

An organization that offers proprietary information as well as a Net connection (e.g.: AOL).

a company that provides organized content such as news, shopping, books, weather and more, as well as access to the Internet; examples include America Online and Compuserve

Subscription-based services such as America Online (AOL)(tm). These services supply proprietary content as well as access to the Web.

A company that provides customer-only content to subscribers of its service. Most online services now offer Internet access, but their main features are the privately maintained networks that are only accessible to their customers.

A company that provides access to the Internet. Some services, such as America Online, CompuServe, and The Microsoft Network, provide a wide range of services and information to members. Services include email, chat groups, and Internet access. Information includes news, entertainment, and travel.

The Internet has now asserted its importance, but its place was not always so assured. Several companies, most notably CompuServe, Prodigy, and what is today the heavyweight champ, America Online, used to offer their services in a vacuum, with no links out to the Internet at large other than e-mail. All content was developed within the walls of each service. As the Internet grew in prominence, the "online services" fell on harder times. Several have gone by the wayside, including Delphi, GEnie, and eWorld. The ones that have remained have integrated the Internet into their offerings seamlessly. Now, you can think of the online services that remain - AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy — as sort of uber-ISPs, offering Internet access as well as their own proprietary content.

Online services are services delivered via the Internet. An online service can be simple, such as provision of information, or more complex such as determining entitlement to and applying for a benefit online.

A company that allows computer users to connect to the Internet by dialling into its computers using a modem. Similar to ISPs, these services also offer features and online content available only to members.

An organization or a company that provides special proprietary services in addition to basic Internet access. Examples include America Online, Prodigy, and CompuServe.

A service that provide online access to exclusive data, information and communications resources. Customers of these services often must use proprietary software to access these resources. Many online services provide access to the Internet in addition to their exclusive resources. America Online, Microsoft Network and Lexis-Nexis are examples.

A computer network accessed by modem. Online services generally charge a monthly fee, and offer such services as e-mail, information services, online shopping, news, games.

An ISP with added information, entertainment and shopping features.

A commercial service that provides access to such online features as e-mail, news services and the World Wide Web for a monthly fee. For example, America Online (AOL) is an online service.

Services such as America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy and the Microsoft Network which provide content to subscribers and usually connections to the Internet, though sometimes limited. For instance, online services just recently added Web browsing ability. If you spend a lot of time on the Internet, the fees these services charge add up rapidly.

A business that provides its subscribers with a wide variety of data transmitted over telecommunications lines. Online services provide an infrastructure in which subscribers can communicate with one another, either by exchanging email messages or by participating in online conferences (forums). In addition, the service can connect users with an almost unlimited number of third-party information providers. Subscribers can get up-to-date stock quotes, news stories hot off the wire, data from many magazines and journals, in fact, almost any information that has been put in electronic form. Of course, accessing all this data carries a price.

A company such as America Online or Prodigy that provides its members access to the Internet through its own special user interface as well as additional services such as chat rooms, children's areas, travel planning, and financial management.

the term has come to have a somewhat broad meaning. 1. a company that, for a fee, provides Internet users with a wide variety of services such as news, weather, stock quotes, search engines, chat and message forums, email services, as well as various subscriber benefits possibly including special rates on mortgages or credit cards, and various other commercial offers. America Online (AOL) and CompuServe are online service providers. 2. a company that provides one of several services to Internet subscribers such as Web hosting or providing the connection for users to access the Internet. For example, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) would supply its customers with access to the Internet, email, and in some cases, the space to publish a Web page or two. Often, but not always, a company outlined in the first definition will provide many of the services mentioned in the second.

A company offering electronic access to a variety of services besides those available from Internet services providers (ISPS).

A company that provides Internet access with extras, like their own chatrooms and services. Examples are AOL and Earthlink.

service accessed remotely via telecommunications links. Often, but not always, an email or database service.

A dial-up service that provides news, information, and discussion forums for users with modem-equipped PCs and the access software provided by the service. (Examples include: America Online, Prodigy, CompuServe, Genie, Delphi, and Global Network Navigator.)

communications: A company offering a service for a regular fee. Some of the popular ones are CompuServe, America Online, Delphi, GEnie and eWorld. You can read the latest news, download software, engage in real-time conversations, post messages, opinions and classified ads, send and receive e-mail, do research, meet people, it's really too wonderful. To get connected online you need an account with the provider, a modem and communications software (some services provide the latter).