Freeserve Looking for Boost From Free-Call Plan

The progress of Freeserve's(FREE Quote) free-call Internet package is going to be key to its first-quarter results due out tomorrow.

Shareholders will be looking for usage gains due to the new connection package, and are hoping this will counter negative sentiment that has caused the Internet service provider's shares to sag. By allowing users to pay a 10 (about $15) monthly fee to connect to the Internet without paying phone charges, Freeserve wants to boost connectivity revenue, and more importantly to build e-commerce and advertising income from its own content.

But Freeserve faces a crowded playing field in offering a free-call plan: AOL's(AOL Quote) U.K. operation announced a free-call strategy last week, and cable company NTL(NTLI Quote) is doing the same. ...