A little like oom really from my point of view - I believe they are the favoured company within their sector and despite the markets - Oftel and the G3 nonsense they will climb back. They pay a divi and this wioll be seen to be increasingly important in the days to come. They have new management and are looking to enhance shareholder value .....

I hold and swing trade a few and not adverse to intraday trading them.

ains


BT in web-based investor relations drive

London, February 7 2003, (netimperative)



by Chris Lake

BT is launching a web-based scheme which it hopes will improve communications with its retail shareholders and help cut costs.


Dubbed 'ShareholderPlus', the system allows investors to sign up and receive BT communications - such as reports, news releases, mandates and, subject to a change in the law, electronic tax vouchers - by email, rather than by post.

BT said this will help it achieve cost savings - by not having to print and despatch reports - and pointed out that it is also good for the environment.

Furthermore, it has negotiated a number of deals with companies such as Virgin Wines, Apollo Travel, RSA and National Car Rental, to market the service and said it will add new offers in the future if it proves to be a success.

BT claims to be one of the first FTSE100 companies to launch such a programme, though it is likely that more will follow.

www.btplc.com/shareholderplus

BT unveils community broadband scheme

London, April 4 2003, (netimperative)



by Susie Harwood

BT Wholesale has confirmed that it will go ahead with the full national launch of its ADSL Exchange Activate project aimed at bringing broadband internet to small local communities.


The news comes shortly after BT announced plans to extend the reach of high-speed internet access to more than 90% of small homes and businesses, up from 67%. It plans to do this by revealing new trigger levels for around 600 exchanges that need to be activated by customer demand in order for BT to upgrade the exchange.

However, Bruce Stanford, products director at BT Wholesale, said that even with this new initiative, there would still be gaps to fill in, which is where the Activate project comes in.

The scheme involves a sponsoring body that has a social, development or commercial interest in bringing broadband to specific areas. The sponsor pays a lump sum to get groups of 30 customers connected to ADSL equipment for a three-year period. The first 30 connections will cost 45,000, with subsequent groups of 30 on the same exchange costing 30,000.

Stanford said that trials for the Exchange Activate product have been well received. Trial areas include Corwen in Wales, where partnering organisations that have provided funding and are delivering the service include Denbighshire County Council in conjunction with eCommerce consultants.

This is good news as it helps to increase the market .....




ISPs start cutting prices

London, April 4 2003, (netimperative)



by Susie Harwood

Several UK ISPs have already announced price cuts to their broadband offerings following BT's wholesale cuts yesterday, despite claims by other ISPs that there are no new cost savings to pass on to consumers.


PlusNet and Eclipse Internet both confirmed that they would cut broadband prices from May 1, when the BT cuts come into effect. PlusNet said that it would cut its entry-level home Broadband ADSL product, ADSL Home Surf from 19.99 to 18.99 a month, while Eclipse is reducing the cost of its services for small businesses by almost half.

Eclipse ADSL Connect 1000 service will fall from 95 to 52 a month, while the 2000 service will be 82 a month, down from 140. The ADSL Connect 500 Lite service will also be cut from 22.75 to 20.38.

These price cuts come in response from an announcement from BT that it will cut the cost it charges ISPs for standard domestic broadband connections to 13 from 14.74 a month per customer, and small business services by over 50%.

However, the announcement was criticized by many ISPs, including AOL UK, which claims that BT has recently increased the activation cost per customer from 25 to 20, meaning that these price cuts will not benefit either the service providers or consumers as BT claimed they would.

BT had a sweet week last week....will OFTEL worries as BT try to crush their rivals into dust bring the monster back down again?
http://www.polskishop.com/7_04_03.htm

Lots of good news this morning - futures way up - new loga as well - sector up - - looks good

a very long piece by Nic Fildes of Dow jones on the new image - he concludes that with the turnaround achieved by Verwaayen ove the last year - 5million to rebrand the company is money well spent

Up 3.65% - outperforming market and sector :-))



ains

Scotsman

Sphere we go with new logo for BT


TELECOMS giant BT today revealed its new 5 million spherical corporate logo, which replaces the "piper" who has trumpeted the firms services since 1991.

