Localtel provides screaming.net, the UK's first free time-online service. Free time-online is not just free connection to the Internet with no subscription, it's free calls to the Internet at evenings and weekends if you switch your telephone service to Localtel.

There are many Internet Service Provider offering so called free Internet access but they fail to mention that you still have to pay telephone charges whenever you are on-line. The difference with screaming.net is, that at evenings and weekends, there are no charges whatsoever. So if you are sending email, on-line shopping, catching up on the latest news, researching a homework project, 'chatting' with a long lost friend in Australia or just having a look around, it won't cost you a penny!

To take advantage of the service you need a PC with Windows 95 or better and a modem. If you can establish an Internet connection and have either Internet Explorer 4 or better, or Netscape 4 or better, you can sign-up on-line by following this link to the screaming.net site and visit the signup area.

You will need the Macromedia Shockwave plug-in to view a short introduction presentation will run describing the service and what you need to do to join. You can move around the presentation by clicking on the next and back buttons in the bottom right and left of the screen. When you reach the end of the presentation, click Register to proceed.

If you do not want to view the presentation, you can bypass this by going directly to register on our signup server.

If you do not have a recent enough browser, you can request a CD or collect one from a Tempo store. This CD contains Microsoft® Internet Explorer 5 and copy of the presentation.

First, you will need to provide information about yourself: your name and postcode and your date of birth. Your date of birth is required for security reasons. In addition, if you are a BT customer, you will be asked for your BT account number. You will find this at the top right hand corner of your BT bill. You need to enter the first 8 numbers ignoring the letters at the beginning. You also need to indicate your average BT bill.

You have to move your telephone service to Localtel to receive your free calls to screaming.net at evenings and weekends. When you move your telephone service, you will have access to features that you are currently used to with your BT service like 1471 and BT Call Minder. You need to tell Localtel exactly which features you wish to retain or add. BT will only transfer you line therefore if you do want any Network Services, you must indicate this when prompted.

It takes BT eight days to transfer you service and for you to start benefiting from the free calls to the service. To make the transfer as quick as possible you will be asked to indicate how you wish to pay for your monthly telephone bill. You can choose to pay either by direct debit or by credit/debit card. If you choose direct debit, you will be asked to fill in your details to enable Localtel to create a direct debit mandate. This must be signed by you and returned before your account can be set up and give you the benefit of the free calls to the service. If you choose to pay monthly with your credit or debit card, all you need to do is to enter your card details. Pay particular attention to entering your name, it must be exactly as it appears on the card otherwise your card issuer may not accept the transaction which will delay setting up your Localtel account.

Email on screaming.net allows you an unlimited number of addresses because it is node based. You will be given a choice of node which will be something like

@your choice of node.screaming.net

Once your node is set up you can use as many different names as you want before the @ symbol giving you a unlimited number of email addreses, for example:
If your family name was Simpson, you could decide to use, @simpson.screaming.net, (you node name and user name for logging on would be simpson) the your family members could use their names

homer@simpson.screaming.net
marge@simpson.screaming.net
bart@simpson.screaming.net and so on

When the registration comes to setting up your node name simply enter the name you wish to use. If someone has already registered the name you choose, the system will report back to you and must choose an alternative. Once you have chosen a name that is accepted, your account will be set up.

You will be emailed with a confirmation of your account details. A confirmation will also be sent in the post with a Direct Debit form for you to sign and return if appropriate.

When you have completed your registration, you are prompted to run a file called finalised.ins from it's current location. If you are setting up the account for use on the PC from which you are registering then by accepting this option, the correct setting will automatically be made on your PC. If you are registering from another PC (your friend's or one at the office for example) do not choose to run the file from its location but instead save it to disk. Transfer that file to the PC you intend to use and run it. This will then make the settings for you.

When you use the service, you will be taken to the screaming.net home page. This is a great starting point. You get the latest breaking news from home and abroad, the top sports stories, business news, comprehensive entertainment listings, travel information, coffee-time puzzles and games, even your horoscope. You can find services and businesses with an easy to use search engine, powered by Lycos, to get you wherever you want to go.