Free internet service Splashnet becomes Splurgenet

By ADAM GIFFORD

Telecommunications company Mercury is splurging rather than splashing out as it relaunches its free internet service.

Splashnet was launched two months ago, but was closed after a day because of conflict with the Splashnet online service offered by Auckland company Stayinfront.

Mercury has relaunched the site as Splurgenet.

"We have done all the trademark things properly and reopened the site so people who signed to the original service can reconnect," said managing director Matthew Hobbs.

About 500 signed up in the 24 hours the original site was live, he said. Splurgenet has capacity for about 15,000 users.

The company is avoiding a big launch just yet, as it is still talking to potential partners and trying to work out how to make money from free connection.

"We are looking for organisations who have an existing customer base who would like to offer services which might include a free internet service," he said. "We're also looking at getting some click through revenue from advertising."

Mr Hobbs said Mercury was offering the free service because it wanted to learn what its competitors might be getting from the model.

Splurgenet service levels will be lower than those offered by Mercury's pay provider, Quicksilver.net, which offers an "all-you-can-eat" service for $19.95 a month.

Splurgenet