Netzero No longer free past 40 hours

[blade]

Just got this email..

<i>NETZERO REMAINS FREE FOR 40 HOURS PER CALENDAR MONTH. For
the small percentage of users who use NetZero for more
than 40 hours per month, we will charge a fee for connect
time beyond the initial 40 hours, while the first 40 hours
remain free. This change will take effect the beginning of
January.

http://www.netzero.net/support/info/nzpro.html

The charge will be $9.95</i>

Since they have very little competition now they can do this. I use them as a backup and I sure as heck ain't gonna be paying them anything. Looks like the days of free internet is coming to a close. Just Juno, Bluelight and maybe another small one or 2 left.

[glassoftea]

When I was back home there where quite a few small ones but I think the big ones are done for, it could not have been that much of a money machine anyway. Another business model gone bad.

glass

[Snelski]

Any business model where all is free is a bad business model IMHO. They can say all they want about the advertising revenue, but that doesn't make it in the real world in the end. Napster is the same way, if they have a product they are selling they will need to charge at some point anyway. It sucks but it's all about the bottom line with 99.99999% of the companies anyway. Enjoy them while you can, but that's exactly why places like Value America go down too - they HAVE to turn a profit someday...

[HitDoS]

Well, Bluelight may still be free, but they have also decided to make a few changes.

"Beginning on January 1, 2001, we will be limiting usage on the BlueLight.com Internet Service to 25 hours per month per user. This is a necessary cost-cutting measure which will allow us to keep offering the service at no cost. Once you have used your allotted 25 hours, you will not be able to gain access until the beginning of the next month."

It goes on to say that in FEB 2001, they will be introducing a new ISP service. Wanna bet on the monthly charge?

[Fuzzboxvoodoo]

nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooo I use netxero damn it. Oh well didn't like it any way! that means my parents will hae to start paying for 2 services since they love AOL for some damn reason. Oh well i need to just get satalite and **** every thing else. [please excuse my language im really pissed off]