Re: UKNM: BarclaySquare - from bad to worse ?

[Ray Taylor]

kirstie [dot] hillissolutions [dot] co [dot] uk

 wrote:


> And Tesco's selling pensions and Internet access, Mark &

>Spencers selling loans ...

>



There is nothing new in retailers offering financial packages. This has been

going on for many years, with the obvious tie-in with consumer spending.


Tesco selling Internet access is another thing entirely. By offering

Internet access Tesco is offering a real customer benefit which, in my view,

will also benefit the industry as a whole. The reason being that Tesco can

offer a high level of customer service and, more importantly, consumer

confidence, than any of the current dial-up services.


If an ordinary Tesco shopper can get into the Internet, you have to all

intents and purposes taken away the final barrier to the Internet as a mass

medium in the UK.


I must at this point state an interest since I have an indirect commercial

involvement in the project. But before I even knew about their plans I would

have said (and did say) that what the Internet in the UK needs is for Tesco

to sell it.


I have always regarded UK ISPs as shabby, technical outfits who always feel

that would have a lot more fun if it were not for the customers.


Tesco has laid the foundations for a radical change in approach.