Free DSL gets a D grade So after all the hype over FREE DSL, what is the status this summer? The main contenders are, FreeDSL.com from Broadband Digital Group, and FreeXDSL.com, from freewwweb. (iNYC was also offering some kind of strange coupon system for free access). FreeDSL.comStarting with the 300 pound gorilla, FreeDSL.com, which had a very public rollout commit of 1st May. 
(the winfire browser assistant / banner ad display gadget)Yes they are offering service! no probably not to you! We polled a few of the early users, scattered around GA and Dallas TX, who have been hooked up. We have identified no users yet outside these states. Signup website: the website is often overloaded (the volume of people checking their referral points probably), and some other free ISPs have supposedly blocked access to it. Email: Reports from the field indicate that although email is provided, it is only web-based email, no POP server is available. No news servers are available. The modems: By accounts, either USB modems, or internal modems are shipped. Service is low-rate ADSL over your phone line. Banners: Connection is made through winfire. The winfire bar, once connected, cannot be made smaller or obscured. It shows standard banner ads at a pretty high rotation rate. Reliability: Users report difficulty "logging on", and bugs and crashes with this winfire gadget. On the other hand, connection speed seems either unregulated, or fixed and not yet upgradeable, even for money (depending on which user you talk to). Technical Support: Users gave tech support an f+. Conclusion: unless things get much better, connected users who can afford it, will look around for entry-level paid DSL, and the huge number of people signed up and waiting, may give up, or get very vocal and put this huge word of mouth machine into reverse gear. Grade: D+FreeXDSL.comUsers have reported that FreeXDSL.com communicated to them that due to networking issues, the start of service has been postponed to next year. Grade: F - FAIL
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 | Anon |  Re: Free DSL gets a D grade
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| | | | Anon | Re: Free DSL gets a D grade Yeah, so who pays for Yahoo !!! The advertisers. Exactly | |
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| | Anon | I got free modem and connection for free.For me this service is ok. | |
| | | Anon | What 60 nday update are these people talking about? Vague people make vague comments. | |
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| Anon | I too tried to signup for FreeXDSL, but they don't get back in 60 days. I e-mailed them numerous times after the 60 days and no response. I was a little surprised since I use their FreeWWWeb service for almost 2 years now and haven't had that problem the few times I needed support, but they lost me for this service. I will pay if I must, and I guess now I must. | |
| | | Anon | Re: Free DSL gets a D grade | |
| | | Anon | Charlie15 is all messed up. He is getting Freedsl and Freexdsl Mixed up. Hey Charlie if you got a comment about a company make sure you talk about the right one pal. And to think he is criticizing others. What a world we live in. | |
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| Anon | Where FreeDSL(the company) is concerned, I'd like to point out that the fact that they do not offer service everywhere yet is probably for the best. There's been a few problems with the service (a few their fault and quickly fixed, other the local telco's fault and... not quickly fixed), so the limited area means when it DOES come to you, it's more likely to be bug-free.
Which doesn't mean I'm happy about not being able to get it myself, of course... :/ | |
| | | Anon | Re: Free DSL gets a D grade | |
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| Anon | Well,
I too had signed up for freexdsl.com about six times, never got a reply within 60 days.. So i emailed them, they said there was a delay until next year or late this year.
I read on this site, they will become your PHONE COMPANY? and charge you $500 Dollars if you cancel before 5 years??
First of all, where does freexdsl.com get off without posting this on the home page? I understood there would be a catch, i did not however, think they would try something like this. if they ever do get in touch with me about starting service, i will gladly decline. companies need to be descriptive about their service on their HOME page. | |
| | | Anon | Re: Free DSL gets a D grade
I do agree on the $500 cancellation fee, it seems kinda steep. However, you could just let the service sit dormant for a few years. | |
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| | It seems a little premature to be giving grades and handing out predictions when FreeDSL has been mainstream only for a couple of months. I wonder why as one of FreeDSL's first users, I was never polled, because they certainly have deserved more than a D grade in my book. Where I went to school, a D might as well be failing.
FreeDSL has worked their ass off to get this thing rolling and is at least making progress in their product by adding new features in a timely fashion. The connection, while not perfect, is on at least 80% of the time, if not better. I can't even say the same thing about some of the dial-ups i use. The winfire bar can indeed be shrunk to a limited size when it is not docked. Web-based email (hotmail, etc) has become a staple for those not wanting to pay anyway.
Whenever a new idea is launched, people need to allow it a little time to actually reach their expectations. If there's one thing I've learned in life, it is NEVER get your hopes up. Even with this outlook, I have been pleasantly pleased with FreeDSL and their support staff. Patience is a virtue, and in this "me first" world mentality, it's amazing anyone would want to stick their neck out of the sand. | |
| | Anon | Just got WinFire (FreeDSL) up and running the other day and want to say first it was NOT a Turnkey install ... Support was difficult to contact on off hours (but I'm not surprised) FYI make sure you disable the NIC card before installing .. or the DSL Modem drivers will not initialize this happened to me ... I had Cable Modem and left the nic card installed ... Q. Does anyone knows if Winfire plans to add news groups server access ... Thanks | |
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