World Online offers UK unmetered access

World Online today joined the growing band of companies to offer free internet access, claiming it has the best package on the market.

The ISP's new pricing structure, Freedom 24, offers free internet access and free unlimited internet calls. Users must pay a £20 start-up fee, switch telco to World Online Telecom and pay a monthly phone line rental of £14.99.

Laurence Alexander, managing director of consumer services at World Online, said the company has tried and tested the offer through Localtel, the telecoms company it acquired last year. "We have sorted out the teething problems that other companies face, and know it's on a platform that works," he said.

He said there would be "no hidden charges", and that phone charges would be 10 per cent lower than equivalent BT charges.

Customers will not be required to buy an adapter and there will be no limit to the number of subscribers. "We have 1.5 million users, 800,000 of which are active, and we expect the numbers to double with this offer," said Alexander.

Existing subscribers to World Online, Bun.com, Strayduck, Telinco 0845 and screaming.net will not be required to pay a one-off £20 subscription fee. "They can stay with the 0845 service or choose the free service," said Alexander.

Commenting on speculation that the banks that led the initial public offering of World Online are calling for chairman Nina Brink to quit due to disclosures that she sold most of her stake ahead of the flotation last month, Alexander said: "Nina Brink is an entrepreneur who founded the company four years ago. The share transactions were in the prospectus. I am in the trenches with the troops."