| ns and Outs of Free ISPs | | | | for these to be free. There may also be a limit to |
| Yes, Virginia, there are companies that offer free | | | | the time you can spend surfing the Internet. Most |
| Internet service. The common definition of an ISP is | | | | free ISPs do not have the kinds of features that are |
| a company that provides Internet access, usually for | | | | available with ISPs that you pay for. Commercial ISPs |
| some kind of fee. The amazing part is that there are | | | | work hard to come up with new features for their |
| actually ISP companies that provide free Internet | | | | customers to use, but the free ISPs don't generally |
| access. I am not just making reference to the | | | | do this. Free ISP's may also provide connection |
| companies that send you discs in the mail that offer | | | | quality that is much poorer and has many more |
| you free Internet service for only 30 days. These | | | | interruptions that commercial ISP's. |
| ISPs offer free Internet service all, the not, not just | | | | If you still want an affordable ISP that has more |
| for a free trial. | | | | features than a free ISP but costs less, you might |
| How can these companies afford to offer free | | | | already have the answer. Many of the free ISPS |
| Internet access, you ask? The answer is no great | | | | have other packages that offer more services at a |
| secret. Many free products are funded by a variety | | | | low cost to you. This tactic of offering free Internet |
| of advertising. A good example of this are the many | | | | access has long been a way for ISPs to attract new |
| sites that offer free MP3 downloads. However, as in | | | | customers. They are hopeful that a customer will like |
| the case of the free ISP's, these music download | | | | using the ISP, so that they will move to another |
| sites come with advertisements in the form of | | | | service instead of going with a competitor. |
| pop-ups. If you want free Internet service you must | | | | Always remember to read the terms and conditions |
| able to live with the advertising it comes with. It can | | | | of your ISP before accepting the agreement. |
| often be annoying and a real nuisance that gets in | | | | Agreeing to free Internet access can be tricky. Make |
| your way when you are on the Internet. These | | | | sure that the ISP really is offering the free Internet |
| pop-ups can also cause your computer to slow way | | | | access you think they are. You also want to check |
| down and even freeze up. | | | | on other things like any time limits, other service fees |
| An additional thing to be concerned about with free | | | | or if long distance charges will apply for you to go |
| ISPs is that the service may not be free in your area. | | | | with any ISP. |
| Ii is necessary to have a dial-up number in your area | | | | |