If it's all-or-nothing Web hosting, with a long-term plan and a one-time price -- a lifetime package could be for you.

The concept has garnered some serious attention lately, as more lifetime Web hosts hit the scene — claiming it as a smart, strategic move, allowing a business to lock in and save in the long run. Rather than dropping prices and increasing services, these hosting providers work against the grain, offering one or a few large packages at one price, for life — doing away with all monthly and recurring hosting fees.

Internet marketing specialist, Xavier Nelson (http://www.xaviernelson.com/lifetimewebhosting/), told TopHosts he thinks the idea is catching on and that his lifetime hosting packages are selling fast.

A Lifetime of Savings
“People are realizing that a lot of traditional hosting packages are too small,” Nelson said. “Maintaining a website requires all kinds of tools and products, costing people monthly, recurring fees… Add in hosting and everything starts to really add up. We put a stop to that and help you control your hosting budget, with a one-time fee.”

Nelson’s company provides one hosting package at 6 GB, at one price of $127. The plan comes with 99.9% uptime, unlimited bandwidth and other unlimited features. For businesses thinking long-term, he says the disk space and one-time price offered holds a lot more savings potential than most other packages on the market right now. With average plans costing about $25 a month these days, Nelson says simple math reveals a great deal of savings with a lifetime option, especially for those running a business for five, ten years and beyond.

In it For Life
As for the logic behind a lifetime plan, a couple of hosting providers remain skeptical. Paul Hughes, Senior Manager for UK hosting provider UKHost4u.com, wonders about the definitions and guarantees involved.

“Is this your lifetime, the hosting company’s lifetime or maybe the lifetime of your online business,” Hughes said. “I personally feel this idea is set up to fail as it does not offer any guarantees.”

Nelson admitted that the concept may sound a little wild to some, but says it’s not complex at all compared to other packages out there. He sells one plan at one price for a lifetime, and the term lifetime refers to a customer’s business life, whether it survives a year, ten years or 50 years.

Is it Flexible?
Will Childs, Business Account Manager for Canada Web Hosting (CWH), thinks the lifetime, one-size-fits-all idea clashes with the ever-evolving world of IT. To Childs, committing to one plan, and one service doesn’t make sense as new and improved hosting technology enters the picture all the time.

“Flexibility is key, being locked into a static plan with fixed technologies could be disastrous down the road,” Childs said. “If you need to take into account new technologies does this mean that you then have to buy another plan with another provider to get the functionality and infrastructure that you need.”

According to Nelson, as technology, server and support needs evolve, so to will his business. For example, new upgrades to cPanel and Fantastico scripts are done on a regular basis to ensure clients receive the latest tools and resources. In terms of flexibility, he says clients can use as much or as little of the 6 GB plan as they want. If customers need to scale up, customers are free to purchase multiple lifetime packages. For further flexibility, customers can add unlimited domains, and are invited to add extra products and tools from outside sources to complement their online business.