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How to Evaluate Free Internet Service Providers
Any effort to evaluate free Internet service providers must address the issues of local Internet availability, critical personal Internet purposes, and the expected ISP capacity, stability, and service. We must also establish what is a reasonable definition of the term “free”. So let us begin there.
An oxymoron or what means, “free Internet service provider”?
“Free” is a relative expression. Everything carries a price, either through direct rectification, personal commitment, sacrifice, or money. When Internet access is advertised as free, the definition is usually the same as is applied to free network TV viewing. The following list details some of the better-known backdoor expenses of Internet access through a free service provider. Be careful to evaluate the effect that these issues may have upon your Internet usage plans.
- Banners. In essences, these are advertisements, digital billboards, and even videos that invade your Internet surfing space. Some merely exist. Others, like television commercials, commandeer the screen for a preset amount of time.
- Surveys. Startup questionnaires that are directly linked to the access permission through a free Internet connection. These may be minimal. They may be intrusive.
- Usage tracking. Performed through cookies and other sources that when removed will prevent the free Internet service from functioning. Often cloaked in the image of a specific provider’s software title.
- Tech support. Often incurs a special expense. Sometimes even a reoccurring monthly cost.
- Restricted hours of access. Limits peak time service.
- Limited monthly access allotments. A predetermined number of access calls or hours.
- Reduced bandwidths. Even dialup connections come in various speeds.
- Limited services. A lack of features such as email, a home page, tech support, quick links, and a general help desk.
- Temporary trials. Though usually much longer than the average 30-day trials of major paid providers, these too will eventually expire.
Application: an evaluation of ISP incorporation of Internet access control measures.
Most every “free” ISP will incorporate some measure of these control components. Discerning and dividing the front ends can be difficult. Some providers include most every one of these backdoor charges. Others are less intrusive. Here, arranged in order of “excellence” as provide by one source of user ratings, are a few high profile examples:
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How to Evaluate Free Internet Service Providers
MetConnect, comes with an excellence rating of 76%. The advertised Internet access cost is listed as 100% free. There are no banners, no surveys, and no software requirements. Stated support is for all operating systems. The home site provides step-by-step setup instructions. Special software is neither provided nor necessary. On the downside, this dialup is limited to New York City access numbers. Additional shortcomings, they no longer offer free email.
- NoCharge, can boast 74% in the ratings for excellence. The advertised cost reads 100% free with an addendum of no sign up requirements. There are no banners, no surveys, no questionnaires, and through provided, special software is not necessary for application. A full-featured home page provides a launching point for Google searches, game links, and free virus software. Email support comes with the package. On the downside, access numbers to this free Internet service provider are limited to Massachusetts and Washington. Tech support is available at the rate of ten dollars per call.
- Basic ISP, holding an excellence rank of 62% is one of the free trial Internet service provider companies. After a $1.00 activation fee, you will receive one month of free service. From that point, the standard price will be $6.95 per month with various service add-ons waiting in the wings to up the cost. Basic ISP uses no banners, no surveys, and no special software package. They furnish one POP3 email address. Tech support rushes in at $4.95 per incident. A wide range of access numbers is spread throughout the US and Canadian Provinces.
- NetZero, landing stands at a 43% excellence in user service ratings. NetZero boasts of a 1-GB email account, free virus software, instant messaging, and thousands of nationwide and Canadian access numbers. Bad news; limited free hours (10 per month), banner intrusion, a semi-annual questionnaire, custom software requirements, and $1.95 per minute for Tech support.
- Juno, picks up the bottom of this list with a 39% rating for excellent service. A free Juno account incorporates nearly every backdoor cost. Limited hours (10 per month), purchased Tech support (priced at $1.95 per minute), banners, surveys, and information invasion. On the plus side, Juno offers email support, and the access numbers are available in 50 states.
Wireless Internet service providers: This is a group listing with no specific address and no rating for excellence in service. This brand of free Internet access is a bit too new for a brief overview. Therefore, this article will focus on a few example sites. For starters, various US cities are beginning to incorporation select locations for free wireless Internet connection services: Clayton, Missouri, Port-Columbus airport, and others. Check out also hotels, campgrounds, local hospitals, and coffee shops.
How to evaluate free Internet service providers?
Now the world of free Internet service providers is in no means limited to those contained in this article. I have not purposed to choose for you, but rather that you might be better aware of some of the services and shortcomings that are associated with free Internet access. So how do you make an evaluation of free Internet service providers? Follow this basic checklist.
- Goals: what is your specific Internet plan?
- Speed: its measure of importance to you.
- Cost: what can you afford?
- Support: evaluate your personal technical skills.
- Services: email, FTP, online storage facilities; what are your needs?
- Dependability: how critical is the timing of your Internet access?
- Availability: is your turf on a given ISP’s access list?
- Equipment requirements: watch this hidden expense.
Now go to it. Find what suits you and sign up. Also, for a trace of fun, check out this Google press release.
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 6:13 pm and is filed under Free. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.