EarthLink Resurrects MindSpring Brand

EarthLink said Monday it is bringing back MindSpring -- one of the most successful Internet brands of the 90s -- for a free voice over IP offering. Like Skype, MindSpring users can make free calls via the PC and receive voicemail to their e-mail address. Outbound calls to cell and landline phones can be made for a small fee.

Built on SIP, MindSpring is also interoperable with Google Talk and other instant messaging services using the protocol. A beta version of the MindSpring product was first launched last year as EarthLink Vling, and the final product runs on Windows XP and 2000. "Our MindSpring product is a key building block in EarthLink's suite of Internet voice offerings, so it's appropriate that we name the service after one of the pioneering Internet companies," said Tom Hsieh, director of voice products and engineering at EarthLink.