Juno and Netzero 5x service

[DoctorReno]

The last couple of weeks Juno and Netzero have been advertising on TV a new service where for $14.95/mo you can get 5x faster service that is not DSL. You can still get their basic 56k dialup for $9.95/mo.

What kind of scam is this because clearly it is still dialup?

[rastorize]

Here's what they list on their site as an explanation of their '5x' service:

†† NetZero HiSpeed accelerates certain web page text and graphics when compared to standard dial-up Internet service. Actual results may vary. Some web pages such as secure or encrypted web pages will not be accelerated. NetZero HiSpeed is not a broadband service and actual data transmission rates are not faster than standard dial-up Internet service. Transmission of files including, without limitation, streaming audio or video, digital photographs, MP3 or other music files, executable files and other downloads, is not faster using NetZero HiSpeed than with standard dial-up service. NetZero HiSpeed may not be compatible with proxy based software or services such as content filters or firewalls. NetZero HiSpeed is only compatible with Platinum service and specified browsers. Not available for Mac.

Sounds like a marketing scheme and a way for them to entice unsuspecting newbies to sign up for the 'faster' service. It only accelerates certain web page text and graphics...probably some sort of caching technique...but doesn't say how.

[DoctorReno]

I think many ISP's do something similar to give you the appearance of faster service. Problem is how frequently they update the cached pages they store. Many sites that change frequently... say news pages ... are a problem because you keep getting the old cached page rather than the newer updated page.

Yep just a scam I think to get 50% higher monthly rates.

[Jüš† ä gü¥]

Oh gosh......can we say Marketting SCAM?!?!

I have not liked Juno/Netzero for a long time now. .....namely after Netzero stopped offering their services for free (at least in my area), and then MERGED with Juno, and then Juno had this evil (I don't think there's any other word for it) licensing agreement you had to sign/agree to in order to use their "free" service, but the agreement basically said you had to keep your computer on 24/7, keep it connected to the Internet 24/7, let them run whatever software they wanted on your computer whenever they wanted to run it, let them modify anything on your computer they wanted to when they wanted it, and something along the lines of possible fines if you didn't keep your computer on the Internet 24/7 for their purposes.

I don't remember exactly what it said, but that is my summary. ....which leads me to an important point. READ YOUR EULAS!!! That, most definitely, was one which I said "NO" to, when it asked "Do you agree to these terms and conditions?"

If you don't believe me, go read their EULA for free service yourself and tell me what it says.

Oh YEAH! I've also heard/read about LOTS of cases of Juno/Netzero purposely charging people LOTS more money than they should have for the service, and also purposely changing phone numbers on them to long distance ones to hike up their phone bills. I don't know if it is true, but it is just what I have read.

[Theophylact]

Earthlink offers a similar service. Mainly, it involves not only caching but also a lot of graphic compression. You can set the degree of compression, but the graphic quality is really low at amounts of compression that do any substantial amount of speed increase.

[DoctorReno]

If I said what I really think about their services a Mod would delete my post and thats kinda embarrasing.

lol...I'm in agreement juno's service isn't that great. I just use them for email and the occasional back up log on with the free service. I saw the same thing when i was checking my mail one day and looked into it and first thing that popped into my head was MARKETING SCAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM just like aol and call alert and some of the other BS they charge for