AOL UK launches new ISP as Dixons distie deal kicks in
PrintIt's a 'Netbreeze'
Posted in Channel, 16th February 2004 11:44 GMT
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AOL UK has unveiled a new pay-as-you-go ISP as part of its new distie deal with Dixons.
The ISP, called Netbreeze, is described as an "Internet taster"’ service offering metered Net access at local call rates with no monthly charges.
It's aimed at people who don't want to commit to a subscription service and for those who reckon you just can't have too many subscription-free ISP accounts.
Of course, this isn't the first time that AOL UK has offered a subscription-free service. In 1999, it launched the PAYG service Netscape Online, only to close it down three years later. At the time AOL UK said that the subscription-free model was no longer viable.
Today's launch of Netbreeze coincides with AOL UK's new high-profile deal with high street electrical outfit Dixons.
Once solely the territory of Freeserve, from today AOL UK's dial-up software will be available in 1,100 PC World, Dixons and Currys stores in the UK and pre-loaded onto PCs and laptops, replacing the spot usually reserved for Freeserve.
A similar arrangement punting AOL UK's broadband services will come into force from February next year.
Financial details surrounding the deal were not disclosed. When the deal was first made public, some sources claimed it would cost AOL anywhere between £10 million and £100 million for the privilege of flogging its ISP services in Dixons stores. ®
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