Disclaimer: The following is provided only for educational purposes and does not purport to be official MSN.com or MSN TV information. Always contact MSN.com or MSN TV for full and current official information.
Please read all the information available on this site. If you have a printer, you may want to print these pages for reference purposes.
IMPORTANT!
If you're already on the MSN IA and MSN TV One Plan Billing:
MSN may be changing its dialup numbers in your area. Suddenly, you may find you're unable to connect.
Log in to your msn.com email and you may find emails from MSN.com with new dialup numbers or other important information about your account.
You should check your @msn.com email on a regular basis. It is the only route through which MSN.com will communicate with you regarding your account, problems and changes, etc.
Other ways to find if your dialup numbers are changing is to go to http://support.msn.com and follow the instructions for changing your access number or call 1 800 386 5550 and speak to an MSN representative.
MSN IA [Internet Access]
ISP ServiceMSN TV One Plan
Billing
MSN 8
Computer Browser/Dialing Software
Here's a very clear, understandable and detailed explanation by TheWebJunkie, one of our very talented and knowledgable WebTV/MSN TV gurus, of what these three related, but often confused, terms really refer to:
From: TheWebJunkie at webtv.net
Group:alt.discuss.clubs.public.webtv.technical.rick56fla
Subject: Re: BROWSER FOR MSN ONEPLAN?
Date: Sun, Jan 19, 2003, 7:13am
Do not confuse the One Plan with MSNIA with MSN8. They are three different things.
The One Plan is a payment-rate plan. You receive Microsoft's Internet access for your PC *and* you receive WebTV service for $21.95/month. There is no minimum PC/browser/operating system requirement for you to participate in the One Plan.
MSNIA is Microsoft Network Internet Access -- the same Internet access that you get with the One Plan. MSNIA is intended to be used by a PC, although it *can* be used by a WebTV box. In and of itself, it does NOT include WebTV service, which is why the terms "MSNIA" and "One Plan" are not synonymous. MSNIA can be thought of as being an ISP. There is no minimum PC/browser/operating system requirement for you to use MSNIA.
MSN8 is FREE Internet-access software that you may or may not use in conjunction with MSNIA service. It is what turns MSNIA from an ISP into an on-line service (similar to AOL). Because it is free and given to MSNIA customers when they sign up, many people consider it to be a mandatory part of MSNIA service. It isn't. However, MSN8 *does* require certain minimum resources if it is to be used:
a) Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
b) A multimedia PC with a 233 MHz processor.
c) 64 MB of RAM (but 128 MB is recommended).
d) 320 MB of hard disk space for the actual install. after that, 180 MB.
e) 256-color VGA graphics card (SVGA recommended).
e) 800x600 (or greater) resolution monitor.
f) 16-bit sound card and speakers.
g) CD-ROM drive.
h) 28.8K (or faster, naturally) modem.
Notice that I did not mention a browser. That is because MSN8 includes its own. If your PC is not good enough to use MSN8, you can still use MSNIA (and your own ... browser) without it.
Canadian WebTV/MSN TV Users
Sorry, the only way you can use the MSN TV One Plan Billing is if you live so close to the U.S./Canada border that you could call an MSN dialup number in the U.S.
But If that's a toll or long distance call for you, you'd have to pay those charges for each and every connection.
I'm not familiar with cross-border callng or if there are flat-rate plans to dial U.S. numbers from Canada. If so, a tool to get a list of MSN Dialups is further down this page.
Please contact me at the email address at the bottom of this page if this is possible and I'll update the info to reflect that.
Best Buy
MSN IA/MSN 8 Promotion:
Sign up in a Best Buy Store [NOT ONLINE] for MSN.com IA ISP Service for 12 months [the first step in getting the MSN TV One Plan Billing], $21.95 per month and get a $100 rebate on BestBuy merchandise. Scroll down on the following page for information and details:
http://www.bestbuy.com/ComputersPeripherals/InternetServices/MSN.asp
IMPORTANT: To sign up for the MSN IA [Internet Access] at a Best Buy store, go directly to the Customer Service desk near the front of the store. Do not ask the sales people in the Computer Department.
There have been reports of high-pressure sales people insisting that customers must buy a computer or some other item immediately, that same day, to sign up for the MSN IA ISP service and get the $100 rebate. Neither is true.
