My Parent Company..
Written: Sep 06 '00 (Updated Jun 03 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: reliable email, free web space, unlimited use.
Cons: Too Many.
The Bottom Line: I wouldn't use them again. I had problems logging on, tech support not always there, occasional busy signals, unreliable access to NewsGroups.
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| BlackCat2's Full Review: Realtime Communications |
I use Itouch.net because it is in San Marcos and a local dial-up. Realtime Communications is the parent company to Itouch.net.
Here is a breakdown of the dial-up service and all that is offered. I may include certain comments here to affirm or refute certain claims.
Features
Fast high-speed modems
World Wide Web browsing
Reliable access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Free 24-hour Tech Support
Digital connections enable higher speeds
No busy signals
Compression enabled for faster throughput
Use your existing phone line for connectivity
Prices
Flat Rate Internet $19.95 monthly
Initial Subscription Setup $25.00 one time charge
Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition covered in setup charge
E-Mail address, delivery and routing Free
Unix Shell Access Free
World Wide Web page space Free
5 megabytes home directory storage space Free
Now to my comments:
Reliable access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Not always true. I also get disconnected frequently even though I have checked my settings on my PC and do not have it set to disconnect after a certain amount of time. I can't say it is their fault I get disconnected. I just know that I do.
Free 24-hour Tech Support: Umm this one is Yes and No. It used to be that you could reach a real person anytime 24 hours a day but not anymore. If you call on a Holiday, weekend or after hours, you get a answering service where you can leave a message and someone will get back to you eventually. I was not pleased with this change in the service. I also used to like it that I could chat with the Techs and get to know them and be friendly. That is not allowed anymore. The only time I used to talk with them was in the wee hours when not much was going on and I was not keeping them from anything or so I thought. Apparently it was decided though that the techs should be all business instead of friendly and outgoing.
No busy signals: This is not entirely accurate. I may not receive many but I do get busy signals. I also get other errors like:
a.Computer you are dialing is not responding, try again later.
b.Computer you are dialing is not responding to a network request, please try again later.
I think the main problems like this started when they disconnected the other line. Use to be that you could choose between a 36k or a 56k connection each with its own phone number. If one was not working the other usually was. I stayed off the 56k because I found I got disconnected way too often. Then they eliminated the 36k line and all I was left with was the 56k. I agree they improved it and I can stay connected on this line longer than I used to but I still get bumped and it is really annoying. The other problem now is that I am still getting around 36k even on the 56k as now everyone who uses this ISP has to use the 56k. Around 5pm and 6pm it suddenly gets really slow.
I really do like the free homepage space. I have not done much with mine yet however. I mainly use it as a testing ground for different backgrounds etc. I make for my other pages. If you want to see mine you can check it out at:
http://www.itouch.net/~rocky2/
It took me a long time to make that background and get the layout right. LOL.
The old Itouch site is not being used or updated anymore but it is still kind of neat. You can get information there and see other users homepages that are from San Marcos. The old site will give you a feel of how fun Itouch used to be. Check out the Fun Stuff section. The techs were big fans of Quake. LOL. You can access the old site here:
http://www.itouch.net/
Also I seem to have a lot of problems accessing NewsGroups. The newsgroup selection is great but I sometimes have to wonder who they have selecting which newsgroups to include. They have added some pretty weird ones that I can't imagine anyone subscribing to. I would put some titles but they pretty much all use profanity in one form or another.
My email though has always been 100% reliable. If any problems did occur it was mostly my fault as someone sent me a file that was too large and it hung up the download of my email. :)
I miss the old days when it was a friendlier ISP. I still will keep my account though as there are many good things. A few of my favorite techs have left but some still remain. They have become my friends and it is for them in part that I stay. I would miss having a reason to talk to them.
Update June 3rd:
I am no longer using this ISP for my connection at home. I ran into some financial difficulty and was behind on a few bills. I had a check coming though and so made a payment agreement with them that while I was late they would have it by a certain date.
The day before I was due to send the payment they disconnected me. I was furious. I had become less than pleased also with the quality of service I had been receiving for about a year and a half prior to this incident.
So I am now with another ISP and when I have had a little more experience with them I will review it here also. *smile*
~,,,^..^,,,~ BlackCat2
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
BlackCat2
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Member: Heidi Gagne
Location: San Marcos Texas
Reviews written: 363
Trusted by: 211 members
About Me:
*Shake it off and Step Up*
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