As the number of Internet users explodes, so does the number of Internet service providers (ISPs), all competing to be the one to deliver Internet access to the masses. Some are even offering access for free. New York Times reporter Peter Dizikes has tried out several of these free providers to see just what "free" means nowadays.

With a dozen companies offering free nationwide Internet connections and even more regional Internet service providers giving away access, Dizikes picked out some of the largest to test them on reliability and service. To be chosen, each ISP had to offer affordable set-up fees and a local access phone number in the 718 area code. Dizikes also tried to rely on any free technical support that was available.

By the end of the survey, it became obvious that little in life -- or Internet access -- is truly free. There are several trade-offs customers have to make to enjoy the privilege of not paying an Internet bill. However, the survey also found that free service may very well be worth the trade-offs.

One typical model used by free ISPs is to fund access through advertising. Several of the ISPs used software to put advertisements on the computer screen while the customer is surfing the Web. However, Dizikes did not usually find the ads as distracting as he had feared.

Other problems included bad connections and limited technical support. Certain ISPs tended to close the connection at intervals or had bugs that prevented them from working right away. Also, while technical support was usually available, sometimes customers would have to pay for a long-distance call or pay a fee to talk to a person on the phone, the Times reports.

As for the results of the survey, Dizikes was most satisfied with the access services offered by Freei, AltaVista, Juno and BlueLight. All of the services work on Windows PCs, but only Freei -- among reviewed ISPs -- offered Macintosh compatibility, the Times reports.

A complete list of reviewed ISPs, along with several other free providers that were not reviewed, is available in the New York Times article.

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