Freeserve in Xmas FRIACO deal

Britain's biggest ISP, Freeserve, reckons it will be offering a FRIACO-based Net access by December.

In a statement today, CE John Pluthero, said: "...we are strongly positioned for the introduction of Flat
Rate Internet Access Call Origination (FRIACO)."

But spokesman Paul Barker told The Reg that the timing depended upon "BT making it available for us".

For Freeserve, though FRIACO can't come soon enough. It is currently subsidising its existing 250,000 unmetered users to the tune of £500,000 a month, although Barker claims this situation is improving "day by day, month by month".

Earlier today, Freeserve posted Q1 losses for the period ended 19 August 2000 of £14.6 million (£3.4 million for the same period last year) based on a turnover of £14.6 million (£7 million), Britain's leading ISP reported today.

The ISP's share price rose in early trading but fell back to 235p, down 7p on last night's close.

At quarter end, Freeserve held cash and cash-based investments of £53.6 million, compared to £63.5 million at the end of the last quarter. ®