Perhaps one of the most tasking things in the on-line world when looking for an ISP is knowing just what they mean by 'FREE'. To the educated person there's no such thing as 'FREE', everything exacts its price at some point or other, whether it's to you or somebody else. With the recent up-surge in 'FREE' ISPs, there has never been a time when a more stable understanding of the word 'FREE' is required.

We are of course discussing the way a vast amount of supposedly 'FREE' Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are miss-leading the public with their understanding of the word 'FREE'.

So FREE ISPs aren't FREE?

For example, say you visit a free ISP, which for the purpose of this test is called 'Moomin Internet (NET)'. The ISP labels itself as being "100% FREE" with "No hidden charges!". The first thing any normal person would assume is that you can connect to the Internet through the provider without any charge what so ever, when the reality is much the opposite.

Instead 99% of 'FREE' ISPs are miss-using the word and refer to FREE as being 'without monthly charges'. Much the same as a web hosting company might boast having 'Unlimited Bandwidth', when in reality if you go over a certain limit (usually very low, 5gb a month) then you're either kicked or forced the pay more. The problem is that in the age of FREE calls through 0800 or third party Telco's, the word FREE can become highly miss-leading.

Many assume that ISPs quoting "Truly FREE ISP" or "100% TOTALLY FREE" are trying to point out that their calls as well as monthly charges are FREE. Instantly you have a problem and something that many of ISPr's readers have expressed to us, which is why we are writing this.

When is FREE, TRULY FREE?

There are perhaps two current truly FREE ISPs (CallNet0800 is one) and a further two or three coming in the following week/months. These are ISPs that don't charge a monthly subscription and for the cost of actually calling. Sure there are usually some tiny conditions but these are almost always avoidable or pointless.

What ISPreview would like to see along with many of our public is for ISPs to exercise some realistic use of the word 'FREE'. What's so wrong with saying "FREE - No monthly charges" or "FREE from Monthly charges & CALLS!"? By modern standards, shouting out "100% Truly FREE!" etc., when you still charge for the calls is quite unfair on the consumer and generally designed to miss-lead.

Today a quick visit to the Newsgroups or a look on our Forum and then in our E-Mail tends to show up at least ten or so complaints to this nature. People want to know why they are being miss-led by business and whether it can be stopped or not. It's like watching an advert on TV for a chat line, then in small print, which is so distorted that you can hardly understand, it say's "Calls cost £1,000 a minute" =).

We are sure this debate will rage on for some time to come, feel free to post your comments on our Forum and get into a discussion about it.