Freei Networks, Inc. (also known as Freei.net, FreeInternet.com) was a free
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider (ISP) is an organization that provides a myriad of services related to accessing, using, managing, or participating in the Internet. ISPs can be organized in various forms, such as commercial, community-owned, no ...
from 1998-2000. In 2000, FreeInternet.com was acquired by
United Online
United Online, Inc. was an independent public company formed by the 2001 merger of NetZero and Juno Online Services. It is currently a subsidiary of investment bank B. Riley Financial. The company's range of products and services has evolved sig ...
, Inc. (owner of NetZero, Juno, Classmates.com and others). In 2008, United Online re-launched FreeInternet.com as a website dedicated to free and discounted retail offers.
Services
Freei provided a free alternative ISP, allowing users to anonymously log on to the internet using the Freei software and dialer. It reached over 2 million registered users nationally by 1999, and 3.2 million by the summer of 2000. In lieu of a subscription fee, the software displayed ads on the user's computer.
Freei.Net Offers Comprehensive New Portal Featuring Services From InfoSpace.com
Business Wire
Business Wire is an American company that disseminates full-text press releases from thousands of companies and organizations worldwide to news media, financial markets, disclosure systems, investors, information web sites, databases, bloggers, ...
'', January 17, 2000
IPO filing
Freei filed for an IPO on March 31, 2000. It went public on the
Nasdaq
The Nasdaq Stock Market (; National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) is an American stock exchange based in New York City. It is the most active stock trading venue in the U.S. by volume, and ranked second on the list ...
under ticker symbol FREI.
Bankruptcy
On October 9, 2000, Freei filed for bankruptcy after laying off 30% of its workforce.
One week later, on October 16, 2000, the rest of the workforce was laid off and the corporate headquarters in Federal Way, Washington was permanently closed. In early November 2000, Freei's remaining assets were sold at auction.
References
External links
Freei.Net Goes Nationwide*Freei Files IPO: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB954783493838149693 http://www.nasdaq.com/markets/ipos/company/freei-networks-inc-74808-2425
Freei Acquired by United OnlineMark Stevens, Sequoia Capital; Freei Director
{{Dot-com Bubble
Defunct Internet service providers
Dot-com bubble
1998 establishments in Washington (state)
2000 disestablishments in Washington (state)
Internet properties established in 1998
Internet properties disestablished in 2000
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000