virtual ISP (virtual Internet service provider, VISP or vISP)

A virtual ISP (virtual Internet service provider, sometimes abbreviated as VISP or vISP) is a company that offers Internet services under its own company or brand name, while actually using the equipment and facilities of another ISP to provide those services. A virtual ISP typically offers the all same services as a regular ISP, such as Web hosting, e-mail, newsgroup access, domain name provision, and support. A number of real ISPs specialize in providing a virtual ISP setup on a local or wider geographic basis. In some cases, the ISP offering the virtual ISP setup can also handle billing and answer support calls for the virtual ISP company under the virtual ISP name.