Introduction

            Free service providers generally offer the same services as a provider who charges for the same service. The Internet offers people several opportunities to save money on such services as Internet access and long distance. Users subscribing to free services on the Internet sacrifice privacy, speed, and reliability for the savings in cost. Users searching for a free service need to consider several factors such as availability of local access numbers, quality of technical support, speed, and sustainability. Sustainability issues have resulted in a number of free services going out of business or having to switch to a fee-based business model.