What is Dial-up?
[[File:Dial up modem noises.ogg|thumb|The modem sounds during a dial-up connection.]] '''Dial-up internet access''', usually called '''Dial-up''', is a way of connecting to the [[Internet]] with a [[telephone]] line. ==Mechanism== A [[modem]] is connected between a computer and a telephone line and then the modem is instructed to dial the phone number of an [[Internet service provider]] (ISP) to connect to the Internet. The ISP must be a service provider with several dial-up modems waiting to accept dial-up calls. This kind of internet is slower than [[Digital subscriber line|DSL]]. ==History== In the late 20th century, dial-up service was the most common way of connecting to the Internet in most parts of the world. Since the middle of the 2000s it's been largely replaced by DSL and [[cable modem]]. {{tech-stub}} [[Category:Internet]] [[Category:Telecommunications]] [[Category:Information technology]]