Ohio State students who live off-campus have the opportunity to save money with OSUWeb.net.

“It is similar to AOL, AT&T’s Internet service and Earthlink,” said Bob Corbin, University Network Integrated Telecommunications Services director. “Customers will be able to surf the Web and check their e-mail.”

There are three plans that OSUWeb.net offers. The unlimited plan costs only $12.95 a month for unlimited use of the Internet.

“OSUWeb.net is a lot cheaper than the market rate for dial-up service,” Corbin said. “There is a lot of competition.”

While HomeNet, a dial-up Internet service provided by OSU is free, there is no guarantee the user will get through. OSUWeb.net guarantees a dial-up access with no busy signals, which means that the user gets connected on the first try. OSUWeb.net also offers personal Web space for each user.

OSUWeb.net was started in May of 2000 and has since acquired many customers. “We’ve got close to 1,400 customers,” Corbin said. “About half are students and half are staff and faculty.”

Jennifer Manion, a law student, has heard of OSUWeb.net and knows people who have it. “I think it’s a good idea, and I would consider it for my dial-up Internet service.”

Manion does not currently have any dial-up Internet provider but said that she would definitely get OSUWeb.net if she was going to get one at all.

OSUWeb.net offers a reliable and economically-friendly way for OSU students, faculty and staff to get connected to the Internet. “It’s a lot cheaper than AOL,” Corbin said.

Allison Young, a senior in political science, had Earthlink but said it was too expensive. “Being a student and working part-time, the $20 a month got expensive,” Young said.

Young, who had never heard of OSUWeb.net before, likes the idea. “I would be interested because that’s an excellent price,” Young said.

Young also likes that OSUWeb.net is billed through UNITS, unlike Earthlink which was automatically deducted every month from her credit card. “OSUWeb.net is a lot more feasible,” Young said.

Young said UNITS is doing a great service by offering this plan. “I appreciate that they are looking out for students,” Young said.

Since OSUWeb.net is a part of OSU, users would not receive an additional e-mail address. Everyone’s OSU e-mail address would be used as their primary mail system.

Every user, depending on their plan with OSUWeb.net, gets space for their own personal Web page.

The customers of OSUWeb.net seem to be happy with this service. “A lot of our business has been by word of mouth,” Corbin said.