Free access? You'd better believe it!

Internet users in the UK are about to get a fair deal at last, thanks to AltaVista. For a one-off charge of around £30, AltaVista will provide you with a free 0800 number to access the Internet, meaning no more ludicrous phone bills and the chance to frag our American cousins without keeping one eye on the clock.

Andy Mitchell, Managing Director of AltaVista UK, commented, "The UK is still lagging behind the US when it comes to exploiting the Internet, and this is mainly caused by the high phone charges imposed by the likes of BT. By announcing free monthly access and free calls, AltaVista are hoping to increase the number of people online and the number of Internet-related jobs, which in turn will boost the British economy and place us in a competitive position with the United States."

The new service is expected to roll out within the next three months, with an initial user limit of 500,000. Not to worry though - AltaVista's rivals have no choice but to follow suit.