Webmail has grown exclusively from word of mouth and enjoys great support from South Africa with 20 000 new email registrations per month.

We are proud to announce the launch of our new ISP service, continuing to increase our userbase by growing our service offerings. Welcome aboard!

To maintain our cost effective pricing to you, we need a minimum volume of users in an area to make it viable, to provide a POP in a new area. Please refer to list above to find the closest one. If you are still further than 50km from one of these areas, please email internetsupport@webmail.co.za so we may evaluate the need in a particular area.

Telkom has announced their Surfmore packages, which is claimed to reduce the costs of internet access for home users. Note that there are certain restrictions and conditions - please review the Telkom website for details.

Webmail users can subscribe to the Surfmore 10 or 20 or 30 packages, whilst using their Webmail Internet Access, and pay Telkom the advertised costs. Webmail have registered all our POPs with Telkom, and will be reflected as 'Internet Solutions' by Telkom, as Webmail use the Internet Solutions POPs. To view these, click here

The Surfmore PLUS packages include a TelkomInternet charge, and Webmail users do NOT need to subscribe to these PLUS packages.
 

If you already have an existing Webmail ISP dial-up account, click here and choose "Manage my Account", specify your MAIN email address and password, then choose "Manage my Services" to subscribe to ISDN.

If you are not yet an Webmail ISP subscriber, click here and choose to "Register a New Account" and then later "Manage my Account" to subscribe to ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network (or ISDN) is a high-speed alternative to the normal telephone line, and is more efficient for connecting computers.

It uses digital information to ensure fast and clear communications, allowing you to connect quicker and transfer data more efficiently. With a normal analogue modem connection, your data needs to be translated, sent over the phone line, and translated again. Any errors cause a slow response. You can achieve between 2 to 4 times faster connections by converting to ISDN. We offer 64 KiloBits per second and 128 Kbps ISDN options, whereas an analogue modem can achieve an absolute maximum of 56 Kbps – given all the correct conditions. KilosBits per second (or Kbps) is one thousand bits per second and is a measure of bandwidth.

If you hate slow downloads, browsing and emails – this is for you. For full information on ISDN, click here to refer to the Telkom website.

We support 64 and 128 Kbps at all our POPs, so you could subscribe to our 64 or 128 KiloBits per Second option. Each ISDN line features two 64Kbps 'channels' that can be used both at once, or one at a time.

Each ISDN channel is like a separate phone line, so you can use one ISDN line to connect two computers to the Internet at the same time. Alternatively you could ‘Multilink’ both channels to dial up together – providing for 128 Kbps of bandwidth. You will then pay for 2 phone calls instead of one at a time.

You should ONLY enable Multilink if you subscribe to our 128 Kbps option. We do not accept any responsibility for Telkom telephone costs where this was not correctly implemented.

Alternatively, with ISDN 2a (see below), you could use one channel for your internet connection and one for your telephone or fax machine. So, in fact, ISDN can replace your existing phone line, and act as two lines instead of one.

You need a computer plus the following to access the internet:

1. A Telkom ISDN Line.
2. An ISDN modem (also known as a terminal adaptor).
3. An Webmail ISP dial-up account with the relevant ISDN option (64 or 128 Kbps)

There are two types of ISDN lines available from Telkom: ISDN 2 and ISDN 2a.

With ISDN 2a you can also plug your standard telephone, a fax machine and your computer directly into the ISDN line. Note that you can only use two of them at a time. We do recommend that you install ISDN 2a, given the slight difference in price.

Always refer to www.telkom.co.za for latest pricing and any specials available

Webmail ISP ISDN prices are in addition to above, and include Vat:

Please note that the Webmail ISP ISDN connection charges are in addition to the Standard Dialup Internet Access and Telkom charges.

Telkom ISDN Call Rates:

In addition, the ISDN Call Rates are exactly the same as a normal telephone for each channel of your ISDN line. This will depend on your internet usage. Always obtain the latest pricing from Telkom!

Apply on-line at http://www.telkom.co.za/isdn/ordering.jsp or

Phone Telkom on :

You will also need an ISDN Modem (also called ISDN Terminal Adapter).

