1&1 Internet is probably the largest Web hosting company in the world. Compared to the other Web hosting companies I’ve used, their uptime and powerful control panel makes them one of the Web hosting companies that I would recommend to other Web designers and Web developers. Unfortunately their customer service is outsourced, and is so bad as to be useless. If you already know what you’re doing though, 1&1 gets the job done and they offer a great value for the money.
Most Web hosting companies offer applications that are free to use with your package. For the most part, these are either open source software that is free for anyone to use, or limited versions of commercial software, and you need to pay extra to gain full functionality.
in2site Live Dialogue
With one of my 1&1 packages I get a free, limited version of an application called “in2site Live Dialogue.” It is supposed to add live customer service capability to your Website. The process is supposed to go like this:
1. A web surfer hits your homepage.
2. The in2site Live Dialogue window on your computer alerts you that there is a visitor on your Website.
3. You click the “Chat Window” button, and a window opens up on your visitor’s computer.
4. You can then start a chat session, which greatly increases the likelyhood of making a sale, or providing technical support.
Unfortunately, when I finally got it installed, no thanks to the horrible documentation, it didn’t work. The window on the visitor’s computer opens as a pop-up, but since most people have pop-up blockers on, they won’t see it. Even when I turned the pop-up blocker off, the chat window didn’t function correctly.
If you have the free version of in2site Live Dialogue from 1&1, be warned, you could spend a lot of time unsuccessfully trying to get it to work. Certainly don’t try to call 1&1 technical support for help (ever).
Try these alternatives:
Provide Support (free trial)
Craft Syntax (open source)
#1 by SereneAngel - May 7th, 2007 at 03:08
Hi
Useful info on in2site, think i will give it a miss…purely because i hate hard work!
But for those die hards who would like to contact 1&1 in UK at normal rates or for those who have free calls to 01 02 numbers, your quids in! Here’s a useful bit of info…the geographical no.s to those awful 0870 numbers:
01753 490401/2 billing
01753 490451 support
#2 by Dana - September 4th, 2007 at 14:15
You are 100% correct about 1&1 and I am so glad to be away from them, thanks Dana
#3 by SaleemJ - September 10th, 2007 at 08:50
Many thanks for the blog on 1&1 and in2site I was just on their site thought I would look up the in2site tool… I will not be using in2site and may have to consider other host company …. any suggestions would be much appreciated.
#4 by Bottlecap Napkin - September 10th, 2007 at 09:19
Right now I like WestHost. Virtual servers, competetive pricing and fast download speed. They also have good technical support, which is a key factor in selecting a web host.
#5 by Pete - November 30th, 2007 at 14:22
12 months later its still no different. I’ve wasted the whole afternoon trying to make in2site work.
I can recommend “Crafty Syntax” as a free alternative… or try Click4Assistance if you want a commercial option.
In2Site is horribly horribly broken.
Pete
#6 by Will Vickers - December 27th, 2008 at 01:35
Good Lord! i wish i had read this blog post before i upgraded my 1 and 1 package and spent so much time trying to figure it all out. I spent hours looking for other chat options, thanks i’ll give your recommendations a try.
#7 by E funkalicious - January 1st, 2009 at 12:32
Thanks homeslice:
I was working on a site for a friend and the info about pop up blockers sealed the deal for me.
E Funk
#8 by Marlene - March 12th, 2009 at 10:41
I have been using 1and1 as my hosting company for my web clients for a number of years and am very happy with them. I have had NO trouble getting help if I need it and find their control panel quite easy to use. I was very surprised at all the negative comments so had to add my positive one.
#9 by 1and1 costumer - March 21st, 2009 at 20:15
how the hell can you recommend 1nd to other Web designers and Web developers when the support is weird, half of that tools they provide using technique from the beginning of the web and most of that crap works halfway ? Say the truth hun,
they suck, thats why i cancel my contracts with the biggest of them all.
#10 by Dan - July 10th, 2009 at 02:28
I also have used 1and1 for a number of years to host websites from simple sites to complex e-commerce sites. Most of my sites use PHP 4/5 and MySql. I find 1and 1 very good indeed. I have a business package (managed server) and I find the control panel excellent. Support is fine also. Don’t understand the negative feedback.
#11 by Bob - December 6th, 2009 at 09:48
Well, having worked in service industries for quite awhile, I cant tell you that people tend to make only negative comments. After looking over 1and1’s hosting packages, I made the switch and I’m happy.
#12 by Web Design Bay Area - December 31st, 2009 at 14:17
[quote] Well, having worked in service industries for quite awhile, I cant tell you that people tend to make only negative comments. After looking over 1and1’s hosting packages, I made the switch and I’m happy [/quote]
True - people do tend to comment in reaction to bad service compared to good, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore a slew of negative information. The packages do “look” good, and that’s what draws people like yourself in. Too late for you now though - you’ll have to learn the hard way like the rest of us