What is Sympatico?

The Sympatico service is a Canadian national Internet access service, combining the best of Internet access, Internet software, online and phone support, and a home Web site. The Sympatico service gives you membership in a unique electronic community, where people share information and opinions freely. The community is friendly and interactive.

The global electronic community known as the Internet is not owned or controlled by a single company. It is a collaboration between companies, communities and countries, much like the worldwide public telephone network and postal systems.

Sympatico membership gives you full Internet access, including electronic mail (e-mail), access to electronic discussion forums and newsgroups, and the World Wide Web. Sympatico members have exclusive access to parts of the Sympatico Web site not open to non-members.

Membership in the Sympatico service includes:

• reliable Internet access

• a Canadian Web site, your guide to the best information on the Internet

• a starter kit, which includes easy-to-use Internet software

• friendly and knowledgeable technical support (up to 24 hours, 7 day toll-free access to Sympatico Member Services at 1 800-773-2121 - Ontario and Quebec members call 310-SURF, except Northern Telephone and Télébec)

Features of the Sympatico service

When you join the Sympatico service, you get Sympatico software which includes a Web browser and dialer software. The Sympatico software gives you:

Electronic Mail

You can exchange messages with other Sympatico members and the millions of other Internet users with absolutely no long distance charges. You can read and compose messages on-line or off-line. Mail can be automatically picked up and sent out every time you connect to the Sympatico service. There is a built-in address book as well as separate mail folders for keeping track of your mail.

World Wide Web (WWW)

The most popular part of the Internet, the Web provides a way for members to access information in the form of text, pictures, and even sound and video.

Discussion groups and Newsgroups

You can participate in online discussions through your Web browser. Sympatico forums is the place where you can join a variety of discussions on everything from cars to cancer, weaving to weather.

You can search over 20,000 Usenet newsgroups right from our Web site.

If you travel with your computer and want to access the Sympatico service from some place other than your usual connection location, read about changing your Sympatico access number.

The Sympatico home page and Web site