Fred Deaton
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\ "There is one word in America that says it /
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000 16:39:58 -0600 (CST)
From: Fred Deaton <fd01@...>
To: deaton@...
Subject: free internet access places

Here are some sites with free internet access.
It seems a new one pops up every day. These are the ones I know about.

My favorite one is <http://freei.net>. The ad bar is not as
obstrusive as others on the browser. It is the easiest one
to use, and the number has NEVER been busy.

Both <http://bluelight.com and <http://netzero.com>
offer service, but I don't have a local access number
in Jackson TN, but maybe in your area there is one.
Blue light is owned and operated by K-Mart and K-Mart
stores are supposed to have the disc, I haven't see
one. The download for many of these (freei, bluelight
, netzero) is about 30-40 minutes. I like both, but
I need a local number to use either to make it effective.

Both <http://altavista.com> and <http://www.excite.com>
search engines are offering free internet access. In
less than a month, alta vista has had 8 million sign up
making it the third largest access provider.

BOTH alta vista and excite are set up and operated by
<http://1stup.com>, a wholesale provider of service to
smaller ppp, isp, and pop servers. The have other
branded free access such as <http://yellowstone.com>,
<http://Buzzlink.com>, http://www.ktvb.com/free
(an Idaho TV station), <www.wjla.com> (a DC/Tidewater
area station), http://seniors.com> and http://picosito.com.
These are all "cobranded" free access sites that allow download
and use of strategic local telephone numbers to access internet.
Very little time is needed to download. All are run by 1stup,
but are seperate, so you could have all setup with service.
Its kinda like a company can offer service on its web site for
free internet. One thing I notice, there is a meter on the side
of the ad window, that shows a meter. The meter will soon
require you to connect with an ad in \order to maintain a
connection. Its not enforced -yet-, but will be.
Connecting the ad will recharge the connection to
continue operating..otherwise it is terminated.

There are others www.1stup.com, www.address.com,
www.3web.net, www.freensafe.com, www.ifreedom.com,
www.internet4free.com, but due to various reason
(phone access, problems downloading, odd browser, incompatability,
and hidden charges... I havent used them.

One option I didn't mention that i use is http://www.juno.com.
It is a very food e-mail download service, but a "clunky"
feeling free internet service and browser with constant
notices about add on services "delux" or "gold" or "silver"
level that cost. A free service that can have a sneaky cost
pop up. It is the one that can be used in all areas, which
makes it popular in rural areas. I use it, but I get tired
of cutting thuough the pop up options that spring up on the screen.

More are coming out, and the access numbers to all providers
increase daily.


Let me know if any of this helps.



Fred Deaton