News on 06 October 2000
This week saw the launch by British Telecom of a national programme of free e-business seminars, designed especially for small and medium sized businesses.
This is the follow-on from an introductory roadshow, which BT took to more than 85 cities and towns around the UK. The company says the demand for practical advice on e-business is ‘huge’.
The current programme targets senior decision-makers and focuses on internet strategy. Through presentations, demonstrations and one-to-one sessions, BT aims to provide advice and guidance on developing systems and applications that meet business needs.
At almost the same time, the company has come in for more criticism from rival telecoms providers.
Energis, Colt and Kingston Communications have grouped together
to lodge a complaint with industry watchdog Oftel over the way that high-speed
net services are being introduced.
The three companies maintain that the process of giving them access to
local telephone exchanges is not being run fairly. BT still controls over
80% of all the telephone lines that run from exchanges to businesses and
homes. Unbundling the ‘local loop’ is intended to give competitors
access so that they can offer customers alternative deals, including high-speed
internet services.
Oftel says it is scrutinising the complaint to see what action it should take.
Undaunted, BT will kick off its e-business programme in
Glasgow on 10 October, moving from there to other key cities. Details
can be found at www.bt.com/ebusiness-solutions/
