RSSEarthLink Launches 'Freestanding' DSL
By the Betanews Staff | Published July 10, 2007, 11:26 AM
Consumers who wish to subscribe to DSL Internet service without paying for telephone service have a new option, at least in certain areas. EarthLink's Freestanding DSL runs $14.95 for 1.5Mbps of bandwidth and $19.95 for 3.0Mbps. These prices jump to $39.95 and $44.95, respectively, after 6 months. A 12-month contract is required.
Although phone companies such as Verizon has been offering what they call "naked DSL" service for some time, resellers such as EarthLink had to secure new deals with owners of the phone networks. Earthlink's Freestanding DSL will be offered in Verizon territory, which includes parts of California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington state, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin.
I can't wait to get rid of Earthlink DSL and switch to Verizon FiOS. The worst part about Earthlink's DSL service is they STILL use the obsolete PPPoE method of connecting to the internet and I end up getting randomly disconnected like I did on AOL's dial up service I had several years ago.
No one should have to log on to their "always on" broadband internet connection with an user name and password just to browse web sites on the internet.
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|No one should have to log on to their "always on" broadband internet connection with an user name and password just to browse web sites on the internet.
...unless that login is for a corporate proxy.
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|It may suck, but at least in the U.S. PPPoE is far from obsolete.
You getting disconnected has nothing to do with the PPPoE I'm afriad. It's likely you have low quality wiring somewhere or possibly, marginal DSL equipment. You should first replace your interior wiring. If that doesn't fix it then call and bug support until they send a tech out to measure the line levels
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|BetaNews, how about better news reporting? This attempt is pathetic in its omissions.
As noted by another, you somehow forget to mention that $14.95 is an introductory rate that only applies to the first six months. It's then $40/month after that. In addition, how about informing us of the required 1-year contract and early termination fee? And, all of that is only for the $14.95 plan. Nothing is mentioned about the $19.95 plan.
Next time, how about some fact-checking before posting an article? How about getting on the iPhone and confirming some facts and clarifying some issues? Simply reading a firm's press releases might result in some important details being overlooked.
So, are you news reporters here at BetaNews or not? If so, how about being a bit more diligent? Your readers are due that.
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|How about accepting what you get on a non-subscription based site or taking your hits elsewhere?
Or better yet, if you have information to add to the story, just adding the information in a post without the vitriol?
If you want to give them suggestions or spew venom, there's a nifty link at the bottom that you can use to do so without subjecting the rest of us to the rant.
Just a thought.
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|Information was added.
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|Good deal.
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|This is always a good joke. Verizon offers a "dry loop" DSL line, meaning no phone service that, strangely enough is the same price + or - a few cents as a regular DSL line with telephone service.
And now they get their jokey Earthlink, which was once a company that actually defended its clients, to masquerade the same service Verizon offers. Pretty funny but we won't get fooled again.
Can you spell: "We're making fun of you consumers?"
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|Can you spell: "We're making fun of you consumers?"
hammadr..
grunkowi...
deklizoph..
Nope, apparently not.
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|They forgot to mention that after the first 6 months, the 14.95 goes up to 39.95 and your tied into a 12 mo contract.
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|Exactly. Thats basically 27.45/mo for the first year, and practically $40/mo after that for the cheap line.
I'd like other broadband options, but with cable around here at $40/mo for 10mbit there isn't much else available. After the first 6 months it would be more cheaper to go with cable than earthlink's fast line, and you get 3x the speed with cable.
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|Unless I can get 10mbit for under $50, I'm not interested. We subsidized the friggin' hell out of these leeches and got squat for it. There isn't a single area in this country that shouldn't have that option for the amount of money we threw at them.
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