Murmansk69 wrote:
> 
> A friend of mine has an ancient laptop running Windows 95 and a dialup
> modem which she has used to access email and the internet from time to
> time via her OneTel account.
> 
> She has now abandoned OneTel to go back to BT so needs an alternative
> provider.
> 
> It would be best if she could pay via the call charge rather than
> dialling via a freephone number and then paying a bill.
> 
> Can anyone suggest anything?


Freeola provide what they call "emergency Internet".  No 
sign-up, just go ahead and use it.

  Number:    0845 604 3090
  Username:  freeola
  Password:  freeola
www.freeola.com

This will only get you basic internet access, browsing.  If 
you sign up (free), you can get the full service.  E-mail, 
newsgroups, unlimited web space (PHP enabled), customer 
forums, etc.

I have used Freeola for several years.  Unlike other service 
providers, I have never had any problems with them.  Customer 
Support have always replied quickly and faults have been 
fixed quickly.

 
Best regards,
Peter.

"Bandwidth" <@radiouk.com> wrote in message 
news:4AC4377E.A10AB8A6@radiouk.com...
> Murmansk69 wrote:
>>
>> A friend of mine has an ancient laptop running Windows 95 and a dialup
>> modem which she has used to access email and the internet from time to
>> time via her OneTel account.
>>
>> She has now abandoned OneTel to go back to BT so needs an alternative
>> provider.
>>
>> It would be best if she could pay via the call charge rather than
>> dialling via a freephone number and then paying a bill.
>>
>> Can anyone suggest anything?
>
>
> Freeola provide what they call "emergency Internet".  No
> sign-up, just go ahead and use it.
>
>  Number:    0845 604 3090
>  Username:  freeola
>  Password:  freeola
> www.freeola.com
>
> This will only get you basic internet access, browsing.  If
> you sign up (free), you can get the full service.  E-mail,
> newsgroups, unlimited web space (PHP enabled), customer
> forums, etc.
>
> I have used Freeola for several years.  Unlike other service
> providers, I have never had any problems with them.  Customer
> Support have always replied quickly and faults have been
> fixed quickly.
> Best regards,
> Peter.
>
>
Right, now do you have a 01/02 geo dial up number for it?
He wanted a dial up with the cheapest number, an 0845 ain't it

Clara.net does or did

Steve Terry

Steve Terry wrote:
> 
> Right, now do you have a 01/02 geo dial up number for it?
> He wanted a dial up with the cheapest number, an 0845 ain't it


I must have missed any mention of cheapest or geographical 
number access.  They did mention "paying" through the call 
charge, so I guess that they accept that nothing is really 
free.

All ISPs using 0845 will have direct geographic numbers.
However, Telephone service providers usually exclude ALL 
Internet access calls from inclusive packages.  Worse than 
that, geographic number access may be charged at a **higher** 
rate than 0845.  BT certainly charge for ALL Internet calls, 
and charge a much higher rate for geographic number access.
People have got stung that way, not realising until the 
next bill comes.

BT charge 0845 Internet access at these rates:
  Daytime:  1.96p/minute
  Evening:  0.49p/minute.
If you access through a geographic number, the rates are:
  Week Day:  5.25p/minute.
  Week Evening:  1.45p/minute.
  Weekend:  0.98p/minute.
If they consider a number as being Internet access, the 
above charges will apply.

Some ISPs have switched to other numbers, such as 0844.  These 
appear confusing as the charge varies between different 
numbers.  They usually come out more expensive than 0845 
and could cost more than any of the above.

I don't think that 0.49p/minute is much to pay for a service 
provider who offers a full ISP service including e-mail, 
news groups, web space, etc.  If someone uses it enough to 
make that appear expensive, then they should consider 
Broadband or at least some "anytime" package.  

There may also be limits to support for Win95 and whatever 
browser they are using.  In any case, they should try to 
find a software firewall that will work with that O/S.


Regards,
Peter.