Until a year ago, most European web surfers had to pay twice for their internet access - a fee to their ISP and the cost of a local telephone call each time they logged on.

BBC: Unmetered web access in trouble

But in areas where local calls are free and ISPs offer unlimited Internet access for a flat monthly fee anyway, the no-charge Internet model has less appeal.

CNN: Giving It All Away

Its plan was simple--sell low-end, brand-name personal computers bundled with Internet access for a monthly fee.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Witness the poor reception of pay-per-view television and the enthusiasm for flat-fee Internet access.

ECONOMIST: So many ways to pay online

Then in the 2000s, the rise of DSL and cable modems made paying AOL a monthly fee for Internet access seem increasingly unnecessary.

CNN: The good ol' days of AOL chat rooms

Most banks that offer customers Internet access to their accounts charge an extra fee, just like they did during early days of ATM machines.

CNN: Opinion: Is the Internet maturing?

The average monthly subscription fee in Europe is decreasing yearly and some ISPs in Germany and Sweden are offering free Internet access.

CNN: Net access to grow 250 percent in Europe