Avoid pushy sales people and go directly to the Customer Service desk to sign up for MSN IA.
You do not have to buy a computer or anything else from BestBuy to sign up for MSN IA service through them!
Basics:
MSN.com's ISP [Internet Service Provider] service is called MSN IA [Internet Access]. This can be used with a computer OR with WebTV/MSN TV to provide Internet access.
MSN TV's [formerly WebTV's] One Plan is a "combination package" billing planthat allows you to use BOTH WebTV and a computer for $21.95 per month, total.
To get the MSN TV One Plan:
- Call MSN.com and sign up for MSN.com's IA [Internet Access] at $21.95 per month
MSN.com's Signup:
1-800-386-5550, then press 2 - Next, call MSN TV's Billing Department and tell them you now have MSN.com ISP service.
MSN TV Billing Department:
1 800 469 3288 Press 1, then Press 5Ask them to put you on the One Plan Billing.
When you are on the MSN TV One Plan Billing, your credit card will be billed by MSN.com, not by MSN TV, for $21.95 per month, total. You can then use either a computer or a WebTV, or both, with the MSN.com ISP service.
For IOM - some New Words for your MSN-IA page.The above means when you call in and sign up for MSN.com's IA, *they* will give YOU an @msn.com username.Group: alt.discuss.clubs.public.webtv.technical.rick56fla
Date: Mon, Jul 22, 2002, 3:31pm
From: [suppressed]@webtv.net (M 7)
Hi IOM,
We kept seeing a problem over and over again with One Plan and just this morning, I finally learned the words to go with the situation.The words that make an MSN.com account special are "Account Manager"
What is an account manager? It is the primary user on an MSN IA account. The one who gets some extra privelages:
1)a bigger MSN.com mailbox, 10MB for the Account Manager vs. 2MB for the secondary sers
2)Dial-In permissions. Only the account Manager has dial-in permissions. That means that Only the Account Manager's username and password can be used in association with the one plan.
On the PC, MSN Software for Windows glosses ths over by storing the Account Manager's username/password in the dialing section.
3)The Bill. The Account Manager is the User who gets the Bill.For those of you with MSN.COM IA accounts who are not sure which one of your MSN.COM users is the Account Manager, you can call 1-800-386-5550 and they can tell you.
Adding the MSN.Com user to your MSNTV box and making it the primary User does NOT make the user the Accont Manager. Only MSNIA can do that.
Cheers,
Mike Donnelly
MSNTV
Tell them that you want that to be the Account Manager.
After that, you can add that username as a Secondary username on WebTV. If you already have 6 usernames, you'd have to delete 1 of them so there would be room to add the @msn.com username. Then call MSN TV to make it the Primary username, so your previous Primary becomes a secondary username.
MSN IA [Internet Access] provides ISP service which can be used with a computer [PC or Macintosh, see below] and/or WebTV/MSN TV for $21.95 per month, total.
From the MSN One Plan FAQ page [reference URL below]:
"Q: I currently pay $24.95 for Plus service. Why would I sign up for the MSN TV One Plan rate?
A: If you sign up for the MSN TV One Plan your monthly charge will drop to $21.95* for MSN Internet Access and MSN TV service.
Q: How come I can pay only $21.95* for MSN TV and MSN IA service, and pay up to $29.95 for only MSN TV service?
A: We want to reward our existing MSN TV customers who want to use MSN IA for their home computer by offering the $21.95* subscription price for MSN TV and MSN IA service. We also want to offer the $21.95* subscription price to existing MSNIA customers who want to use MSN TV service. Lastly, we want to offer MSN TV service and MSN IA to new customers who are interested about receiving MSN through different hardware devices."
This is an excellent way for WebTV Plus users, and others who currently use their own ISPs because there are no local MSN TV dialup phone numbers to save money each month, assuming there are MSN ISP dialups avaiable in their areas.
MSN Dialups
To find available MSN ISP dialups for a given telephone number, enter it in the boxes and click on the button.
CAUTION: Always verify with your local phone company that any numbers this tool returns are not toll-calls or long-distance for your particular calling plan![Remember to press Edit, then scroll upward within the results box to see all numbers listed. Use Cut and Paste to copy the list, then put it in an email to yourself.]
