Product Review: NetZero free ISP

About the company: “NetZero offers easy-to-use, reliable Internet service with thousands of access numbers nationwide, fast connections, feature-rich email and Email on the Web, and instant messaging compatible with AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, and Yahoo! All for less than 1/2 the cost of AOL®, EarthLink or MSN!”

The big pitch: Sign up for NetZero Platinum, HiSpeed 3G, or Free Internet Access today!

Netzero.net is an internet service provider that originated as a free ISP, but now also offers low cost premimum internet services such as high-speed dial-up and broadband access. There are several different levels of internet service that you can purchase; you can have access to free internet service, as long as you only use 10 hours per month. A step up from this plan is the unlimited internet access starting at $9.95 per month, which is a heck of a deal. A third internet service option is to go for NetZero's fastest, cutting edge technology internet service, called NetZero HiSpeed 3G for Broadband.

Netzero.net also offers a range of internet-related add-on services, including pop-up blocker, spam protection, and email virus protection. Additionally, you are allowed up to 1GB of email storage, which is a significant amount of space for most people.

NetZero.net has plans available that are geared towards families as well. For example, NetZero.net offers “NetZero Premium Content Family Pack”, where your family can have access to the Encylopaedia Brittanica, Shockwave.com Gameblast, AmericanGreetings.com, and Clever Island for as little as $4.95/month.

NetZero.net has jumped all over the free internet phone-calling bandwagon with their “NetZero Voice” voice-over internet (VOIP) service. Features of this free voice over internet technology that works over dial-up or broadband include unlimited computer-to-computer minutes, encompass caller ID, call waiting, and call blocking - and you can also send instant messages and email on the web. Voicemail is also free, and there's an online message center, which is convenient. In short, NetZero is a full-bodied voice-over internet service, and all for just $14.95 per month!

So what's the downside? Well, if you're using the free NetZero service, you're going to have to deal with minimal online time, because ten hours, free or not, is pretty slim pickin's. Additionally, download speeds can be pretty darn slow, and you lose a portion of your screen to a NetZero ad banner, but hey, you get what you pay for. The NZ folks need to pay their rent somehow, you cheap bastards!

The better deal is the Platinum package, which gives you unlimited dial-up net access for $9.95 per month. You still get the NetZero ad banner, and you're still on dial-up, but you don't have to trim you online time with this option, and $9.95 is dirt cheap compared to the prices rip-off merchants like AOL charge for similar services (and it goes down to just $6.95 if you pay for six months at a time!).

The Product Trends rating: NetZero.net is an extremely viable option for free or low cost internet service. It is a perfect internet service option if you have a small budget for computer and internet services. Plus, you can save loads of money by using free calls over the internet. NetZero.net is an affordable way to take advantage of the internet super highway. Four stars. -- Reviewed by Jillian Dobbs

To try NetZero for yourself, click the image below:

posted by Oz @ 3:57 PM