You may obtain an ISDN modem (terminal adaptor) from your local computer retailer, or from Telkom. Prices depend on make, functionality and whether they are Internal or External modems. Webmail ISP does not sell modems.

Digital Subscriber Line, or DSL, is a family of technologies, used to provide a digital connection between a home or office user’s telephone (and PC) and the local telephone exchange. DSL still uses the same copper cables that ordinary analogue phones use. The different types of DSL connection are mainly differentiated by the bit-rate or bandwidth of the connection. ADSL, or Asymmetric DSL, gets its name from the fact that the upstream bandwidth (from the user to the exchange) and downstream bandwidth (from the exchange to the user) are different. Usually, the downstream bandwidth will be much higher than the upstream bandwidth.

When you obtain an ADSL line to your home or office, it is still possible to connect an analogue telephone on the same phone line, and to use your phone at the same time that you are connected to the Internet.

ADSL is what is known as an “always on” technology. This means that you do not have to “dial up” a call to connect to the Internet. Your ADSL line is always connected to the local telephone exchange, and is always available. Your telephone company (e.g. Telkom) and your Internet Service Provide may, however, logically disconnect your session after a while, so that you have to log in again. Unlike dial-up connections, you do not have to pay, based on the amount of time that you are connected – your monthly line rental provides for continuous availability of access.

The main piece of equipment that you will require, to connect an ADSL line to your PC is an ADSL modem. These come in two main varieties, either with a USB or Ethernet connection. Most modern PCs have USB ports, thus making it easy to connect a USB ADSL modem. If you decide to opt for an Ethernet ADSL modem, you will need to ensure that your PC has an Ethernet card, and that you have the correct fly-lead cable to connect your PC to the ADSL modem. Typically, USB modems are cheaper than Ethernet modems. The exact operating system and hardware requirements will depend on your modem selection and driver availability.

Telkom sells ADSL modems, and they will not support any other models or makes.

In order to obtain ADSL connectivity to the Internet, you will require three separate components, namely

• An ADSL phone line, which can only be obtained from Telkom; and
  
• An ADSL Internet access package, which can be obtained from an ISP such as Webmail, and
  
• An ADSL modem from your local retailer or Telkom.

ADSL lines are not available from Telkom in all exchanges. You will need to find out from Telkom whether ADSL is available at your exchange.

You can order an ADSL line by phoning 0800 237 500 (You will need to provide an existing phone number, in order for Telkom to determine whether you can obtain an ADSL line at your location). Do not subscribe to Prolog or Prolog Plus if you intend using Webmail Internet access services.

Charges by Telkom (all including Vat):

• A normal phone line rental;
• The normal charges of all your voice phone calls;
• Installation charge R 404.00 (once off);
• Monthly ADSL line rental R 680.00 (per month) for residential users, or
• Monthly ADSL line rental R 800.00 (per month) for business users;

Plus, Charges by your local computer retailer, or Telkom:

• An ADSL Ethernet or ADSL USB modem (Between R 800 and R 2500 once off)

• Webmail ADSL monthly R 280.00 (per month) , or
• Webmail ADSL quarterly R 830.00 (per quarter) , or
• Webmail ADSL Annual R 3290.00 (per annum)

This fee is payable to Webmail as a Value Added service in addition to the Webmail ISP Standard Service charge.

• Webmail ADSL connectivity ONLY R 290.00 (per month), or
• Webmail ADSL connectivity ONLY R 870.00 (per quarter), or
• Webmail ADSL connectivity ONLY R 3470.00 (per annum)

The Webmail ADSL fees are charged by Online Direct separately from the Telkom charges for your ADSL line, and NO pro-rata charge applies - so if you subscribe x days before month end you will be charged for the whole month.

To subscribe to Webmail ADSL, please contact the call centre, or email internetsupport@webmail.co.za

ADSL

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is an access medium that provides the user with a broadband connection to Telkom's data network. ADSL operates over the same pair of copper wires that is used for telephone service, and is provided only in conjunction with a telephone service. You can make and receive calls or send a fax and surf the Internet at the same time. Telkom's ADSL access service will offer you an always-available connection with no dial-up necessary, no more waiting to establish a connection and no more busy signals. You will not be billed for your connection time when you make use of Telkom's ADSL access service.

