Betty Gillespie >>

Satellite Broadband Connection Makes eBay Business Soar for Arkansas Couple

"Once you have broadband, you can't go back to dial-up." — Betty Gillespie

When Betty Gillespie and her husband moved from Naples, Florida to Heber Springs, Arkansas, they were prepared to trade in their sunny weather, but they were not prepared to trade in the broadband connection they had come to enjoy. To their surprise, when they arrived at their new Arkansas home, their old DSL services were not available and dial-up was the only means of obtaining an Internet connection. Or so they thought.

Thinking dial-up was the only alternative, Betty and her husband subscribed to a national ISP and purchased a monthly dial-up Internet access account. Dial-up access worked for a while, but soon Betty found herself longing for the days of getting the information she needed in seconds, as opposed to the minutes it took with her dial-up connection. After doing extensive research on broadband options, Betty looked to the skies and selected HughesNet for their Internet services and the couple has been happily surfing the Internet ever since.

HughesNet Internet access service, which is satellite-based, does not rely on wires or cables. All one needs is a clear view of the southern sky to have instant access to an always-on, reliable broadband connection.

All Internet Connections Are Not the Same
"Once you have broadband, you can’t go back to dial-up," said Betty. This became especially apparent the moment Betty and her husband decided to open their online business in March 2006.

The Gillespies operate an online eBay business where they sell antique collectibles, as well as items for members of the community who wish to use the site to sell their belongings. With their business, swift communication is key—in fact, it can be the difference between closing a sale or having to re-list an item for a future auction. Frequently, eBay buyers contact sellers with questions about the items up for sale. If the question goes unanswered, the buyer generally makes the purchase elsewhere.

With dial-up, the Gillespies found themselves missing out on a number of sales because they couldn’t respond promptly to inquiries. "HughesNet is a valuable part of our business and our lives. I love the speeds. I love the service. If we ever move, we are definitely taking HughesNet with us," said Mrs. Gillespie.