M-Web, the Internet service provider making waves in its stance against the free Internet access model offered through Absa, has launched technical and design enhancements to its portal.
These include faster download times of eight seconds on the front page and 12 seconds on other pages (under the right conditions, ie dialling in through a v.90 modem on a decent quality Telkom line), easier navigation, a cleaner design and improved personalisation options for M-Web members.
Russel Yeo, M-Web Studios MD, discusses these changes. "Given the fact that M-Web not only has the lion`s share of well-heeled online South African eyeballs, but is almost four times faster than the majority of local Internet portals, we are in a position to offer online advertisers a superb proposition.
"Some 80% of SA`s online audience holds approximately 65% of the country`s total spending power. M-Web can help media buyers instantly connect with 45% of those and have confidence that the audience will stick around to receive the advertiser`s message."
The initiative began last year, when M-Web closed access to its interactive services in April 2000. "At the beginning of this year, we closed access to the learning content, and though it may have seemed to be a dramatic move, we haven`t yet seen a drop-off in traffic."
Yeo says new products such as www.icanonline.co.za, a joint M-Web and BoE/NBS initiative, are attracting hundreds of sign-ups.
"We will roll-out new products literally weekly, across four simple classes - non-PC access, which will realise the M-Web Anywhere plan; interactive services, which encompass tools to make your life easier and more interesting; cool stuff, such as novelty items that people love; and special product and money offers."
According to quarterly results released by the Audit Bureau of Internet Standards in August, M-Web drew just under 30 million monthly page impressions. The number of unique visitors visiting the portal is now more than 850 000 per month.
Yeo is critical of Absa`s strategy. "Our existing dial-up subscribers remain completely unaffected -the change adds value to what they have. But the key psychological value that everyone`s missed, is that 'free` died spectacularly, it went down in flames. With the brilliance of hindsight, we now know that it`s a bad idea.
"And though there seems to be a tiny and vociferous group of people who are very strongly defending the 'spirit of the Internet` - I have no idea what that is - there`s no question that 'free` is worth every cent you pay for it."
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