Internet service provider UUNet Inc and Manchester United Plc yesterday launched a subscription-free net access service for fans of the UK soccer club which they intend to roll out globally over the next year. It is one of the first branded virtual ISPs to say it will go international after PC maker Gateway Inc’s service, also run by UUNet.
The service, ManUFree.net, will initially be available only in the UK. Access will be extended to European countries before the fourth quarter this year, followed by North America, Asia-Pacific and South America. UUNet, a subsidiary of global carrier MCI WorldCom Inc, will either provide the infrastructure over its 14 international operating companies, or use the networks of its partners or partners of its parent.
Providing a uniform web experience to international users will be fairly simple, but offering the same access package will be impossible. The vast array of regulatory regimes and different pricing structures across the globe means that international roll-out will be a slow process. For example, in the US most ISP calls are unmetered, meaning there will be no interconnect revenues for the ISP. And in France and Japan, moves are being made to regulate metered net access.
The company admits that the service will not be subscription-free everywhere. It said it is looking at a number of different models, some involving subscriptions, some perhaps based on low-end premium-rate calls which mirror UK local call pricing. Either way, a company spokesperson said, every fan around the world will end up paying a comparable monthly amount. UUNet in most cases will get the majority of the revenue created by the traffic, while Manchester United will now be able to exploit its supporters’ hunger for branded merchandise on a global basis. Subscribers get five @manutd.com email addresses, 20mb of web space and the usual premium-rate support helpline.
