'No strings attached' free broadband Internet access sounds too good to be true. So is it? Conor Pope sifts through the small print.
The first shots in the Irish broadband wars were fired this week with three major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) falling over themselves in a headlong rush to give their products away for nothing.
But people whose interest is piqued by "no strings attached" free broadband access for trial periods of three months might want to bear in mind that you don't get nothing for nothing. Examine the fine print.
Broadband Internet access, which allows users download information up to 50 times faster than with a regular modem and allows an "always on" Internet connection is the "killer application" that, ISPs hope, will drive future demand for Internet services.
The ISPs' survival could depend on their ability to capture a piece of the broadband pie, which explains their haste to give it away for nothing today.
Esat BT was first out of the traps with its "no-strings" deal and although UTV and eircom weren't far behind, it is Esat BT's offering which seems strongest.
To avail of eircom's free trial, users have to commit to a year-long contract, while those who sign up with UTV Internet have to switch to its home phone service. Esat BT's offer allows new customers sign up without either precondition.
"No long-term contracts, no tie-in to voice services. You can try broadband and walk away after three months," says Bill Murphy, Esat BT's chief executive officer.
Not everyone is convinced. As soon as this week's announcements were made, bullish comments started appearing on Internet bulletin boards questioning exactly what the company meant when it promised "no strings attached" hook-ups. "The catch is, if you don't return the modem after the trial they start charging you," said one poster to a site run by Ireland Offline, the lobby group for high speed Internet access. "After the trial you get charged the self-install fee," warned another.
They are almost entirely right. The Esat BT free trial lasts 90 days and if a user has not asked to be disconnected (the modem is not charged for) by day 91, they automatically enter a 12-month contract. Once the contract kicks in, they are billed €90 for continued connection, but another free month is thrown in. There's a monthly charge of €39 thereafter.
While it has been waiting in the wings for several years, broadband has yet to take centre stage in the Republic because of its high cost and patchy availability. Over 44,000 consumers have broadband access - up from just 20,000 last October.
Despite the recent surge in uptake and this week's free offers, many people are excluded because the telephone network can't deliver on the promise - only 65 per cent of the State can currently access broadband.
Heralding this week's announcements, one optimistic Ireland Offline contributor said, "Looks to me like the 'struggle' is over and Ireland Offline's objectives are just about met."
He was immediately shot down. "Not in rural areas yet . . . but I am really glad to see the urbanised cousins are getting choices in terms of price and packages," came one sarcastic response. "The struggle is over? For who exactly? I live in Dublin and still can't get broadband of any description," said another contributor.
When checked by The Irish Times, telephone numbers in locations in Dublin, Galway, Leitrim and Drogheda were all deemed to be unsuitable for broadband hook-up this week.
That's not the only problem - many who do have access have been less than happy with the performance and the customer service that follows installation.
One angry eircom broadband user who experienced numerous difficulties following installation found "virtually the only route into the company is through premium phone lines and I deeply resent having to pay such charges to get basic information such as my password".
None of the deals are entirely strings-free, despite what Esat BT says, but one way to ensure its deal costs nothing would be to sign up for 89 days before having it disconnected. One Ireland Offline bulletin board contributor wondered would people feel guilty accepting the free trial offer knowing they would leave after it ends.
"I certainly wouldn't anyway," came one immediate response. "This is Ireland, grab whatever freebies you can get with both hands 'cos there's always someone out there that wants to take it back off you or charge you over the odds for providing it."