Backbone Internet Reviewer's Comments

Established in 1999, Backbone Internet provides web hosting services for both the advanced and beginner webmasters. Their name is derived from the claim that they are connected directly to three major backbone carriers (Qwest Communications, Global Center, and Genuity-GTE) and thus boast several times the bandwidth of an OC3-a connection faster than a dual T1 or a T3. Backbone Internet promises 99.9% uptime, automatic system resource monitoring and 24/7 server support.

Feature Set:  

For its least expensive starter plan, Backbone offers a limited set of features, including 55 MB disk space, 1 GB of monthly data transfer, a site creation tool, a domain name search/registration option and site traffic statistics. Email support is quite limited, including only 10 email addresses and web mail. There is NO email forwarding, aliasing, auto-responders, smtp email, or spam protection available.

Backbone charges no set-up fees, a 10% discount for a one year pre-payment, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but this is for a service lacking basic featrures that are usually included in a beginning plan-particularly weak is email support and platform support.

Backbone does provide FTP access 24 hours a day, a page counter, file and archive managers, and nightly backup service. However, Backbone's starter plan only supports Front Page Extensions and a CGI Directory. Other desirable features, such as a secure server, ASP, a shopping cart, My SQL Database support, and search engine submissions can be obtained but only by purchasing more expensive plans.

Customer Service:  

Backbone Internet provides several options to help support its customers. Within the control panel are direct links for help form and a technical support form. There is also an option to use the online help manual. Also offered are 24/7 toll-free numbers for both sales and technical support. Backbone Internet does not offer a live chat option.

Control Panel:  

Backbone Internet provides a graphically displayed control panel that is somewhat easy to use. The main screen displays account information, available resources, and language display options. The rest of the control panel allows you access to options such as: account management, billing history, password changes, file managing, mail management, site creation tool, site statistics, counter, protect directories, and several other tools. More advanced options are available on this panel with purchase of some of the more extensive plans.

Overall, Backbone Internet is an unproven service in the hosting industry. They have yet to establish their place in the market. Although their starter plan does provide free set-up and offers a 30-day money back guarantee, the plan lacks basic ecommerce features, web space and email support, therefore earning a lower ranking among hosts we've reviewed. Consider one of our higher ranked web hosts, instead.