Direct Connection unveils web kit for SMEs

Direct Connection, the Docklands-based ISP that specialises in business website hosting, has launched a new service aimed at getting small businesses online.

The company has put together three packages that will save small businesses between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of the cost of buying the services separately.

The basic Direct Start Bronze package, for example, consists of five Direct Dial accounts, each giving a web connection, email account and website publishing access. These individual accounts normally cost £13.50 per month, but the Bronze package, which also includes a .co.uk domain and business-grade web hosting, costs just £32 per month, with a £50 set-up fee.

David Howard-Jones, sales and marketing director at Direct, said: "These solutions demonstrate our pledge to provide SMEs with tailored packages at great savings to suit their needs."

"The feedback we've got with small businesses is that they don't want to be confused by all the jargon, and that they want decent support when they start out. We offer those, and we can also provide them with ongoing advice on how to grow their online presence in a cost-effective way," he added.

Howard-Jones said that many businesses will want to eventually move onto a Lan-ISDN connection to share internet access between staff more cost-effectively, and may also want to consider the Direct Host Commerce system, which gives them an online ecommerce solution for selling over the internet.

The latter service is bundled into the top-of-the-range Direct Start Gold package, which has an annual charge of £1080 (£90 per month) and a set-up fee of £300.

"The great thing about Direct Host Commerce is that it is free from transaction charges," said Howard-Jones. "Small businesses need to be aware that some ecommerce services take a percentage of each transaction, and that can add up."

All prices quoted are exclusive of VAT.