Telkom, and therefore Webmail, does not guarantee any throughput speeds on an ADSL access line.

ISDN

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a switched dial-up connection that enables the user to dial-up to any destination number within the network. A user can therefore access the Internet or a videoconference. Telkom does not guarantee any throughput speeds if a user accesses the Internet utilizing his or her ISDN line. You will be billed for your connection time when you make use of Telkom's ISDN service to surf the Internet.

To subscribe to the Webmail ISDN service click here

Diginet / leased line services

Diginet or leased line services is a dedicated point-to-point connection that provides the user with an always on service. You may host Websites or Email servers on a Diginet link, but cannot do so using ADSL. Diginet is based on carrier class Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line technology that provides guaranteed bandwidths between any predefined destinations. The customer determines the transmission speed "throughput" of the Diginet services as they chose the appropriate speed with application. There is no traffic congestion due to other users as it is used in a private network topology. This also means that there is no sharing of bandwidth with other customers. As Diginet is a constant bit-rate service it means that there is no slowdown of data transmission speed.

Although Telkom guarantees the Diginet throughput speed it does not guarantee any throughput speeds of the Internet. When a user accesses the Internet utilizing his or her Diginet line the guaranteed throughput stops once the data enters the Internet.

To enquire about Leased Lines, please contact the call centre, or email internetsupport@webmail.co.za

The ADSL provided by Telkom are subject to a 3 Gigabyte cap. A running total of used bandwidth for the month is kept, and if this usage exceeds 3 GB, a different IP address is assigned on the next connection and bandwidth is severely limited.

Should you require more bandwidth we can provide you with additional ADSL username(s) at the normal charge, which will effectively increase your bandwidth to 6 or 9 Gigabytes. please contact the call centre, or email internetsupport@webmail.co.za if you want to add or cancel any ADSL username.

Go to http://users.isdsl.net and enter your ADSL username and password.

You will get a running total of bandwidth used for the month to date.

Yes. As part of the ADSL installation, Telkom install what is known as a POTS splitter. The POTS splitter connects to your ADSL line where it comes from the wall socket, and then has two separate ports, one for your analogue telephone, and one for your ADSL modem.

• The speed of the ADSL line between your home or office and the local telephone exchange. This could be an absolute maximum of 512kbps downstream and 256kbps upstream, although it is not guaranteed by Telkom;
• Any crosstalk or interference on the copper cable between your home or office and the local telephone exchange may impact on the speed of your ADSL connection;
• The amount of bandwidth available, and any congestion between your local telephone exchange and Telkom’s central BRAS (Broadband Remote Access Server). The BRAS is a device that aggregates traffic from different exchanges, and performs functions such as user authentication;
• Available bandwidth on the IP links to Telkom’s BRAS infrastructure; and
• Any congestion elsewhere on the path across the Internet to the server from which you are downloading data.

ADSL services are provided without any guarantees. All complaints must be directed to Telkom.

In order to run a mail or web server, it is necessary that your server has a Static IP address, which never changes. This is necessary, in order to allow for an entry in the DNS to point to a unique IP address which never changes, making it possible for other computers to connect to your server. If you use an ADSL line to connect to the Internet, you will generally get a different IP address every time you log in, to connect to the Internet, thus making it very difficult to operate a server behind your ADSL line. If this is required, a Diginet line is necessary.

When connecting to an ADSL service, you do not dial a telephone number to connect to your ISP. You will need to create a new network connection, which is not a dialup, but a broadband connection, and which will have a different username and password to your existing dialup connection. Online Direct will supply this username and password to you after subscribing to Webmail ADSL.

Something called Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) settings become important when using ADSL. If these are incorrect you will have problems browsing and possibly with emails.

Look at http://www.dslreports.com/faq/5793 for details on how to check or change these.

Note that our Call Centre will attempt to assist you with this, but your ADSL router Supplier should assist you in configuring this.

It is vital that you install a Personal Firewall product to secure your ADSL link – being always connected means that hackers can infect your network easily.
You MUST install an Anti-Virus program for your PC and network – to stop viruses and Worms infecting your equipment.

The ESCAN products are ideally suited to this – look at Escan for details, or go to Downloads to download the Escan Software.