For developing this tool, Many Thanks to Wicked Good Games' proprietah, Tony the Mainah!
One Plan Signup Instructions
- Call MSN.com at 1-800-386-5550 pause, then press 2
- Tell them you want to sign up for MSN.com IA [Internet Access].
- Give your Credit [or Debit card with VISA or MasterCard logo] information [no checks or money orders, no automatic withdrawal plans available].
Tell them you want your MSN.com username to be the Account Manager
What you need to get online with WebTV/MSN TV:
[Ask the MSN.com billing representative to give you the following three items of information while you are still on the phone with him/her]:
A username
B password
C all local MSN.com dialup numbers for your area.WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN CLEARLY in a location you won't lose.
If the rep also wants to send you a CD with MSN 8 Browser and dialing software, etc., later, fine, let them send it.
MSN 8 is also now available for Macintosh OS X:
BUT GET THE INFORMATION ABOVE [A, B, C] WHILE YOU ARE STILL ON THE PHONE WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE.
YOU WILL NEED A, B, AND C TO IF YOU WANT GET ONLINE IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR WEBTV OR WITH A COMPUTER.
Otherwise, you will have to wait to receive the MSN 8 CD-ROM in the mail and then use your PC to begin using the MSN IA [Internet Access] ISP service.
You can also use the MSN IA ISP service with Macintosh OS's prior to OS X [OS 8.x, 9.x, etc.]; but MSN can't/won't answer any technical questions for anything but OS X, period. However, if you can find Apple's Internet Setup Assistant or a similar dialing program on your pre-OS X Mac, all you need are A, B, and C above to get online.
Check with your local phone company that each "local" MSN.com dialup phone number is not a Toll or Long-Distance call so you won't be charged for connecting with WebTV/MSN TV.
- After you've gotten your username, password, and dialup number(s), call MSN TV Customer Service at 1-800-469-3288, press 1, pause, press 5, and tell the MSN TV Billing representative that you have MSN IA [Internet Access] ISP Service and you want them to adjust your billing accordingly so you can have the MSN TV One Plan Billing.
- After that's been successfully done, the rep will tell you to power off your WebTV, then power back on.
- You should now have prompt screens to fill in your MSN.com IA service information.
- Enter your MSN.com username and password as required.
Special Note: It may be necessary to enter your username as "MSN/username" if you get a message that your username and password do not match when trying to connect.
- When you get to the screen with choices for dialup numbers in your area, WRITE DOWN ALL DIALUP NUMBERS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN -- there may be additional dialup numbers.
You may find that one or more number(s) doesn't work well; in that case, you will need to choose other dialup numbers to find which work best, so having as many as possible to choose from is a good idea.
- Enter your username and password. Choose a couple of numbers, one as primary, one as backup.
- Follow the prompts and log on.
"All current MSN TV service subscribers, MSN Internet Access subscribers, and potential subscribers who own or are willing to purchase a PC and a WebTV receiver (with the exception of TriplePlay, Knowledge Networks, and Rogers Cable customers) are eligible for the MSN One Plan. MSN Internet Access and MSN TV service accounts must be in the same household."Information about "Triple Play" promotion:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2000/Jun00/TriplePlayMA.asp
"The MSN One Plan is not intended for use with the MSN Everyday, Your Way (MSN Everyday, Everywhere) Promotion. Under the MSN Everyday, Your Way Promotion, participants received an instant rebate of $150 or $250 (depending on the type of Internet receiver purchased) and receive free* MSN TV service, as long as the participant subscribed for 3 years of MSNIA service."
Information from MSN One Plan Information Pages [because MSN and MSN TV's own lnks have often been broken]:
http://community.webtv.net/IOM/msnoneplanpage
http://community.webtv.net/IOM/oneplanfaq
http://community.webtv.net/IOM/onemonthfree
http://community.webtv.net/IOM/oneplanrequirements
Original URLs [the first two are non-functioning as of June 25, 2003]:
http://www.msntv.com/oneplan/faq.html
http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/switchrebate.asp
http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/dialup/reqs.asp
Anyone who signs up for One Plan gets the $21.95 flat rate, which includes both PC and WebTV access, on a continuing basis.
