SPECIAL OFFER:
For every customer
transferring from AOL*, MSN*, or a nationally advertising ISP like Earthlink*, we will
waive your set up fee and charge only $10 per month for
your first 3 months of unlimited dial up access! Special offer requires a three month ($30)
non-refundable commitment paid in advance. Limited time offer may be
terminated at any time after July 31, 2001.
WHY SWITCH?
America Online and
the Microsoft Network are built around a consumer services model. They are not intended to act as a
business Internet Service Provider like Centrilink.net™ is.
The AOL e-mail
system is a proprietary system which does not follow the standard protocols
used by most Internet Service Providers. Sometime this causes problems with
e-mail handling, particularly attachments like business documents. Moreover,
the AOL browser window usually has been notoriously out of date. MSN takes
Internet Explorer and adds "special functions" which help them track
your usage and target their advertising. Some users report that these
"special features" often cause browser lock ups and mysterious
problems on competitors web sites. Instead,
you will usually find businesses using a true ISP like Centrilink.net so all businesses
can use consistent systems built on open, common international standards.
Your business with
a custom domain e-mail box can have its e-mail forwarded to an AOL mail box,
but what is the usual impact? When you reply to the message, your reply is not
from "businessowner@mycompanyname.com",
but "someoddscreenname@aol.com",
which destroys your e-mail "branding" strategy.
Don't despair, there is
an economical solution. If you (or your kids) like some of the proprietary AOL
content, shopping, pop up
ads, etc. that are not otherwise available on the web, you can still "have
your cake and eat it too." AOL has a program called "bring your own
access" (BYOA) for $9.95/month. This means you dial up to the Internet
and to AOL from an ISP like Centrilink.net but you can use either standard Internet
protocols through Centrilink.net or the AOL system with its proprietary
features. This way, you can use Centrilink.net for business use and AOL for
personal use.
To do this,
business hosting customers order
Centrilink's Access Only Plan for $12.50/month ($14.95/mo. for consumers who do not have a
hosting plan with us), make sure it's fully set up
and operational, then go to AOL keyword "Billing" and change your
plan to BYOA. AOL changes plans monthly on your regular billing date, so there
likely will be a delay. With AOL's newer, higher prices your net cost for this "best of both worlds
solution" is only $22.45/month - for a savings of $1.45/month when using the California
Access Plan with business hosting!
If you aren't using
any content, shopping, pop up ads, etc. that are unique to AOL, just get
Centrilink's Access Only Plan if you have a web hosting plan with us, cancel
AOL entirely and save $11.40/month or $136.80/year. If you want personal e-mail and
personal web space, then order our Personal Plan for $14.95/month, cancel AOL and
you save $8.95/month on regional access or $3.95/month on national access.
In any case, you
should give notice to every business contact who has your AOL email address
and ask them to use your new domain name address. If you are canceling AOL
entirely, you might want to keep it active with BYOA for one to three months to make sure
everyone gets the change right.
Treat your business
like a business and call to order the Centrilink plan that is right for you today.
*America Online™, AOL, Earthlink, Microsoft Network
and MSN are trademarks which
are not affiliated with Centrilink.net.
