Re: UKNM: RE: DIXONS - FREE SHARE

[Stefan Magdalinski]

Sam Michel wrote:

> 

> Brave move, but it appears to be very well backed. I guess the premium rate

> technical support line is a good idea. If one were cynical you could even

> say that it's worth their while to have a few start-up problems to bring in

> some early revenues...but I'm not cynical so I wouldn't say that.


I expect that the Energis and Dixons are splitting the phone revenue, in

the same way as Demon (I believe) now get revenue from the calls that

people make to them. That probably makes the figures a whole lot rosier. 


> A few people have tried free ISPs and I'm sure they're doing just fine,

> haven't heard much from any of them for a while though. It strikes me that

> to succeed you need three things for a free ISP service:

> 

> a. grow the size of the market

> b. reach critical mass quickly

> c. have deep pockets should a. and b. not go to plan

> 

> OK, so I lied..four things.

> 

> d. substantial growth in online advertising budgets


uh-oh. that's freeserve doomed, then. 


> 

> If it goes well, I wouldn't like to be launch a per-minute ISP

> service...BT? C&W? or in fact any ISP service. I wonder if they're customer

> service will have banks of spotty 17 year olds not knowing anything about

> ISP problems, but able to tell you rough details on a new fridge-freezer?


doubtless. 


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