But Ben Verwaayen, BTs chief executive, insisted the group was not changing its image for the sake of change and there would be no "big-bang" advertising campaign to accompany the new logo, which is the firms second since it became British Telecom in 1980.

He said: "BTs business and its culture is changing so it is important that we have a brand identity that represents the multi-faceted nature of our business. The new logo does the job. It represents BT as being in tune with the multi-media age ."

Angus Porter, managing director of BT Retails consumer division, said the piper had done an excellent job but had " become associated with some outdated perceptions of BT as simply a fixed-line telephone company".

British Telecom has updated their logo tgo reflect their new multi faceted business.
The last upgrade cost 50 million is this one a bargain at 5 million?
http://www.polskishop.com/9_04_03.htm
STOCKSURGERY
www.polskishop.com

LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - British telecoms company BT Group Plc BT.L said on Wednesday it is rebuilding its presence in Japan two years after its high profile retreat from the world's second largest economy.
BT said it was not planning a return to the days of a big Japan business, but is seeking to strike deals with Japanese firms looking for network management and outsourcing services, especially in Europe.

BT scaled back its business in Japan in 2001 when it sold its stake in Japan Telecom 9434.T as part of a global retrenchment to focus on its European businesses and cut debt.

"We're not looking to go back to the stage where we had a big presence there," said Roger Westbury, spokesman for BT Global Services, the business services and solutions division formerly called Ignite. "We're interested in talking to those companies that are looking for global services and in particular want a presence in Europe," he said.

"We don't see ourselves building networks all around the globe, but if you want a global network we can buy capacity and strike deals and partnerships with other network owners."

Westbury said BT's operation in Japan remains small, with about 15 people.

The FT.com website said BT is talking to a number of global Japanese companies about co-operating to provide network management services, including hardware vendors involved in systems integrations, such as Fujitsu.

It said BT has been building its regional undersea cable networks in the Asia-Pacific region, but it relies on local telecoms companies to manage the local network.

250 exchanges to get ADSL by Autumn
By Tim Richardson
Posted: 09/04/2003 at 09:31 GMT


BT reckons that growing demand for broadband will enable the telco to convert a further 250 exchanges to ADSL by the end of September. The prediction is based on current levels of broadband interest in areas currently not served by ADSL.

Since BT's demand-led scheme - which sets thresholds representing the level of demand needed to make conversion to ADSL commercially viable - went live last year some 850 exchanges have been given trigger levels. Of those, just under 50 have met their threshold, been upgraded to ADSL and are now live.

A further 245 exchanges have so far hit their threshold and are currently in the process of being upgraded to ADSL. Oh, and BT is to award trigger levels to a further 600 exchanges by the autumn.

Esat BT launches rival broadband service
Thursday, April 10 10:20:16

(BizWorld)

Esat BT has launched a broadband service for Irish consumers to rival a recent offering from Eircom.

The company is to charge a monthly rental of E49.49 for DSL, which is 10 times faster than standard telephone connection, compared to Eircom's charge of E54.45.
Both firm's broadband product will be available to more than 700,000 telephone lines throughout Ireland over the coming weeks with availability rising to one million lines by the end of the year.


Esat BT also said it will charge E190 for installation, which includes a modem. Eircom's set up fee is similar to its rivals, but it charges E145 for a USB modem.

"We are delighted after months of campaigning to now be in a position to fulfil our commitment to deliver affordable, broadband internet access to consumers," said Esat BT chief executive Bill Murphy.

Minister for Communications, Dermot Ahern, has been pushing for cheaper broadband and flat rate internet access - the latter is due in June - saying that they will drive demand and boost Ireland's e-commerce economy.

A little weak this morning with Durlatcher suggesting they are a trading sell ..... hmmmmmmmmm

LONDON (AFX) - BT Group PLC, the UK's dominant residential telecom supplier, has applied for a High Court injunction to stop strike action by BT engineers.

