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With the eminent recession in Britain now more a reality than a doom-mongering speculation, you're probably looking to save money wherever you can, and with a recent report that we could be spending 400 a year too much on broadband, you're surely in the mood to switch providers.

But when it comes to switching, are you going to research your choice online and then phone them up to place your order?

Well don't. Bite the bullet and sign up online instead. There are many advantages of signing up online and whole bunch of online deals awaiting those who eschew the telephone and opt for the mouse instead.

1. Applying for broadband online means cheaper prices

By signing up online, you will first of all find you save a great deal of money. This is because the providers themselves can afford to offer all sorts of special rates to online customers because they are able to cut down on other costs.

Virgin Media probably has the best deal of all, saving as much as 30 for just signing up online. They'll give you 10 discount for each of their media services that you take, so take TV, phone and broadband to get back the maximum discount of thirty pounds.

AOL gives you a good deal too when you sign up online with the first month of your contract absolutely free.

Lesser known broadband provider Demon forgoes their set up fee if you sign up for one of their online packages.

2. Applying for broadband online gives you free hardware and more

Some online providers have special offers and giveaways that only apply when you sign up online. For instance, AOL, O2 Broadband and Be Broadband all offer free wireless routers for customers who use the online form rather than the telephone to sign up.

Demon Broadband, on the other hand, includes a free router and free setup online. Not only that, but they don't even allow you to sign up on the phone, so an online sign up is your only way of joining Demon's excellent home-office broadband.

3. Applying for broadband online saves call charges

In some cases (where a broadband provider doesn't have an 0800 sales number) you will be expected to pay for the phone calls you use when signing up to a new broadband provider. Not all providers offer a free phone signup number and this can become an expensive exercise, especially if the signup process on an 0870 number starts to take a while. AOL and Tiscali are two providers that do offer a free phone number.

It should be remembered, however, that these numbers are only available through a BT landline, so calling from a mobile or even a Virgin Media cable phone will not be free.

Madasafish is a small, but friendly broadband provider, widely considered the best broadband for customer service. They are prepared to either email or call you back once you have completed their online sales enquiries form.

There are also cheaper ways to find out more about the service without having to make an expensive call. By logging onto Sky Broadband website for example, you will be able to chat freely with one of their consultants using an MSN messenger-type service.

4. Applying for broadband online can be done at any time, anywhere

You can't guarantee that a broadband provider has a sales call center open at 2am when you're in the mood to sign up. Online applications on the other hand can be done at any time.

What's more, you don't even have to be in the UK to sign up for broadband online. You can do it from the wi-fi zone on the beach in front of your hotel in the Caribbean, or from an internet caf in Paddington Station.

5. Applying for broadband online lets you compare and apply in a single step

In summary, when signing up to a new broadband package, step away from the phone. It's cheaper, easier and so much better to click on the big 'Apply Now' button instead.

Quite the simplest and efficient way to decide which online package would be best for you is to use a broadband comparison site like http://www.ChooseISP.co.uk

Broadband comparison sites like ChooseISP.co.uk allow you to compare broadband deals, to make your choice of broadband package and to sign up easily and efficiently, all in one.