Information from "Scoop" under Member Center from your MSN TV Web Homepage:
Introducing the MSN One PlanAs you know, your WebTV® service has a new name: MSN® TV service. Our closer connection to MSN content and services has advantages for you, including savings on Internet Access with the MSN® One Plan.
With the MSN One Plan, you keep the MSN TV service that you enjoy today, plus you get MSN Internet Access through a home PC for $21.95* a month. With this plan, you get two services for the price of one.
Why MSN Internet Access for a PC? In addition to saving money, you get more from the Web with MSN Internet Access. It's faster and more reliable than the average PC-based Internet service provider,** it's easy to set up, and has 24x7 customer service.
And, MSN Internet Access shares a number of MSN TV service features that you're already familiar with, like MSN Messenger. Both services feature MSN Search to help you find what you need fast, as well as MSN eShop, MSN Passport and more.
When you sign up for the MSN One Plan, you keep your current webtv.net address(es). You'll also be able to establish an address at msn.com.
My Note: Establishing an MSN TV username/address at msn.com or at hotmai.com currently requires a PC and also requires ageeing to the terms of Microsoft Passport.
[dead link]:
Click here for full MSN One Plan details.Act now for one free month:
If this is your first subscription for MSN.com Internet Access and you sign up before May 31, 2002, the first month of your MSN TV One Plan service are free! Call 1-800-469-3288 today for more information or to register.*Monthly service fee required. Requires a monthly subscription to the MSN® One Plan service and is subject to acceptance of the MSN Internet Access Subscription Agreement and MSN TV Service Terms of Service. MSN TV services and MSN.com Internet Access are available as a local call in most areas. In some areas, long distance telephone toll charges may apply. To check local access for MSN TV service, call 1-800-469-3288 or go to [ http://www.msntv.com/accesslocator/accesslocator.aspx ]. To check local access for MSN Internet access, please check with your telephone company.
**When compared to the industry average based on eTesting Labs Inernet BenchMark Report, August 2001, www.etestinglabs.com.
For those already using a non-MSN TV ISP: Here's an email I received 2-19-02: If all the above steps are followed your next billing cycle should reflect that you will no longer be charged from Billing when connecting MSN TV. Yes you will get it for free. I hope this revised info helps people to sign up for the MSN One Plan over the phone faster.
12357. Do NOT turn on the unit at this time.
Norman
From: billing@corp.webtv.net
Subject: Thank you for enrolling
Dear valued subscriber,
Thank you for being a valued customer. We're happy to offer you such great savings.
From this point forward, you will only receive a bill from MSN for your MSN IA service. Unless your MSN IA account is terminated, you will no longer receive a separate monthly bill for MSN TV service.
If you do have any billing questions, now or in the future, please call MSN IA Customer Service at 1-800-386-5550.
Thank you,
The MSN TV service Team
Box Switch While Using One Plan
If you're on the MSN TV One Plan and decide to get a new or different WebTV/MSN TV unit, please be aware that the switchover can no longer be done automatically by just connecting the new box, powering up and following the onscreen prompts.
With a One Plan account, you must call MSN TV at 1-800-469-3288 during their normal business hours [9AM to 8PM Pacific time] and ask a Customer Representative to help you switch your accout and One Plan info over to the new unit.
Getting Off One Plan
and Using Your Own ISP
Getting off One Plan can be as difficult as getting on, especially if you want to use your own ISP instead of the MSN TV service.
Billing evidently can't do it correctly -- when I tried, first they cancelled my account completely and cleared my box.
After CPR and the shock-paddles-to-the-chest to revive me when I found I had lost all my usernames and Favorites, Saved emails, etc. from 4+ years of being on WebTV, I called back and they reinstated my account and assured me I was off the One Plan.
If you use your own ISP and want to leave the One Plan Billing, here's how:
- Shut your box off
- Press the Options key three times
- Press the numbers 3 2 7 6 8 and watch the lights on the front of your box as you press the last number -- they should all flash
- Press the Options key three times again
- Press the numbers 2 1 7, all the lights should flash as you press the last number
- Turn your box on and you should be at the Dialing Options screen
- Click on Use your ISP and you should have a checkbox at the top, plus five blank boxs to fill in your own ISP's information.
March 2003
MSN 8 Letter to Computer Users
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