Free phone service will be made available via the Internet through a new service offered from United Online, Inc., the company announced Wednesday. The PrivatePhone service begins June 1 and allows users to have a free phone number and voice mailbox that can be checked by phone or with a computer. United Online Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark R. Goldston said the company was making it easy for people to sign up either through phone or web. “Having a free PrivatePhone number will be invaluable for people who want the freedom to give out a phone number in any situation, but want to keep their home and mobile phone numbers private,” Goldston said. To answer calls made to the PrivatePhone number, users would have to upgrade to a NetZero voice account and have the calls forwarded to a landline or mobile number, the company said.
