When an image is being transferred over a network, the file size is directly related to the elapsed time needed to deliver the image. Depending on the network media, transfer rates vary in speed and availability. The transfer rate is described in either kilobits per second (Kbs = 1,000 bits per second) or megabits per second (Mbs = 1 million bits per second). Remember that there are 8 bits in a byte, 1,024 bytes in a kilobyte and 1,048,576 bytes in a megabyte.

Additional factors that slow the transfer rate include latency or delay in the network and slow processor speed of the CPU on either the sending or receiving end.Dial-up: The original method of connecting to the Internet with a modem. Still very popular and used extensively where broadband connectivity is not available. Transfer rates of 9-56 Kbs.