Re: UKNM: big ISP news

[Craig Pickup]

Richard Houston wrote:


> <QUOTE>

> Virgin Net to offer free Internet access:

> Internet service provider Virgin Net is expected to announce tomorrow

> that it is to offer free Internet access to all. The move will shake up other

> ISPs such as Demon and BT, who will be forced to adopt similar schemes

> of their own to compete. Revenue will come from advertising and premium

> services. (1/6)

> </QUOTE>


I do not know if this particular model from the ISP side will be viable or not

but I have heard of other ISPs in the near launch stage of offering free access

and obtaining their revenue from a percentage of the telephone charges paid by

those accessing. Even though it will be a standard local dial number the amount

of revenue they can obtain from the telco will be sufficient income to support

them.


The difficulty of the likes of Virgin Net surviving on advertising revenue is

that not all those accessing via them will visit their web site. The only way of

ensuring a solid hit rate would be junk mailing the subsrcibers.


Craig Pickup

Digitrade Ltd