UK Online will shut down

RUPERT MURDOCH'S UK Online, the Internet service provider set up by Sky, will close down, and will slam its virtual doors in mid-January 2011.

UK Online is suggesting that its customers switch to one of Sky's packages as soon as possible because, as of 14 January their email, broadband and fixed line connections will go dark. It added that ship jumping Sky subscribers will get a reduced rate for the first six months.

Anyone who dithers about actually researching what service best suits them could find themselves shut off from everyone they know, as UK Online said that email databases and their contents will be deleted on 14 January, while any email sent to its addresses will be returned to sender.

"Unfortunately, once your UK Online account has closed, you won't be able to divert any emails to a new IP address," it explained before suggesting that users contact all their contacts with the news of their move before downloading their entire email back catalogue. Which is something that sounds like a mis-spent weekend to us.

Which?, the UK consumer rights group, said that its readers are up in arms about the news, and are using their last few weeks of connectivity to email it with their complaints. The group said that Internet users should stop using email accounts that are linked to ISPs and recommended that instead they use independent and free services.

"Which? recommends moving your email to a dedicated mail provider such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Hotmail, as these services aren't locked to a specific ISP. You can still use these services with your chosen email client," it explained.

Sky said that the move is necessary because it cannot be bothered to run two businesses that essentially do the same thing. Though not in so many words. µ