Adam Jordens@littlesquare:~/

Customers with Island Internet may not be able to access their e-mail or any other web-based services provided to them by the company.

On Monday, the company’s Nanaimo office was locked and no one, including owner and general manager Karen Addison, was answering the telephone. A sign posted on the door said the office was closed due to “staff illness.”

The company’s satellite office in Courtenay was also closed Monday. An automated message directed all inquiries to the Nanaimo office until further notice.

But a number of Island Internet customers said they’d heard unconfirmed reports the company’s employees have been laid off. The unnamed sources said the company’s office lease agreement has expired, and the company is not in a financial position to renew.

Early Monday, Island Internet sent an e-mail notice to all of its customers stating: “Due to circumstances not directly within our control, the future of Island Internet is uncertain and, given the importance to many of a stable internet connection, we believe it is in the best interests of all to advise you of this.

“At present we can assure you that we do not anticipate any disruption in your service and we commit to keeping our customers fully advised.”

According to the company’s website, www.island.net, Island Internet has been providing service for 12 years.

I started working at Island Internet when I was 15 years (and spend 4 years there before heading off to University), that’s almost 11 years ago and nearly as long as the company has been providing its services to the island. It looks like the inevitable has happened, cable and dsl connections has overtaken traditional dialup internet service on the Island. Web hosting and other auxiliary services just aren’t enough to support a company like Island Internet.

I learned a lot from Daniel Rogers, James Bourne and the rest of the gang. It was pretty good times and great first work experience. I still remember spending that first day with Herb in the server room. They didn’t really have a desk for me, so I just took over his desk which happened to be in the server room.

Customer support taught me a lot, not my desired career, but a good introduction to complex systems and customer demands.

Sad to see it go.