The troubled communications company, Marconi has forged a partnership with BT to supply advanced interactive public terminals or ‘web phones’. The new payphones will offer Net access, email and text messaging alongside traditional voice services.
The new terminals will be installed throughout the UK at existing and newly created BT sites in the high street, shopping centers, rail, tube and bus stations, airports and motorway service areas. In total, 28,000 multimedia terminals will be installed. Rollout will begin next April and both parties expect 3,000 web phones to be installed within 12 months.
Under the terms of the agreement Marconi and BT will share the associated investment and reward. Both companies expect to net £100 million in revenues over eight years from the venture.
