Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/08/20/tollfree_isp_in_orbit_around/

Toll-free ISP in orbit around Planet

Greatxscape - terrible name

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 20th August 1999 19:49 GMT

A copycat ISP has followed in the footsteps of Screaming.net to launch a new service promising toll-free access to the Internet. Manchester-based Greatxscape.com has teamed up with ISP Planet Online to provide the service. From day one Greatxscape claims it will be able to cope with 500,000 users with none of the problems that have plagued Screaming.net. CD-Roms containing software for the service are available up and down the country in stores including Beaverbrooks, Allsports and Kookai and the UK's newest ISP hopes to attract 25,000 new users in the first month. To take advantage of toll-free calls to the Net during off-peak hours users will have to sign up to Telnet, the telco subsidiary of Greatxscape.com. Net users wary of getting caught up in another rush for free-calls might be heartened to know that Energis' ISP Planet is running things. And if Planet can cope with the million or so users of Freeserve, then Greatxscape should prove to be no bother at all. "Customer service is our number one priority," assured Greatxscape operations director Paul Dutton. And in a thinly veiled attack on Screaming.net, Dutton said: "We have learnt from the mistakes of others and we are absolutely determined not to fall into the trap of running before we can walk." Of course, that's what executives at Screaming.net said at the launch of their service. But a spokeswoman for Greatxscape told The Register that the ISP had been in contact with BT to iron out any problems people may have transferring their accounts to Telnet. As an added bonus, Greatxscapers will be issued with their own "E-card". When they make purchases online they will receive cash or credits that can be stored on their "E-card". Earlier this week The Register reported how minnow ISP Zetnet was about to offer toll-free calls to the Net at weekends in a trial arrangement with Energis. Be prepared for more toll-free announcements in the not too distant future. ®