A couple months ago, Kaz asked whether it was possible to get free Internet service in Canada. He may be pleased to discover that Yes, there is indeed something similar to the "free" outfits offered Stateside. Mark Stachiew of Web Q&A reports:

Q: In the U.S. there are a few firms giving you free Internet access: NetZero, FreeINet, FreePPP and a few others. They do this by putting an ad banner on the top of your screen while you surf. The problem is that they only have access numbers in the U.S. Are there such companies in Canada? -C.H.

A: A few of those American companies offer free Web access in Canada, and there is at least one Canadian outfit in the fray and others in the wings. The most well-known of the lot is the search portal AltaVista. If you go to www.altavista.com and click on the free access link you'll get all the details. You download a little 32-bit Windows program that allows you to dial up a local access number in most U.S. states and eight provinces. This little program only works with Internet Explorer and it constantly bombards you with flashing banner ads that are sure to cause nausea after prolonged exposure, but it's a small price you pay for free access. Experts doubt that advertising alone can support such a venture, but AltaVista may yet surprise them, although this was the company that made the decision to launch AltaVista without owning the domain name altavista.com and then had to buy it from someone for a million dollars. Enjoy your free access while you can. You could also check out the site www.freeinternetprovider.com, which says it offers free access across the U.S. and seven provinces and even has a Mac version of its dial-up program. Another choice is a Canadian outfit called FreeHomeWeb at, you guessed it, www.freehomeweb.com . They have access numbers in five provinces. I tried using all three of these services and found them frustrating to set up and only actually got one of them to work properly. Maybe you'll be more successful. I'll stick with my ISP. -Mark S.


Oh well, you get what you pay for.

Wolf "Have fun with the freebies, right up until the Net blows up on Y2k!" spirit