AltaVista axes free internet access in the US

AltaVista has joined the long list of companies pulling out of free internet access in the US.

The web portal is dropping its free service on 10 December because the company providing the service, 1stUP, is going out of business. AltaVista's parent company, CMGI, owns 1stUp AltaVista is making arrangements for users to transfer to MSN at $21.95 per month. Earlier this year, AltaVista announced a free internet service in the UK, but was unable to follow through and deliver the service. In September the company cut 10 per cent of its staff, around 225 people, and it is still trying to find a commercial role in the internet based on its search engine, which generates 50 million hits a day. Other free ISPs that have withdrawn their services from the US market include Spinway.com, Freewwweb and WorldSpy.