BT Creates Web-Phone Unit.

British Telecommunications Plc has responded to what it sees as a market ready to explode by creating a Multimedia Kiosk unit within its BT Payphones division, to develop and market web-access payphones. Yesterday's announcement follows July's launch of the Multiphone, BT's web-and-email public phone. The team will have the responsibility of creating networks of multimedia kiosks, with or without full web access, for retailers and local authorities.

The team will be led by Multiphone developer Allan Morgan. He said the unit is currently in talks with 40 potential customers, one of which has already signed up. Despite the remit of the new team, it will not take care of BT's relationship with Photo-Me International, which is in the process of adding web access to its chain of photograph booths with BT's help.