Internet Tips

What's the catch? There has to be a reason why free Internet services are taking off. I'm currently using Freewwweb.com and find that--unlike other services--it has minimal advertising and offers virtually unlimited usage.

I also pay for an account with a large ISP that features slower log-ins and e-mail delivery, and never connects at a speed faster than about 45 kbps. Should I keep this account, or dump it in favor of the free one? It's true that Freewwweb.com lacks toll-free support, but what do you expect for free?

Tom Gundlach Phoenix

There is no catch, though (as you note) you don't always get what you don't pay for. Free Internet access is like commercial TV--obviously, someone is paying for it, just not you. In the case of most free ISPs, advertisers subsidize your access. If they bother you, tune out their banner ads. The service you chose may be one of the best, though. Rather than forcing you to download and run proprietary software that displays incessant banner ads, Freewwweb.com simply requires that you make the company's site your browser's home page. (See this list of other free dial-up ISPs and DSL services and their requirements.)

Still, even if you don't mind the more intrusive requirements imposed by the other sites, a free ISP may not be right for you. For one, not all offer POP3 e-mail accounts--a serious problem if you rely on a mail client (like Eudora) that doesn't work with Internet-based e-mail. And though the majority of free ISP services offer local phone numbers nationwide, the closest access number to your home may be a toll call. If you spend much time online, those local long-distance connections could end up costing you more than you pay for a standard ISP account.

A free ISP may not come through for you in other ways as well. When you sign on with a regular ISP, you get more than just a phone number and an e-mail address. Even budget plans often include Web hosting, multiple e-mail accounts, and 24-hour or toll-free tech support. More important, most free accounts don't support the faster types of access now available, such as ISDN, DSL, and modem bonding.

That doesn't mean the situation won't change, though. You can choose to move your Web site to any number of free hosting services, such as GeoCities, as long as you don't mind the ads they insert into your pages. As free ISPs continue to fiercely compete for customers, access numbers will undoubtedly increase, as will the types and quality of free services provided. Already, the first free DSL ISPs--albeit with numerous attached strings--have cropped up. Competition from free ISPs may also force pay services to lower their rates or switch to the free mode. And finally, there may be some shakeout as a few services become dominant.

For now, a free ISP account can nicely complement your existing service, especially if the latter lacks nationwide numbers. If you don't mind the disruption of changing your e-mail and Web site addresses, you could certainly dump your monthly ISP subscription and save the $15 to $20 a month it costs. But I'd keep that full-service account for another few months and watch how the free ISP scene evolves. Here's hoping we're all surfing for free a year from now.