BARD CRIER | Free Internet Access. How to get it. Who to subscribe with. Who's the best. How do they afford to do it. From 56K Dialup to Free DSL.

Quick Picks: FreeInternet.com, DialFree, FreeDSL!
The List: Free 56K Dialup, Free DSL

So you want fast and reliable free internet access?

At the top of my list for any free resource is Free Internet Access. Did you know it is no longer necessary for you to pay $25, $15 or even $5 for internet access and yet people are doing it!?? It baffles me. There are services out there that are every bit as good as AOL (most even better) that have minimal to no banner ads hassling you.

In 1997, I first heard about these freebies. I was curious and began hunting em out. I found many had gone out of business in their first year or two. But one, interestingly, the first one, did not. It was called Freewwweb. Sadly, the Free Internet Revolution forced Freewwweb to finally fold. Since then, I've sorted through the score of free internet providers and found my two personal favorites. The first is FreeInternet.com. The second, dialfree..

FreeInternet.com

If you search the net for even just a moment, you'll see FreeInternet.com banners everywhere. FreeInternet.com is a strong business and doing well. They've a huge advertising budget and better yet a great biz.

What's the story? Well, FreeInternet.com provides absolutely internet access with newsgroups, smtp email, news, and the whole nine yards for free. They are able to provide this service with banner advertising.

Here's the way it works. You logon, and the top of the screen is filled with the usual banner ads, plus, moveable control panel. All of your programs then open up into the remaining space allowing the banner ads to be visible at all time.

Of course it's no Freewwweb, but then Freewwweb folded. From the look at some of the FreeInternet.com's financial info. They'll be around a long time. Once you get used to the program, it runs great. It's easy to use. And the look is much better than their competitors.

But there is another that I like even better and it is...

Dial Free

Dial Free first gained my attention because it is the only free internet provider I've found that does not bombard you with banner ads. That's right, none what so ever... So what's the catch? Well the catch is that in lieu of banner ads you have to fill out a fifteen minute survey once a month in exchange for your banner-free, free internet access.

But unfortunately, this too is not Freewwweb. At the beginning of every month you are charged $19.95, before you turn your head away, wait. That money is immediately refunded when you complete their survey, but if you don't complete the survey then you pay that amount for that month's internet access.

I signed up for Dial Free very skeptically about three months ago, and I am very pleased with the results. The surveys are easy and really don't take much time at all. Plus, you only have to do it once a month. To me, that has been no hassle. The company is very safe and secure as well and the service has been impeccable.

After signing up with Dial Free, I haven't gone back. I've had no charges thusfar, and I really don't expect too any time soon. Best of all, if you change your mind, or decide to drop the account, there is a completely safe money-back guarantee.

DSL. No speed limit on the Information Superhighway

I saw this ad a few days ago and snickered. Because there is something new out there, it's called Free DSL, and it is making life easier. There are currently only two companies providing Free DSL: Smartworld Technologies and FreeDSL!

FreeXdsl

Smartworld Technologies, the makers of Freewwweb, launched FreeXdsl to be one of the first on the scenes to offer free DSL service. But since the demise of Freewwwb, I've heard not whisper about FreeXdsl. I keep checking their website with no luck. Please tell me if you hear anything different.

FreeDSL

Winfire, on the other hand, has set a new standard. From what I've read about it, their free DSL service is fantastic! It runs under the same principle as FreeInternet.com. Winfire posts banners on your computer while you surf in exchage for the service.

But wait, what's DSL is more expensive...what's the catch.

Well the catch is, you need a DSL modem. You can buy one starting at around $140 if you look around. Or Winfire offers one for $199 last I checked. Or you can lease to own your DSL modem for $9.95 per month. You will then be surfing at 144kbps.

If you buy your modem and want to shell out $9.95 per month, you can also surf banner free at 144kbs. Or you can upgrade the service even more for faster speeds without the banner ads. In any case, you'll be paying much less for DSL service than you would for any phone company I've seen and get incredible speeds.

I've not yet had a chance to try out FreeDSL yet. But I suspect in another month or two, I'll spring for a modem and sign up because as much as I surf, I need something faster.

Other Providers of Free Internet Access

In the meantime, here is a newly-updated list of free internet companies:

Free Dialup Services:

DialFree.com http://dialfree.com BANNER-FREE, PREFERRED!
FreeInternet.com http://freeinternet.com PREFERRED
Netzero https://gold.netzero.net
Altavista http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/altavista/
Excite http://freeworld.excite.com/freeworld/
Pronet http://www.pro-usa.com/
Juno http://www.juno.com/

Free DSL:

What is DSL?
DSL Wise http://www.freedsl.com
iNYC http://www.iNYC.com/

Music Marketing & Promotion Guide

Free Internet Access

by Marc Gunn, Bard