BT takes free net access to the public

As part of the company's drive to transform the payphone into a multimedia kiosk, BT claims its new scheme will allow the remaining 60 per cent of the British population who are not yet logged on to get connected.

The move comes in advance of the Government's pledge to provide online access to everyone by 2005.

Free access will run until 14 June, at which time BT spokesman Les Brown said BT will implement charges. However, Brown added: "BT intends to keep free access to some features and will look to be supported by advertisers to achieve this."

The Multi.phone looks similar to the current payphone, but has a 12-inch, full colour, touch sensitive screen in the centre. The new terminal has been specifically designed to highlight information that is "relevant to people on the move", according to Brown.

Hot-buttons, displayed on the starting home page will directly link users to helpful web sites which include railtrack.co.uk, multimap.com, thetube.com, news.bbc.co.uk and Whatsonwhen.com.

There are 600 Multi.phones across the UK, located in shopping centres, rail and tube stations, airports and motorway service areas.

Malcolm Newing, director of BT payphones, said: "The Multi.phone is the first in a series of innovations, which will reinvent the phone box as an indispensable multimedia kiosk for the 21st century."