AltaVista launches unlimited Net access for UK

Internet search engine AltaVista is to offer UK consumers unlimited Internet access, including telephone charges, for a one-off fee.

AltaVista has not confirmed precise charges but said subscription to the service would be between £30 and £50 with an annual fee of around £10. It claims the service could save consumers up to £200 a year in local call charges connecting to the Internet.

The service will be launched in the next three months, which AltaVista claims will give it time to ensure that its system will be completely robust at launch.

AltaVista announced in February, plans to expand its European presence by the end of the year to include 18 additional countries. The company also plans to be offering local content search sites to an estimated 136 million European Internet users by 2002.