AOL, MSN not good enough

NEW YORK: Web users are less satisfied with rival Internet service providers

AOL Time Warner Inc. and Microsoft Corp.'s MSN than with services from providers

such as EarthLink Inc. and Prodigy Communications Corp., according to a Consumer

Reports survey.

The survey, to be released in the September issue of the magazine, found that

AT&T WorldNet, BellSouth Corp., EarthLink and Prodigy rated among the

highest in overall satisfaction.

Users of AOL, the world's largest Internet service provider with about 30

million subscribers, primarily chose the service to communicate with friends and

use its browser. They complained, however, of interrupted connections and

unsatisfactory speed, the survey found.

The national survey, based on 1,640 responses from individuals who have

dial-up Web access, evaluated Internet providers for overall satisfaction, as

well as connection availability, speed and interruptions, support, e-mail and

downloads.

AT&T WorldNet, a part of AT&T Corp., was the top choice for fastest

connections that were most likely to be available when called. It also was found

to have the best variety of low-cost plans. The survey comes after a recent

spate of price increases by such Internet service providers as AOL and EarthLink.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.