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What Software Should ISPs Distribute and Support?

Posted by timothy on from the mozilla-galeon-gaim-and-xchat dept.

BroadbandBradley asks: "Many ISPs give their customers a software package to install with their service like a branded browser/email package. Some also include network diagnostics tools, even remote connection VNC packages for technical reps to do remote support. The ISP will then tell customer that they'll only get help if they're using that package. What features are good or bad, and what should or shouldn't be included on the client side? My question to Slashdot readers is, what software and services should ISPs distribute and support?"

1 of 336 comments (clear)

  1. Piracy... by Grape+Smuggler · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    There's little doubt that software piracy exists and that it costs companies millions of dollars each year. A few years ago, the SPA initiated a campaign to make ISPs adhere to a "Code of Conduct" that would force them to monitor and regulate content.

    The SPA suggested that ISPs ensure information used to crack copy-protection schemes and serial numbers not be posted through its servers, and that they prevent virtual Web servers hosted at the ISP from providing links to other sites containing pirated applications or cracking information.

    This attitude is what fuels this activity, to some degree. But holding the ISP accountable is completely out of the question. Ultimately, the end user is the only one accountable for his or her actions.