[Toronto, CANADA] 1stUp.com, a provider of private label Internet access solutions and a majority-owned operating company of CMGI, Inc. says that it has registered more than 800,000 Canadian users, making it the largest Internet service provider in Canada.
It now has an agreement with Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest grocery retailer, to offer free Internet access to its customer base through President’s Choice Financial banking pavilions.
The free Internet service is also available at www.pcfreesurf.com. According to 1stUp.com, its private label offering has garnered more than 4 million subscribers in less than a year. Canadians can now access the dial-up network with service in the ten provinces and
more than 90 percent of Canadian area codes.
Building upon its program in providing partner-branded free Internet access services to more than 130 companies in the U.S., 1stUp.com is creating a similar service in Canada by offering the service to Canadian consumer brands like President’s Choice.
1stUp.com enables consumer-oriented companies to brand and distribute the 1stUp.com free Internet service. Its technology enables consumers to receive unlimited, free Internet access with 24/7 customer support in exchange for keeping a sponsor-oriented navigation bar on their computer screen. Users download a small application that grants them access to 1stUp.com’s dial-up network and enter the Internet through the partner’s home page.
The 1stUp.com technology enables distribution partners to retain a constant logo and link on the 1stUp.com navigation bar.