ALTAVISTA OFFERS FREE WEB ACCESS.(BUSINESS)

Byline: MICHAEL WARREN Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO -- AltaVista now offers free Web access, but its popularity will depend on whether users will be willing to put up with screen-hogging ads and less privacy.

AltaVista requires customers to click on a window of ads and Web links on the computer screen at least once an hour, or be disconnected.

The Web search engine's service also monitors a customer's Internet usage to send them advertising.

If AltaVista succeeds in luring millions of Internet customers, as well as many more visitors to its network of sites, it could trigger a new movement by large access providers. AltaVista says it's …