Ive found the best website monitoring service :-)

The BEST web monitoring service available is Absent Brain. It is a very reliable Ireland based service. With multiple location servers in New York, Denver and England, you can be sure that the statistics are always accurate. Currently there is a full 2000 mbps (2GiG-E connections) supplying the Data Center, some of the fastest and most reliable out there. In OC fiber line terms that’s close to 3 OC-12 lines and 1 OC-3 line. Absent Brain uses unique software that checks your server inside and out. Also, not only your server can be checked. Any device that can be linked to a port can be checked. Everyone I know who uses Absent Brain thinks it is really good. And now, the new Gold and Platinum packages offer SMS masages for webmasters who want their site status on the go. Absent Brain comes highly recommended and is at a very competitive price. A must for all webmasters!
Check it out Here. Signup now!

Do you pay in pounds? what is the currency for their service?

they accept pounds or dollars form most major credit cards. See the link I gave for full details

You might also want to try PingALink. Pretty sophisticated and cheap by most standards. They helped me track down a bad DNS zone file I had and it saved my butt big time.

you forgot the [shameless plug] and [/shameless plug] tags! Where was I, oy yes, website monitoring services.

[shameless plug]I am working on a website monitoring software that runs on your own computer rather than on somone else's server. It will be a one-time fee and will have all the features of every good server-side monitoring service out there. If anyone's interested in a beta copy, PM me.[/shameless plug]

We use Alertra for all our servers. Works like a charm and works without any issues.

Oh boy, I forgot the URL !

http://www.alertra.com

Works from multiple locations and is rock solid !

I agree that alertra.com provides affordable and reliable service.

Take a gander at Spong.

[url]spong.sourceforge.net[/url]

It's free, and easily installed/customizable/scalable.

Cheers.

Well, since we're going on and on, I do want to add that pingalink has clients like the United Nations, TDK, National Multiple MS Socitety, HP, and Pfizer keep me there. The price compared to the features can't be beat either...

SiteUptime.com is who we prefer / use.

Yeah, i've heard of SiteUpTime.com they look good, aswell as they provide free server uptime monitoring, but they also provide paid services.

Has anybody tried Dotcom-Monitor Website Monitoring? They offer a whole suite of different monitoring plans, including a free one.

To have your website monitored for free, just follow these three simple steps.

1. Go to https://www.dotcom-monitor.com/SSL/Client_JoinForm.asp?
2. Fill in the form, selecting "Lifetime Lite I"
3. Go to http://www.dotcom-monitor.com/stamps.asp and pick up a stamp to place on your home page. Monitoring will begin automatically.

Hi,

you should give nmsalert at <a href="http://www.nmsalert.com">website monitoring</a> a try.

Their service is free for non-commercials and personal homepages and the service is good (checks every 5 minutes, can check certain services).

I work for them, let me know if you have any questions ...

Cheers,
Markus Linke

How do these companys work?