UKNM: RE: DIXONS - FREE SHARE

[Ross Sleight]

OAA01009

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ownerchinwag [dot] com

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uk-netmarketingchinwag [dot] com

Thought the below was interesting - comments anyone?


Ross


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ELECTRICAL GIANT LAUNCHES FREE INTERNET SERVICE



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The Dixons Stores Group today announced the launch of Freeserve, a free

Internet access service in a move that is expected to revolutionise the use

of the Web in the UK.


Up until now, Internet users have had to pay a subscription fee to their

Internet Service Provider (ISP), in addition to incurring phone charges

while they are connected.


With Freeserve, users get:


FREE unlimited internet access 


FREE registration and subscription 


FREE UK content including the latest news, sport, weather reports and other

information supplied by the Press Association 


Full POP3 mailbox and unlimited FREE email addresses 


5 MB of Web space - FREE 


The leading search engine, Lycos, and Scoot search facilities 


Nationwide local call rate access 



Users can subscribe to the service via this web site - and from tomorrow

morning free CDs will be available from branches of Dixons, Currys, PC World

and The Link.


John Clare, Dixons Group Chief Executive, said: "Until now, it has not been

possible to provide Internet access to consumers without charging �10-15 a

month. We felt that fell short of the kind of compelling customer offer

Dixons is used to delivering. With the launch of Freeserve, those days are

over. 


"Freeserve users will not pay a penny for their Internet access other than

the call they make. Comparable services offering unlimited Internet access

typically charge around �12 a month in subscription fees. With the UK's

consumer on-line population estimated to be around 5% (or 1.16 million) of

UK households, signing up to Freeserve could save consumers over �165million

a year. 


"There are thousands of households that would struggle to justify spending

�12 a month in addition to phone charges to access the Internet. With

Freeserve, far more people will be encouraged to try out the Internet, to

access the rich information and services available on the World Wide Web -

from education, news and current affairs, to entertainment, sports and

on-line games. 


"Freeserve is not a 'Dixons' site but a generic 'portal' to the Internet.

The site has been designed to have everything the experienced Internet user


needs, including a selection of news, sport and entertainment content and

advanced search facilities provided by Lycos. Equally important, for those

new to the Internet, we provide an extensive on-line guide that helps users

to navigate their way around the World Wide Web. In the coming weeks and

months, we will be adding new content and features to the site to ensure

that it always stays fresh and exciting. 


"Freeserve is backed by the best names in the Internet and information

services business. Energis, one of the UK's largest national telecoms

companies, and its recently acquired subsidiary, Planet Online, will supply

the network and connectivity. Energis already carries more than 40% of the

UK's Internet traffic and Planet Online hosts more than 15,000 web sites

including many of the most popular sites in the UK. The core content for the

site is provided by the Press Association, leaders in the provision of up to

the minute news and current affairs. 


"Freeserve is clearly a winning proposition for the consumer. For Dixons, it

is a foothold in the on-line market. As a retailer, I know of no shops that

charge an entry fee. By removing monthly subscription charges we believe

that Freeserve will revolutionise the Internet service market and drive up

Internet use. Although sales of consumer products over the Internet are

currently very small, with increased use of the Internet we expect them to

grow. As they do we expect to be a leader in that market as we are on the

High Street."