"The internet website now generates a substantial proportion of our new clients. We rejected the idea of using a free service because of the value-added-service provided by the current ISP (eg: automated ready-to-use CGI scripts for capturing information from website visitors, secure server facilities for capturing order information"

"We use the FreeServe account as a backup to our paid for service"

"We are in the process of changing to a free service now, the only problem is changing our email address which has previously put us off. We hope that there will not be any problems with the service itself, since we understand that using the helpline for these 'free' services is extremely expensive."

"Free internet services, particularly those from Dixons and Tesco, have opened up the UK online market to many millions of people in the UK who were previously not interested or unwilling to take the plunge"

"We have access to both types of Dial Up Service (fixed line & GSM). Generally, the free services seem to be aimed at the home user rather than the business user. Reports of problems using certain applications across some of the free ISP's have been reaching us recently. We have a need to be able to use many different types of application across the dial-up service and we undertook some very careful market research before committing to our present ISP, whom we have had for over 3 years. Generally, they have proven reliable and seamless, with one or two notable exceptions - and our displeasure has been voiced to them most strongly on those few occasions. Technology being what it is, their track record is pretty good on the whole and assuming that continues, we shall probably stay where we are. We are also in a position as consulting engineers where we are asked for a professional recommendation as to ISP for clients considering coming 'on line' and it IS useful to be able to offer our clients several alternatives - including the freebies (although we all know that NOTHING is for free in this world really) - for them to consider, and allow them to choose accordingly."

"If you want a really good connection on freeserve then go to Arsenal FC web site and get them to send you one of theirs"

"excellent service and value from Freeserve, no problems what so ever"

"Only as backup - too many of our operations are tied to a fixed IP address"

"There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

"I've even had clients use a free ISP offering ISDN access to connect their entire network that way !"

"The resultant cascade of spam was appalling, inspite of the providers assurances that this would not happen"

"At the moment I have tried two "Free" ISPs and experienced problems with both. One made several revisions to my browser which I did not want, and would not operate without. The other does not have a reliable ISDN connection."

"Easy for Newbies to get on the internet - but a pain for internet professionals and sites who have to make workarounds for the caches/proxies continually accessing the sites. also certain caches are configured incorrectly and cause serious security concerns which the Euro parliament are hoping to resolve."

"I have tested Free connections on a personal level but find them at most to be erratic in their connections, either contstantly engaged or a poor speed once connected certainly not something I would wish my company to be associated with."

"For a business the quality of service must be the priority. We are with Pipex and have found the quality of service to be excellent and therefore have no intention at present to change to a free provider of unknown quality just to save approx. 250 pounds"

"I think the Free services are good for the internet, they are a short term hook to get more people on line.The infrastructure must be continually improved and updated to accommodate the new traffic.But you cant beat the old ISP's for reliability, and access."

"Many of my clients are considering a free Internet service, but some are not as "free" as they seem. Many use only on-line Web-based e-mail, incurring on-line phone charges. We have carried out some experimentation with these. However, some do have a standard approach to allow true POP3 e-mail to be collected from other accounts for example if you have a registerd domain name on another server. I have also heard reports that the "free" services suffer from overload and users often obtain engaged lines."

"my impression is that free services are for low-demand personal users and provide a lower level of service"

"The free internet services are a very good idea. Its a shame we can't get a similar telephone deal like that which exists in America."

"I place a premium on having my ISP located two doors from my head office. They also design and maintain my mail order web site, www.birthdayboy.co.uk"