>>1. Do you need special access software
>
>Yes. But it is just a small program that you click. It displays a banner ad that hangs around for your entire session and then dials the altavista via a special dialup networking connection that is created during the software install. You can't connect directly to the isp by clicking the dial-up networking. You must do it via their software.

Oh.. maybe I should make it clear. After the connection, you just use your normal web software like IE, Netscape, mIrc, email client... with no changes.