Setting Up Internet Access and Email with ConnectFree


see also Annoyances.org's 'Setting up Dial-Up Networking'

These step-by-step instructions describe how to enable free Internet access using Windows 95 or 98, using a modem over a telephone line. a consequence of this is that you also receive a free email account, and the opportunity to setup free web space.  if you are only wanting the email account and/or the web space, then go through the same process. and remember, as the company is barely making money from you for the email and web space (as opposed to the dial-up access, see further on), and though their service and support for the added extra of email and web access is good, it is not their priority.

ConnectFree (http://www.connectfree.net ) are based in Manchester, England; offer national local rate dialup Internet access; do not have any advertising on their web pages, or put advertising upon your web pages hosted with them, or in your emails.  they do not charge you directly for the Internet access, instead your telephone company give them a fraction of the money you already pay them for the local rate call.  ConnectFree offer other levels of service for various payments.

1. Create the ability to connect to the Internet

This creates a temporary means of connecting to the Internet using British Telecom's 'BT Click', which is free (apart from the telephone call) and involves no registration.  if 'BT Click' (http://www.btclick.net ) no longer works, you can use any other Internet service provider.  if you have no alternative means of connecting to the Internet from your own computer, you can use someone elses which has access, beginning at stage (3.).  if you already have access to the Internet by any other means, are connected and running a web browser, go directly to stage (3.)

2. Connect to the Internet

3. Setup a new ConnectFree account

follow these prompts on their page. (note: the layout of their pages may have changed since writing this, if you find this has happened it would be nice if you'd mail us and tell us so, or even tell us in what way they've changed). there a number of different ways of achieving the same thing here:

go directly to the 'sign up' page: http://signup.connectfree.co.uk/

navigate easily through their text-only pages to their 'sign up' page:

use their pages with more information about what you get with your account to navigate to their 'sign up' page:

enter your details (you must fill in all boxes with legitimate looking information. you are under no obligation to enter 'correct' information. if you need to speak with customer services you will need to recount this information, so it is a good idea to print it out or write it down (beware, saving to disk may save everything on the screen apart from the information you have entered). if you choose a username that has already been chosen by someone else you get the opportunity to try others.

choose 'Sign me up!'

when your information has been registered, you will be presented with your account details, it is a good idea to immediately print or write down your login name (the other information is written at the bottom of this page).  your login name is different to the name on your email address and it is this login name which you will need to give your email program

when finished, choose 'cancel' when asked if you want it to 'set things up at your end up automatically' (this is designed to work with Internet Explorer and may crash other browsers)

4. Configure your Dial-Up Networking settings

Modem Speed and Access number:
  • Username: your login name
  • Password: the password you chose

    • 5. Configure your email program

    for a POP3 email client (i.e. Pegasus Mail (http://www.pmail.com/)) use the following information so as to be able to send and receive email:

    6. make a note of some information

    The information about your account

    "Your account details are as follows :-
    Login: ********
    Password: ********
    E-mail address: ********@connectfree.co.uk
    SMTP Server: smtp.connectfree.co.uk
    POP3 Server: pop3.connectfree.co.uk
    Your POP3 Login name and password are the same as your dial-up password.
    Please write down this information and keep in a safe place, as it is necessary for you to use this information for accessing the service."

    ConnectFree contact details

    telephone - ? : 0870 742 1111
    telephone - Customer Services and Support: 0870 732 1111 (lines open 8am - 1am) (all calls are charged at national call rate, which at time of writing was 6.73p/min daytime, 3.36p/min evening, and 1.7p/min weekends)
    email: info@connectfree.net
    mail: PO Box 49, Neston CH64 6XF

    details for connecting to other Internet Service Providers

    Virgin
    telephone number for dialup Internet access: 0845-455-0280
    username: first part of email address
    telephone number to hear about service problems: 0800-052-4329
    pre-installation help: 0845-650-0000
    email address: yourname@virgin.net
    POP3 server name: pop.virgin.net
    POP3 username and password are the same as for dial-up Internet access
    SMTP server name: smtp.virgin.net