More on the future of communication

BT is back in the news again with plans to kick-start the videoconferencing business by launching a new high quality, low cost service.

In a tie-up with a market-leading Silicon Valley company, BT plans to offer full motion video operating over its 'information superhighway' links and the recently introduced ADSL, which delivers high capacity over existing copper wires.

BT projects that by 2007, 20% of business travel could be replaced by videoconferencing.

The company is also moving to secure adequate stocks of internet addresses in the face of predictions that these could run short, just as telephone numbers have. The pressure is growing on address supplies, with an estimated 200M subscribers already connected - a figure that is increasing by about 30% pa. With the arrival of mobile phones, office equipment and even domestic appliances, each requiring its own internet connection, demand for new addresses will be strong.

Confirmation of the changing shape of communication technology comes from Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone supplier. Some months ago, Hewlett-Packard agreed to incorporate Nokia internet access software into its products. IBM has now agreed to do the same.

Elliott Chase