Dial-up access is an inexpensive, slower form of Internet access in which uses a modem connected to the computer and a telephone line to dial a Internet service provider's (ISP) node to establish a modem-to-modem link, which is then routed to the Internet. It is currently regarded. by many. as legacy technology given the advent of widely available broadband Internet access in the Western world, though many people (50% in the US?) worldwide still use it. Dial-up will probably still be used in the world for many years to come.

The main advantage of dial-up is that you do not need anything more then a regular telephone line. DSL, cable and other type of internet access requires additional infrastructure. Another advantage with dial-up is that you can usually travel and still use your same dial-up account.