Altavista unmetered service only free for a lucky few

Altavista said it will take a slow and cautious approach to launching its unmetered internet access service by strictly controlling the number of users it signs up.

The ISP said it plans to sign up between 90,000 and 100,000 users in the first month before making the service available to further customers on a gradual basis.

Altavista is keen to avoid the same embarrassing teething problems that have hit other unlimited services - most recently Telewest's £10 a month Surfunlimited deal.

"We will be managing our growth tightly," said Martin Keogh, business development director at Altavista Europe. "We will limit the numbers that can sign up initially and monitor the service carefully before we sign further customers."

Keogh said users will need to pay an initial charge of between £35 and £50, and then an annual renewal charge of between £10 and £20. This will provide users with unlimited access to 0800 internet browsing.

The service will be available in about three months' time and Altavista said it will need to be vigorously tested to ensure that it is user friendly.