Free ISPs?
                    The debate continues

                 Comment from Steve Provost

Up until a few weeks ago I had been enjoying totally free access
to the internet via X-Stream and IC24. Since I mentioned this in
the last issue, the 0800 free trial from X-stream has been
`temporarily' unavailable due to the tremendous problems they're
having with the launch of their sister ISP LibertySurf. What a
complete disaster, you'd think a company the size of Kingfisher
would have made available enough resources to have coped with the
situation. I almost bought the CD; I thought Kingfisher, Comet,
they should be OK, but I'm glad I held back now. Once they sort
things out it'll probably be a decent service but I can't really
see them running the two in parallel, what would be the point?
IC24 is still available at weekends but I'm usually too busy
during the day to be able to take full advantage of their service,
I just use it for the odd hour or so when I can.

I've had an account with Global Internet for the last three years,
the first two years (pre Freeserve) cost œ105 p.a. plus call
charges, now I'm only paying for my calls. I've had very few
problems with them and connection is almost always first time. I'd
like to stay with them but they haven't made any moves towards an
unmetered service as yet.

I'm studying with the Open University so I need to access the net
frequently and for long periods of time to collect course
material, for conferencing and research. Even at off-peak rates
and with BT's best friend discount, the bill soon mounts up. With
unmetered access I can relax and research at my leisure without
worrying about the cost. What I have to be careful about in
choosing an unmetered ISP from the current offerings is the level
of service that they offer. In my case, can I access JANET via
their servers? - some are blocked e.g. RedHotAnt, which is no good
to me or anyone else with the same requirements.

The ISP industry is in a state of flux at the moment and until it
sorts itself out and something better comes along I'm going to
stick with Global's reliable service. The old adage still applies:
you only get what you pay for. AltaVista put the cat amongst the
pigeons, stood back and watched while other providers jumped on
the bandwagon and almost committed commercial suicide. The heat is
dying off now and guess who have emerged from their hidey-hole?
And the package doesn't seem all that great after all, does it?

@~See also Carolyn's letter ... Sue











                              - o -