The trend of cheaper and cheaper net access started when Providers moved away from the hourly charges on top of already high call charges and onto simple monthly charges. It then continued to the point where a lot of ISPs are now free of any subscription charge and offer just as quality service as the commercial ones.

It was inevitable that in the quest for even more free net access we would take the next step and that next step into the world of un-monitored phone charges and totally free net access is now dawning, so is it working?

A next step or a next fall?

At the moment companies such as, GreatXcape, ScreamingNet, 08004u, CallNet0800 and several other ISPs all offer varying styles of connections. If you really want good access then purchase a cable modem or get into an area that supports ADSL (London) and get that. For most of us that is still out of reach and will be for some time so we have to stick with the simpler alternatives. Here's a rough list of some of the more prominent people using new methods:

-GreatXscape - Change from BT to another provider and get weekend and week off-peak 0800 net calls.
-ScreamingNet - Same as above.
-08004u - Pay a monthly fee for either 24/7 0800 access or weekend and week-evening access.
-CallNet0800 - 24/7 0800 Access, no charge.. they just ask you to use their discounted phone prefix system (don't have to change from BT).
-SkyTrack0800 - 24/7 0800 Access for a monthly charge, limit hours per month.
-BT Internet - Weekend only 0800 access on top of normal services.
-ClaraNet - Weekend 0800 and loads of other options (read review).
-Force9 - Pretty much BT Internet's 0800 all over again but a little worse.

Sadly nothing is as smooth as it first seems, every single provider offering any kind of 0800 access has or is having problems. Every single one of the above has over-subscribed, some by just a little and others by colossal amounts. This has called 'busy' lines, extremely slow service, slow registration times, delays and very unstable servers for all.

Right now the only ISPs even close to stability out of them are ClaraNet (more engaged tones), BT Internet (Little iffy on 0800 days for ISDN users) and Force9 (ok, little slow). The ones gunning for the big time like 08004u have got poor sign up systems, disgusting support services, fairly slow connections and lack of services. Many of them also have catches like hourly cut offs and you having to use their phone service etc.

The plain and simple fact is 0800 simply isn't ready for the mass internet community, more ISPs of similar stature are due to enter the public domain in the coming two months. My advice is to wait until the end of December and wait for our Christmas article that will address this issue in FULL. For now consider this a simple article with a warning, everything is not how it first seems.

If you fancy a risk then SkyTrack0800 is good for the lower end user and CallNet for anybody on BT wanting almost catch less 0800 24/7 access.