By Julian Goldsmith, 13 November 1998 17:26
NEWS BT Internet is to give away free mobile phones and connection to the Cellnet network in an effort to cash in on a Christmas rush on the Net. The offer applies to customers who sign up to its annual subscription plan, and in addition to the phone and connection, they will receive £5 worth of free calls every month for a year. If they have a BT fixed line, they will also receive 50 hours of free BT TalkTime. However, the close relationship of Cellnet - which is part-owned by BT - and BT Internet could raise questions about unfair advantage against Internet Service Providers that do not have such beneficial links. However, Nicholas Lansman, general secretary of the Internet Service Provider's Association, said he is satisfied that the regulatory machinery will roll into action should there be complaints. BT Internet also claimed that cross-subsidy is an impossibility. "We couldn't have an unfair advantage because we are regulated against cross subsidy," said a spokesman. Oftel confirmed that it sees no licensing infringements with the offer at the moment.
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