BT Ignite liberates multi-currency BuyNet

Ignite has added a multi-currency facility to its BuyNet service, allowing small businesses with ecommerce websites to take orders from a wider range of overseas customers.

The fledgling broadband subsidiary, which specialises in application service provision, has also released a standalone version of BuyNet, which means customers can integrate it into their websites or online catalogues for a monthly fee.

BuyNet is a secure payment service that accepts a range of charge cards, credit cards and debit cards, and gives quick 'real-time' authorisation of card transactions. SMEs using the BuyNet service can now take orders using 17 different currencies.

"With the addition of the multi-currency functionality, small companies will have the ability to extend the reach of their business, taking full advantage of the internet," said Norman Bishop, head of Transaction Services at BT Ignite Application Services.

"It gives both customers and merchants the guarantee that any payment will be authenticated and authorised securely in real-time."

The service connects to all the major clearing banks and others with merchant authorisation facilities - HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Barclays, Bank of Scotland, Amex and NatWest.

However, the new service does favour merchants selling 'high ticket' items, as charges are made on a 'per transaction' basis, not on a percentage of the amount billed.

BuyNet's Easy Starter package has a one-off £250 connection charge and a monthly rental of £25. Users get 100 free transactions per month, but then pay 40p per transaction for up to 1000 transactions. The company operates a sliding scale for accounts generating more than 1000 transactions a month.