> Do you remember the first free internet service provider called "NetZero"? I remember > trying it out when it first came out. Their dial up connection and internet > connection was so much more slower than AOL's, probably because of all the ads. But I > guess for people who could not afford to pay for internet, it was better than > nothing. I just googled NetZero and I see the company/internet provider still exists, > but now they charge $9.99 a month.
.. and they STILL offer 10 hours per month, free of charge, while using the Ad-Banner setup. For some who cannot affording getting hooked up to cable and the like and only use the internet for very casual research and emails - it is a perfectly viable (and free) alternative.