"We are questioning whether the strike ballot process was carried out correctly and there is an issue over whether the correct notice was given," said a BT Retail spokesman.

The planned strike, set for Monday, stems from a dispute between the union and its voluntary Self Motivated Teams bonus scheme.

The company claims about 6,000 of its 14,000 engineers have already signed up for the scheme and since it started in January they have each earned, on average, an extra 62 stg a week.

But the Communication Workers Union claims the scheme is divisive and puts staff under pressure to increase productivity.

"Also it is not going to be voluntary in the longer term, and it works on a point system which varies depending on location and duties," said a CWU spokesman. The union represents about 13,000 of BT's engineers.

The previous scheme was based on working overtime.

If the union goes ahead with its plans, a 24-hour strike on April 14 would be followed by action on April 25 and April 28.

tf/rn/ak

I note that Durlatcher are getting increasingly nervous about their trading short recommendation :-))




ains

BB is vital and this kind of low leval activity will help over time


BT helps ADSL campaigners
By Tim Richardson Register
Posted: 11/04/2003 at 14:19 GMT


BT Wholesale is trying to make life easier for its unpaid army of volunteers who are trying to muster enough support to get their local exchange converted to ADSL.

It's just launched a new service designed to provide support and encouragement for campaign groups trying to generate enough interest for the telco to cough up and upgrade their exchange.

As well as tips and advice, local campaigners can also send off for promotional material such as leaflets and stickers to help promote the telco's ADSL broadband demand registration scheme.

BT Wholesale says it will print and distribute leaflets on behalf of individual campaigns, provide copy for local papers and magazines and also supply advertising material.

3rd in the top 100 risers list intraday @ 185p - up 5.41% against the sector @ 1.79% and the market @ 1.83% ...... two month high ..... which is nice



ains

Outperforming market and sector at plus 1.51% @ 185p


LOS ANGELES (AFX) - CB Richard Ellis, a real estate service company headquartered in Los Angeles, and BT Commercial, one of the largest full-service brokerages in Northern California, said discussions regarding the merger of their respective San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento brokerage operations have been suspended indefinitely.
A recent announcement confirmed that discussions between the two firms were being pursued "pending a successful resolution of conditions required of such a transaction".

CB Richard Ellis president Brett White said: "Both CB Richard Ellis and BT Commercial agree that the strategic merits of the proposed merger remain compelling. However, the near term integration challenges proved extremely complex. We soon concluded that attempting to simultaneously integrate the Northern California operations of all three firms at this time would lead us to a less than optimal result."

As to when the discussions might resume, both Brett White and Mike Kamm of BT Commercial agreed that no timetable exists, and no further discussions are planned at present.

newsdesk@afxnews.com slm/

BT supports broadband campaigners

16 April 2003
- by Veronique De Freitas



BT has launched a new website supporting local community groups that are campaigning to bring high-speed internet connection to small towns and villages.

Campaign in a Box helps locals boost broadband demand around their neighbourhood with practical advice on successful campaigning.

Currently around a third of the UK cannot get ADSL services via their telephone line. The website offers tips on starting a campaign, a list of areas with current campaigns and an order form for campaign leaflets and posters.

Philippa Winterburn, BT Wholesale's head of broadband marketing said: "The key to successful local broadband awareness campaigns has been the energy and drive of the individuals who can see what broadband will mean for them and their communities. Their enthusiasm is infectious and highly effective at a local level."

Campaign in a Box is accessible via BT's broadband website, by clicking on Broadband Campaigns.


Related items:
www.bt.com/broadband

Tribunal agrees with oftel and dismisses complaint

outperforming sector and market today @ 188p - up 3.59%

Still trying to get through and hold 190p



10:08 Thursday 24th April 2003
Reuters


Telecoms companies reported their earnings this week, signals indicate that the worst may be over
A ray of light broke through the gloomy telecommunications sector on Wednesday as earnings results from a number of companies demonstrated their ability to manage through a difficult environment.

