BT boosts broadband services

BT is developing Voice over IP (VoIP) and flexible bandwidth offerings to boost broadband take-up.

Four new products - Flexible Bandwidth, BT Rich Media, BT Communicator and BT Remote Management System - will form the backbone of the telco's strategy to extend its broadband services.

Flexible Bandwidth, on trial now, is aimed at customers who want to upgrade their bandwidth for a particular application or service, such as online gamers who want access to streamed videos.

When downloading content or playing online, users can upgrade their bandwidth from 512kbps to up to 2Mbps simply by clicking a button.

"For broadband content to really take off [it] needs not only content but the speed to download this. But people don't need this speed all of the time," explained Mike Galvin, BT director of internet operations.

The telco is still considering other methods of charging, such as for time online at higher speeds, or via the content providers, he added.

BT Communicator, developed in partnership with Yahoo, has been developed to bring communication technologies such as VoIP to the mass market. Customers will be able to download free software to enable them to make phone or video calls over their broadband connection.

These voice services are combined with Yahoo's Instant Messaging platform.

Galvin said the Communicator service would also appeal to businesses because, in addition to reducing call costs, it will enable the broadband connection to be used for video conferencing.

BT Rich Media is a service application that aims to bring content suppliers for digital services, such as games or music, to a mass market. Content providers are to be announced in April.

The last of the new services, BT Remote Management System, is designed to help customers who want to create a network within their home connecting multiple devices.