No free call trials, says LineOne MD

The MD of LineOne has denied that the British online service provider is actively engaged in trials for toll-free access to the Internet. Reacting to a story published yesterday, Ajay Chowdhury said he had no knowledge of any toll-free trials currently being held by LineOne. He did confirm that LineOne -- like many ISPs -- was examining this whole area of toll-free access but said that this was the limit of the Net company's activity. Yet The Register has discovered that there are scores of 0800 numbers currently giving people unregulated toll-free access to the Net and around 30 of them require the user to hold a LineOne account to gain free calls. "It's the first I've heard about it," he said quizzically. "They're nothing to do with us. Rather than clarifying the situation, Chowdhury's dismissal only adds to the mystery. And if it has nothing to do with LineOne, then who is responsible? With so many toll-free numbers out there -- and even more people using them to access the Net for free -- The Register would love to know what exactly is going on. ®