Long-distance telephone company AT&T and BellSouth both swung to a profit in the first quarter, despite lower revenues, on reduced costs and capital spending.



Nextel Communications, the fifth-largest wireless telephone company, posted a 21 percent jump in revenue, thanks to its unique walkie-talkie-like service, popular with big-spending business customers.

Even troubled equipment maker Lucent Technologies posted a narrower-than-expected loss as its revenue grew sequentially and it posted strong profit margins.

The shares of all three companies rose, as did the North American Telecommunications Index.

The gains repaired the sector's sell-off earlier in the week, after Sprint, the No. 4 US long-distance company, posted weak first-quarter revenues and cut its earnings and revenue forecasts for the year.

After the market closed, wireless operator AT&T Wireless Services and cell phone chipmaker Qualcomm posted solid quarterly results on higher revenues.

The beginning of a turnaround?
"We think the bear market's over," said Nicholas Gerber, portfolio manager of Ameristock Mutual Fund. "In the bear market, any bad news gets exaggerated and any good news gets discounted. Now we're beginning to see a change of that. Bad news still gets exaggerated, but so does good news."

"The big question is, 'Is this the beginning of the rising tide that lifts all ships?" said independent telecommunications analyst Jeff Kagan.

"Unless you believe that telecoms is irrelevant in the future, which no one believes, you've got to believe that there's going to come an inflection point," he said.

The telecommunications industry has been undergoing a period of transition as people spend less time on traditional phones and more time on email and cell phones. High-speed Internet networks have been cutting into the number of telephone access lines in service.

Local telephone companies have entered the long-distance market with aggressive price promotions and discounted packages of local, long-distance, Internet and wireless services.

Meanwhile, a slowdown in the economy has caused telecommunications companies to cut back on capital spending, hurting equipment companies like Lucent. Competition among cell phone operators has intensified amid slowing customer growth.

New York-based AT&T said earnings from continuing operations rose 18.6 percent to $529m (332m), widely beating analysts' expectations. The company said its full-year results would meet or beat its previous forecasts.

"While the trend line is still negative as far as revenue declines go, it's fair to say that things seem to be stabilising," said Raj Dave, a debt analyst with Commerzbank Securities.

Nextel reports 'incredible quarter'
Atlanta-based BellSouth, the dominant local phone company in nine Southeastern states from Kentucky to Florida, said earnings, excluding one-time items, fell but still beat analysts' estimates.

Including its Cingular Wireless joint venture with SBC Communications, revenue fell 4 percent to $6.9bn. Cingular increased its revenue slightly while adding 189,000 new customers after two straight quarters of losses.

Reston, Virginia-based Nextel posted a quarterly profit that widely beat analyst expectations as customer turnover fell to a four-year low.

"What an incredible first quarter, especially in light of Sprint's poor numbers," said Todd Bernier, wireless analyst with Morningstar. "They continually are grabbing share."

Nextel's results contrasted sharply with the No. 4 US wireless operator Sprint, which posted a wider loss and revenue that fell short of expectations.

Lucent reported a slightly wider second-quarter loss, but earnings before one-time items also topped Wall Street's expectations.

AT&T Wireless on Wednesday posted a first-quarter profit and revenues rose as its customer base increased.

Qualcomm posted a higher net profit and revenue, helped by demand for its advanced cell phone chips that allow users to surf the Web at high speeds.

Shares of AT&T closed up $3.20, or 23.2 percent, at $17.01, where they were the second-most actively-traded issue.

BellSouth closed up $2.50, or 11.5 percent, at $24.21, and Lucent rose 4 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $1.72. Nextel shares rose $1.32, or 10.7 percent, to $13.67 on the Nasdaq.

Overall, the North American Telecommunications Index rose 6.5 percent, compared with an increase of less than 1 percent by the broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index.

(Additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Chicago and Jessica Hall in Philadelphia)