t1 internet service is as ubiquitous as DVD players but the choices are much more varied. Ready to learn the basics and find a connections? In general, T-1 is a member of the T-carrier system. T-carrier is a communications system used for carrying voice and data transmissions in a digital format. T-1 meets the needs of businesses having multiple users on a system requiring fast speed and broad bandwidth. For a fixed monthly rate, businesses with 20 or more users can communicate via both voice and data. A Full T1 can accommodate as many as 24 users working at 64 Kbps.

'T-1 is made up of 24 digital channels. This requires a digital connection device (CSU/DSU {customer switching unit/digital switching unit}) to connect to four wires to carry the information. All T1 lines require that a Channel Service Unit (CSU) be connected between your Data Terminal Equipment (DTE), i.e., a personal computer, and the T-1 line. A CSU serves both as a surge protector (to protect your equipment from voltage anomalies such as lightning) and a monitor of the line itself.

As mentioned previously a T1 connection is capable of delivering 1.5Mbps. DSL connections are also capable of delivering this speed however they are not nearly as reliable as a T1 connections and should not be considered as a business connections unless it's SDSL and even then you will likely have some downtime. If you have critical information being hosted in your office or have a large number of users accessing the internet on a regular basis, consider getting a T1 connections. Also remember to get a professional's assistance when you search for your provider. Each company will tell you their connection is the best available but a broker will act as your agent and help you find what's right for you.

If you want T1 price quote in 2 seconds instead of 2 days, you need GeoQuote. Since telecom brokers have been online they have offered a valuable service. A broker will take your information and shop for pricing with carriers he or she is intimately familiar with. The problem is not the information you get back, the problem is when you get it back. Brokers can be as fast as 24 hours or as slow as 1 week. How do you speed up the process? Get a real-time quote and save yourself the wait!

While many brokers claim to get back to you quickly and some even claim to have real time quoting we have only come across one service that truly has real-time price quoting for dedicated services. Their mantra of "1.5Mbps in 1.5 seconds" is exactly what they deliver. The speed at which they offer the information is much like going to Expedia or Travelocity. When you want information now, get it from a broker that can deliver it to you now.

Online quoting for dedicated service will likely evolve into broker services much like the travel industry or the insurance industry. The complexity of the product and the geographic sensitivity of the pricing, however, has slowed this process. The only service we've found that truely offers a real-time quote is ShopforT1.com. While others may soon follow with this service these guys are truely ahead of the pack and will