Tiny to launch unmetered net access next month

Service provider Tiny Online has said it will offer free unmetered internet access to an unlimited number of UK subscribers from the end of next month.

Exact details have not yet been finalised, but Tiny said it would offer a 24x7 option for under £30 per month and a 6pm to 8am option for under £10 a month.

The service will be available to existing or new subscribers to Tiny's ISP service, www.tinyonline.net. All Tiny PCs are installed with net access, and the company will also distribute CDs throughout its 123 UK showrooms.

Tiny said it is prepared to deal with a rush of new subscribers despite recent problems other companies have had with unmetered access offers.

Colin Greene, general manager of Tiny, said: "We already have 400,000 subscribers and are currently registering more than 1500 new subscribers daily to tinyonline.net. We are confident that we have good partners to help us."

This month Telewest compensated customers for the poor quality of its unmetered internet service. The UK cable operator was forced to stop registering new customers after suffering technical problems.

Greene said Tiny had been planning to launch an unmetered internet access service for some time. "We will be doing this differently to our competitors. With other offers, customers need to read the small print to find what is required. Ours is a very straightforward offer. We are working with large partners and the service will be robust," he said.

"Our service does not carry any complex customer requirements such as online spending levels or advertising arrangements. We are also way ahead of the pack by launching in April."

Other companies that have offered free unmetered internet access offers include Altavista, NTL and Freeserve.