BT opens up Openworld

Indy rockers Travis will play via broadband for you

By BBC News Online internet reporter Mark Ward

BT has unveiled what customers of its high-speed web connection service can expect for their money.

The company presented a list of partners that will be providing channels of news, information and entertainment to those signing up.

The British telecoms giant is aiming to take advantage of the opportunites offered by fast web connections which are poorly served by existing websites.

But in launching the services BT will have to face not only traditional rivals but encounter new competitors - such as satellite TV companies and broadcasters - as well.

Improved internet

On Monday BT showed off the range of partners that will soon start providing all manner of multimedia services to those using its high-speed web connections.

BT is currently rolling out high-speed Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line technology to interested customers via its Openworld division.

This replaces the modem that most people use to surf the internet. The Openworld connection works up to 10 times faster than the 56.6 kilobits per second possible with the best modems currently on the market.

The speed of ADSL gives websites the chance to make much greater use of video and audio, but so far few sites are geared up to offer more than low quality video or short clips that do not take too long to download.

The partners in BT Openworld will be offering services tailored for the high speed link that gives customers full screen video, high quality music downloads plus exclusive recordings and films.

The BBC is a partner in Openworld and is providing news programmes for the service.

Aardman Animations offshoot Atom Films, creators of Angry Kid, will provide some programmes and top bands, such as Travis and S Club 7, will record performances only to be seen on Openworld

Other partners are, amongst others, MTV, Ministry of Sound, CNN, Reuters, Jamba, Gameplay, FT.com, ZDNetUK and AdventureTV.com.

Initially the services will be prepared for users of the BT Openworld service, but eventually it will be expanded to become a portal that BTs customers can access via almost any device - be it interactive TV, hand-held computer or mobile phone.

Already many BT Cellnet customers use the Genie portal that gives them access to the same information services whether they reach the site via a PC or their phone.

Communication competition

BT is not the first to do more for customers with high-speed links.

Many other companies are currently building networks that will let them offer ADSL services to residential customers. Few have revealed details about their services and what extra subscribers can expect.

Kingston Communications is using ADSL for interactive TV and is already producing regional programmes, on-demand news and exclusive content services for customers. Cable TV company Telewest is expected to follow suit soon.

BT's mobile phone rival Vodafone is also developing its Vizzavi portal into a service that operates across networks and technologies.

But with Openworld, BT is starting to compete with more traditional broadcasters. OnDigital now offers web surfing via television and other companies are following suit.

Which company wins this battle will depend on whether consumers want their TV with added interactivity or prefer to see their PC turn into something more like a TV.