WebProNews

Like free e-mail before it, free ISP services are an absolute must-have accessory for any self-respecting portal site. The latest to jump on the free Internet access bandwagon is FreeLane powered by Excite. Supported by 1stUp.com, the ISP that already powers the free Internet services for AltaVista among other portal sights has been chosen as the carrier.

Free Internet access, like television, is subsidized by advertising dollars. The idea has been around for several years, but only in the past two years - with the successful IPO of NetZero and the incessant deal making of 1stUp - has the model been validated. Co-branded ISPs such as 1stUp let partners like Excite or AltaVista offer free Internet access to users. The co-branded ISP gets the benefit of the partner's reach, and the partner gets a compelling new service to offer to its subscribers.

With the addition of Excite, 1stUp appears to have sewn up the majority of the portal space and is fast becoming one of the largest ISPs in the country. 1stUp claims to have 5.5 million registered users. With the addition of Excite to its long list of partners, which include TV stations, other portal sites, e-commerce sites and dozens of other Web properties, 1stUp is the undisputed king of affinity free ISPs.

Although 1stUp has a good head start, the free ISP space is still wide open. The early leader, NetZero, which doesn't offer co-branding, has built a considerable national brand and is flush with cash, thanks to a successful IPO. There also are countless e-commerce sites, as well as offline companies, looking to offer free Internet access. Jockeying in this space is far from over - sources with two separate free ISPs claim to have ongoing negotiations with Lycos, as well as other portal and e-commerce sites for similar co-branding deals. Look for many more announcements to come.

For more information or to register with a free ISP services provider visit the free ISP locator.

James Martell is the Sr. Editor and Webmaster for Desktop-Publishers.com, a free stuff site featuring free ISPs, free voicemail and free long distance, click here!