Dear Future Gamer

Although I've been using the Internet for 18 months, I'd never played a game online, so I finally decided to try the Quake 3 beta. My reaction? Wow! I was instantly addicted... until the phone bill arrived. Yep, thanks for crippling the UK online community, BT.

I'm not greedy and I don't expect free telephone calls to the Internet, but what I do think would be fair are 'unmetered' calls. One of the popular misconceptions is that unmetered means free, but it doesn't. I would quite happily pay 50p or £1 per call, or a higher line rental, in exchange for unmetered local calls like they do in the States, instead of 60p per hour at the weekend.

I know BT have finally announced ADSL, but it's still on the distant horizon for most of us. Only 6 million people live in the first-stage areas (all large cities) and many will never get it. It's nice technology, but knowing BT they'll drag their heels for as long as they can and will then overprice it (£40 per month wholesale for 512k will equal about £60 retail).

The Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications (CUT) have a great campaign going, with many members throughout the UK, and also have the support of several ISP's (AOL to name but one). So, if you enjoy online gaming but not the costs involved, why not join CUT, or at least show them you support the campaign, and pop along to their website. You can also join in a lively discussion on Sunday nights on IRC at irc.unmetered.org.uk #cut.

Martyn Hurt

FG: We've got no problem publicising CUT for you, Martyn, and wish you good luck with the campaign. Let's hope this pressure starts to tell soon.