ISPs Promote Premium Extras

Eager to secure new cash streams and worried that customers now consider one Internet service provider to be about as good as another, major ISPs have increasingly turned to add-on services for more revenue and higher customer retention.

But such ISP extras--which range from Internet call-waiting and voice mail services to home networking tools and antivirus protection--don't come cheap. And though they appeal to people who want a customized Internet experience with the convenience of a single bill, the various bundled goodies being pitched by the big providers aren't necessarily a great deal.

For example, though the Internet call-waiting services from AOL and EarthLink cost $4 a month, PC World found comparable services offered for less: Buzme.com is a free Internet call-waiting service, and CallWave's Alert service is available for $18 a year ($1.50 per month). Such call-waiting services launch a pop-up window that gives dial-up users the option of accepting or declining an incoming phone call while online.

With EarthLink, which may maintain the most extensive menu of extra services, you can get home networking help for $10 a month. The catch is that you must buy $150 worth of home networking hardware from EarthLink and sign a one-year service contract for monthly support.

AOL presents a plethora of extras, including its digital music service, and antivirus protection (for a $3 monthly payment) powered by McAfee.

Another popular add-on at EarthLink and budget Internet service providers Juno and NetZero is a Web acceleration service that speeds up connections for dial-up customers.

EarthLink charges an extra $7 monthly for its turbo service, powered by third-party provider Propel. You can save, however, by purchasing instead a one-year subscription directly from Propel for $60 ($5 monthly).

Behind the Push

As Internet service becomes a commodity, ISPs have turned to extras as a way to differentiate themselves and get more monthly fees from customers, says Joe Laszlo, a senior analyst with Jupiter Research.

The convenience of service bundling and the comfort of dealing with a company you already know may make it worthwhile for you to pay your favorite ISP a lot more than you do for basic connectivity, says Steven Harris, a research manager with IDC.

"Your ISP is a reputable company that will be around to help you out with the installation and with the technical support when you have questions," Harris says.

Before you sign up for an add-on or two, however, take a look around and be sure that you're getting the best deal.