Free Internet access
providers Despite the flurry
of stories in the media lately about the supposed decline of
freebies and free services on the Web, we've found that Net users
today in fact have a broader range of freebies to choose from than
ever before. The one exception to this is the category of free
Internet access providers. The number of free Net access
providers has declined sharply in recent years, as the industry has
seen a number of players consolidate or go out of business. However,
there are still a number of free providers in the U.S. (although
most providers no longer offer free, unlimited usage). And free Net
access providers continue to thrive in other countries, particularly
in Europe. We don't recommend any of these services for use as
your primary Web connection, if you need solid, reliable service.
Still, the free services reviewed below are handy for use as a
backup service, if your primary provider experiences downtime. They
also provide a convenient way for you to get online, if you're on
the road.
All
Free ISP In the aftermath of the Dot Com
crash, most national free Internet access providers went bust.
However, there are still many free local ISPs around in the U.S.
and Canada. This site offers a searchable database of free ISPs,
complete with reviews and ratings. Besides free services, the site
also takes a look at discount ISPs.
NetZero NetZero offers you free
Net access in exchange for displaying ad space in your browser.
They support 56K FLEX and V90 modem standards. They provide local access
numbers to most major and many medium-sized cities in the
U.S. U.S. only. (For Windows). A Mac version
is promised eventually.
In Oct. 2001, NetZero reduced the amount
of free access time it offers from 40 hours to 10 hours per
month.
Our visitors report a number of problems
these days with NetZero, including difficulties in connecting;
frequent sudden disconnects; lots of E-mail advertisements; and
annoying pop-up ads.
NetValve Sign up here for one
hour of prepaid free Internet access from NetValve, a Net service
provider that offers access in over 7,000 U.S. cities. This offer
is valid for first-time NetValve users who live in the 48
contiguous United States.
Juno One of the two major
players still offering free Net access in the U.S. (along with NetZero), Juno offers service
at connection speeds up to 56K. The service is
advertisement-supported.
In March 2001, Juno introduced
controversial terms of
service that gives it the right to use your PC as part of a
distributed computing network and absolves the company of any
liability for doing so.
We've had a few complaints from our
visitors about Juno's difficult-to-close, obtrusive ad
windows.
In recent months, it's become
increasingly difficult to connect to Juno's free service during
normal business hours. If you need a steady day-time Net
connection, you'll have to look elsewhere for a free
ISP.
Free AOL access offer America
Online is offering 1,045 free hours of Internet access with its
new AOL version 8.0 software. No credit card is required for this
offer. Note: you must be 18 or older to request this offer. (U.S. only).
Aardvaak
free Net access Here's a free ISP for our
British visitors. Aardvaak offers speedy 0845 (local rate) dial-up
Internet access, with free POP3 E-mail and 25 megs of Web space.
The service supports 56K and 64/128K ISDN. What's more, Aardvaak
doesn't pester you with banners or popup ads.
(U.K. only). Works with both Windows and Macs.
Address.com This free service
forgoes the usual desktop ad bars that you see with most free Net
access providers in favor of occasional commercial breaks, which
last around seven seconds. The ads appear as either full screen
messages or as pop-up windows. Address.com is available in the
continental U.S. only. (For Windows). Note:
we've had a number of complaints from our visitors about
connection problems with Address.com.
Marketscore Internet
Accelerator Looking for a faster Net
connection? This unique service promises to speed up your dial-up
connection speed by up to 100 percent. To get the speedier
connection, you must download a small instruction set to identify
your machine and give your browser a Net address through which to
route its traffic. Note: when you sign up, you can take a shot at
winning a Mercedes SLK230 roadster convertible or cash prizes in
Marketscore's sweepstakes. Contest deadline is
Oct. 31, 2003.
BlueLight.com (Note: In July, 2001, BlueLight.com announced that
it will no longer provide free Net access). This major
ad-supported free Net access provider, offered by retail giant
Kmart, is in a state of transition (in December 2000, the company
that powered BlueLight.com ceased operations). (For Windows; a previously-offered Mac version is no
longer supported).
Freecall (Note: this service is no longer available).
An ad-supported service, Freecall offers free Net access (via an
0800 number) to individuals and businesses in Britain. Freecall
supports V90, K56Flex and ISDN standards.
(U.K. only).
Net4Nowt.com This directory
offers a good roundup of free "0845" (local call rate) Net access
providers in Britain, including reviews and a comparison
table. (U.K. only).
FreeAccess (Netherlands only). This one's for our Dutch
visitors. This service offers Dutch users free Net access, with
speedy 56K and ISDN connections. You only need to pay for the cost
of the phone call (and local call rate access is available in
almost half of the Netherlands).
dotNow (Note: this service is no longer available).
dotNow offers Net dial-up access to customers in hundreds of U.S.
cities. Currently, they have over 2,400 points of presence (POPs)
in all 50 states. The service is banner ad-supported and the
company's dotNow bar displays ads while you're online. (Available for Windows only).
Sputnik (Note: this service is no longer
unavailable). Looking for free high-speed wireless access?
This is available for a "limited time" in an ever-expanding area
in the U.S. via Sputnik, makers of free software that turns PCs
into Wi-Fi "hotspots." To participate, your PC must meet Sputnik's
requirements.
If you'd like to participate in helping Sputnik grow its network,
you can set yourself up as a "Sputnik Affiliate" by setting up a
Sputnik Gateway. Be sure to read Sputnik's terms of
use.
