Compare web hosting packages from Newcastle internet companies
Using $150 per year ($12+ per month) as an approximate target price let's compare the various deals being offered by web hosting and design companies in Newcastle (Australia).
Requirements are based on what I see as a typical maximum usage across the hundreds of websites we currently manage. Pricing is what I read from company websites at the start of 2008. The type of server, its capacity, geographical location and 'extras' are not being considered. I am happy to assume that if a company is offering web hosting they either know how to look after their servers or they buy them wholesale or resell from a provider who does. Minimum specs of the hosting plan I looked for:
- at least 250mb of disk space.
If a plan that size isn't available then the largest the company offers. - over 5GB of data transfer
A plan with that amount of resources or more available should be adequate for the majority of small business websites but more is better to provide plenty of room for future growth with photo galleries, videos etc. - web site statistics package
- 20 or more email addresses with web based email
- PHP and MySQL databases support with at least one database
- FTP access to files
- Prices inclusive of GST
- Each company must have an office of some sort and staff in the Newcastle region but the servers can be geographically located anywhere in the world. I don't think there is any significant benefit to having a server installation in Newcastle particularly when you consider the high prices that we pay for data transfer in Australia compared to overseas. Prices must be advertised on the company's website and be regular rates (no one off specials).
So how did we go? Companies are listed in order of Google.com.au relevance (as of start of 2008) for the phrase "newcastle web hosting" out of the first 50 listed websites. There was a fair amount of variation in what was offered as you would expect.
This isn't a definitive list and there are probably lots of other companies like web designers, computer shops and such that can provide hosting. Feel free to do your own research:
| Company | Disk Space | Data Xfer | Mailbox | PHP & MySQL | Price per yr |
Setup Fee |
| Newcastle Infotech | 2500mb | 50GB | Unlimited | Yes, Unlimited | $144 | $0 |
| mao webstyle | 500mb | 10GB | Unlimited | Yes | $139.95 | $0 |
| Platypus | 250mb | 12GB | Unlimited | Yes, 5 | $195 | $0 |
| Coconut Graphics | 1000mb | 10GB | Unlimited | Yes, 50 | $220 | $0 |
| austiger | 50mb | 1GB | 5 | ? | $242 | $39.00 |
| nfxwebdesign | 300mb | 5GB | 300 | Yes, 50 | $330 | $0 |
| comcen | 250mb | Unlimited | 100 | Yes | $455.40 | $0 |
| hyperweb | 100mb | ? | Unlimited | Yes | $450 | $0 |
| hosting impact | 200mb | 3GB | 50 | Yes, 10 | $299 | $0 |
| new sprout | 500mb | 2GB | 5 | Yes, 10 | $144 | $0 |
| idl | 200mb | 10GB | 1 | Yes | $358.80 | $45 |
If you are looking for web hosting I'd like to offer you a no risk deal. Instead of our already low $144 / yr for web hosting, we're offering to give new web hosting setups the first 6 months free. So you get an entire year of web hosting for $72. There is no application fee or setup fee. If you already have a domain name we can point that to our server or we can help you register a new domain name. Our web hosting package includes:
- 2.5GB of disk space (that's 2500mb)
- 50GB of data transfer (sum total of up and download)
- FTP transfer is not metered (it doesn't count towards your data transfer limit)
- As many MySQL databases as needed. MSSQL databases are available.
- Linux or Windows hosting with Ruby and Perl options
- Easy to use control panel
- As many email accounts, forwarders, aliases and auto responders as you need
To apply for this offer please email: jeremy@newcastleinfotech.com.au and mention the 6 months free hosting offer and we'll get started.
