NetZero Deals Blog

Now NetZero has released a way for everyone to have easier access to entertainment. It’s called NetZero Games Unlimited. This is a site that allows users to enjoy any of 100+ online games with out any kind of time limit. It’s great if for anyone that has spare time at home, or even downtime at work. Mark R. Goldston, chairman and chief executive officer of United Online said, “These new NetZero and Juno subscription packages are a great value for people who like fun, easy-to-access, easy-to-play games at an affordable price.” NetZero Games is $5.95 per month for unlimited gaming. Again, Mark said, “For $5.95, which is less than you would pay to download and play a single game on some game sites, you can play all of our games for an entire month.” For anyone who would like to try NetZero Games before signing up, they just have to go to http://games.netzero.net and sign up to try any game free for 15 minutes. The types of games found on NetZero Games Unlimited include: Puzzle Games, Arcade Games, Card Games, Action Games, Kid’s Games, Sports Games, and more.

Many reviews are saying that NetZero Voice(NetZero’s VoIP service) is a step above others for various reasons. First off, it allows you to make calls from your PC regardless of if you have high speed or dial-up. This required a bit of extra NetZero engineering since with many providers voice over phone only works well with high speed. Calls between NetZero customers (PC to PC) are free. Some people have said that the sound quality is better than other providers. NetZero voice has been described as very easy to use, and in one interview was said to be “better than Skype, a lot better.” Services are cheap, but there’s one pit fall; United Online is no longer offering NetZero Voice, so right now it is impossible to sign up for the service. Rumors are that Best Buy is trying to take over the distribution. Hopefully it will work out soon, because all the people that have used this service are raving about it!

As you may know NetZero launched it’s DSL service back in November, 2006. Early in March of this year the service was extended into areas serviced by Covad. This makes NetZero’s footprint cover 49 major metropolitan areas. Sounds great, and yet NetZero DSL still isn’t available in my area (a large metro area). The point being, I know several NetZero users who are ready to defect over to AT&T or Verizon for DSL because the price point to step up to DSL has dropped significantly AND because they can’t get NetZero DSL yet.

So the big question is: jump now or wait an indeterminate time until NetZero gets their act together? If you jump now, you’ll lose your NetZero email address and you’ll have to let everyone know your new address. You’ll also miss out on some of the benefits that NetZero dial service provides (like spam filtering and virus protection). But, AT&T, Verizon, and virtually everyone else offer similar types of service.

So does it boil down to customer loyalty and belief in your service provider’s vision and values? Maybe…but I doubt it.

I have a hard time believing that many customers would stick around just as a matter of principle - not now-a-days anyway. There is so much competition out there among the telcom companies that you can really step up in speed and features without an appreciable increase in price (if you’re currently a dial-up internet service user).

Bottom line, I believe NetZero better hurry up and extend their DSL service globally or they’re going to lose their core customer base to the new bigger and better plans out there.