AT FIRST SIGHT, one of the unlikeliest internet love matches yet – BT and photobooth operator Photo-Me International - have formed a strategic partnership. The duo plan to convert 1,000 of Photo-Me's 4,300 UK photobooths (sited mainly in airports rail termini, shopping centres and supermarkets) into mini-multimedia kiosks for e-mail and full internet access. They will target people on the move, as well as those without other access to the Net. Serge Crasnianski, Photo-Me's chief executive says the booths will use smartcard technology to access the web: 'This will be a unique network, easily accessible and simple to operate.' The first new booths will be operational by December and users will not be charged more than 10p a minute. If the trial is successful, the company will extend the service to the remainder of its UK booths and, possibly, to its 20,000 booths worldwide. Photo-Me shares surged 22% to 700p at the news.
'SMILE, YOU'RE ON THE INTERNET!', SAYS BT
News, 01 June 1999
© Copyright 2017
All rights reserved including database rights. This electronic file is for the personal use of authorised users based at the subscribing company's office location. It may not be reproduced, posted on intranets, extranets or the internet, e-mailed, archived or shared electronically either within the purchaser's organisation or externally without express written permission from WARC.