High-speed dial-up providers aim to accelerate connection speeds for traditional dial-up through techniques like reducing the handshake process between machines, using an acceleration server to request and serve pages on the user's behalf, compressing files like text and images by 50-90%, blocking pop-up ads to reduce information sent, and enhancing browser caching of frequently viewed pages through both server-side and client-side caching.

1. Introduction
Is your connection actually getting slower?
If so, chances are you're using a dial-up
connection .
Services like NetZero and EarthLink are
now offering "high-speed dial-up."
According to ads for these services, you
can get connection speeds that are five
times faster than traditional dial-up
service.

2. Software Handshake
High-speed dial-up providers have
cut down on this back-and-forth by
creating a system that allows the
conversing machines to remember
responses to questions.
The increase in speed varies by
machine, but in some cases it can
reduce the handshake by up to 50
percent.

3. acceleration server
By loading special software into a server,
high-speed dial-up providers turn it into
what they call an acceleration server.
When you search for a Web page using
high-speed dial-up, your request is sent
from the dial-up modem in your computer
to the ISP's acceleration server. Now the
acceleration server is requesting and
serving pages on your behalf.

4. File Compression
The key element of high-speed dial-
up Internet is file compression.
Typically, text will compress at least
50 percent using on-the-fly
techniques.
Typically, the image file size shrinks
anywhere from 50 percent to 90
percent in the process.

5. Filtering
When the information is sent back to your
machine, the hidden code executes a
program that launches the advertisement.
To combat this drag, high-speed dial-up
providers have bundled a pop-up blocker
into the software they send to subscribers.
What this amounts to is less information
being sent across the phone line to your
machine.

6. Caching
Internet browsers like Explorer or
Netscape are made to cache frequently
viewed pages to cut down on load times.
High-speed dial-up software enhances this
feature.
The most amazing thing about this tool is
that with the combination of server-side
caching and client-side caching, the
system learns about your surfing habits.
It uses what it learns to streamline your
connection process as much as possible.