Donny,
Are you serious? My experience on NetZero is very different from you. I am a cable modem and T1 user, I can never go back to 56K, but I dial into NetZero occasionally just to see how they are doing. Actually I am pretty amazed. I also sent suggestions to them on how I would like them to improve their services from a user perspective. I also tried AltaVista, CMGI got a lot to learn from NetZero as far as free ISP goes. GMGI has to improve fast; otherwise, AltaVista investment would be wasting time and money.
VERY slow
For 56K, I don't feel that NetZero is slow. Which dial-up ISP you are comparing with? My guess is that the sites you're visiting could be slow. SI is slow from time to time, NetZero couldn't help there.
over subscribed
I don't have their subscription numbers, my guess is around 2 ~ 2.5 million. You are a Bruin, still live in Southern California? I can access NetZero with local phone call to Redondo Beach, Torrence, Carson, Inglewood, Long Beach, San Pedro, Gardena, El Segudo, and Lawndale - about 30 phone numbers. The worse experience I've had so far in three months was to try the third number (just conveniently one click away to change). Most of the time I can get through on the first try. The connection rarely dropped - amazing that they can do it for free.
What brought me here this morning was the experience last night. Netzero changes access software all the time and that require you to update frequently. Last night was another round of update. Just take a look at how they've changed the way they presenting the banner! They incorporate the news ticker into the banner, what a brilliant idea! The banner itself is very useful now - news, stock quotes, sports... Also, the discount brokerage buttons are immediately available. Wow!
Cisco has its trademark inked permanently on the banner. My guess is that Cisco must have given them a good discount on the equipment if not any better. Look at the ad sponsors... eBay, Microsoft, Amazon, OnSale, UBid, cars, loans, life insurance, match making, jobs... GTE and Compaq are financially involved in this company as far as I know.
One of the hot topic among teens in my area is how to heck out the banner... I can tell NetZero must be widely spread among teens. Also a good way to help low income users to get to the net.
Anyway, you better pray that NetZero business model won't be a successful one. If they can make a dime on this model, I bet you that will immediately become the ONLY model for dial up ISP business - because by that time, the broadband ISP will be as cheap as what people paying AOL now. |
