NW: Thanks. I may have a dabble in COMPAQ LEAPS. Here is an article from UK Financial Times about COMPAQ joining up with The Mirror Group of Newspapers (and MSFT) in offering free-internet service. It is an Alta Vista story. I have used boldface.
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TABLOIDS: Sun and Mirror go head-to-head on the net
By Our Summaries Staff
UK tabloid competitors The Sun and The Mirror both announced plans on Tuesday to launch free internet services, taking their long-standing rivalry into cyber-space.
The two newspapers are to offer free e-mail and access to the internet, together with news from the papers' electronic editions and on-line shopping.
The Sun, the UK's best-selling tabloid, announced the launch of its new service, dubbed 'CurrantBun.com' after its nickname in London rhyming slang, in a colourful front page splash. "Welcome to the future. Welcome to Currant Bun - your passport to the internet," the paper proclaimed.
Earlier this year Rupert Murdoch, owner of The Sun, said he didn't see any need for his company News Corp to rush into the world of the internet. In contrast, Tuesday's Sun announced: "The Sun is the first ever paper to launch its own internet service. We're not just going online - we are taking the country online."
The Mirror took a less flamboyant approach, issuing a statement through the London Stock Exchange and choosing a less poetic name for its service: 'ic24.co.uk'.
Mirror Group said it aimed to make its service, in partnership with leading retail and financial brands, the top internet portal in Britain in the next 12 months, combining the group's interactive media assets from both its national and regional businesses with services provided by Cable and Wireless, Microsoft and Compaq. The service is to be launched on April 30.
The group also announced the creation of a new media and interactive services division, which would be headed by David Clarke, formerly chief executive of Virgin Net, Virgin's internet service provider.
One of the portal's main offerings will be Totalbet, an on-line betting service in conjunction with Sporting Life and Tote, the state-owned betting service. The Group said the service would be launched before this year's Grand National and speculators would also be able to make bets on all other sporting events, including Premiership football.
Traders in London reacted positively to the news sending Mirror Group shares up 2.93 per cent to 210p by the close on Tuesday. The Sun is a unit of News International, the UK subsidiary of News Corp. |
