BT has joined forces with Yahoo! to launch a completely new internet experience to beat its rivals and enhance its position as the UK`s leading broadband internet service provider (ISP) in the ADSL sector.

Under the alliance, BT Openworld
will undergo a major transformation to enhance its broadband service which will be re-named BT Yahoo! Broadband.

Designed specifically to enhance the power of ADSL - BT Yahoo! Broadband will combine the strengths of Yahoo!`s web content and services supported by BT`s internet access, with BT handling delivery, customer service and billing.
BT Yahoo! Broadband will offer a raft of new and exciting applications, not available elsewhere, in the first truly integrated service of its kind in Europe.

The alliance is the next step in Broadband Britain, building on the one million ADSL customer mark and delivering services and content which will appeal to a mass market.

Both broadband and narrowband customers signing up to the new package will have the freedom to customise their personal homepage and browser as never before. Users will benefit from a built in firewall and anti-virus protection to provide online protection - at no extra cost.
Customers can also enjoy a whole range of applications designed to make the most of high-speed access, including interactive gaming across the globe, super webcam and digital photo libraries, the latest videos and music - with access to the largest library of music videos on the web, as well as one-click access to Yahoo!`s world-renowned news, sport and entertainment services and the No.1 ranked Yahoo! Finance.

BT Yahoo! Broadband will be available to new customers from September, and existing BT Openworld broadband customers will move to the new service in a phased programme. Today`s announcement follows a limited commercial arrangement by the companies in February this year, for the co-promotion of BT Broadband and Yahoo! premium services.

Pierre Danon, CEO of BT Retail, said: “The alliance is the next step to realising a Broadband Britain, building on the one million ADSL customer mark and delivering services and content which will appeal to a mass market.

“With such a compelling product I believe this will provide a significant boost to our broadband sales.“For customers to get the most out of the internet, several factors are crucial. Access must be safe and fast, use must be personalised and flexible and content must be exciting, engaging and imaginative. By joining with Yahoo! we can satisfy all of these criteria, as well as providing customers with support from two world class organisations.”

Duncan Ingram, managing director, BT Openworld, added: “I firmly believe BT Yahoo! Broadband offers a vastly superior customer experience compared to the likes of AOL and Freeserve and will prove hard to beat for combined service and value.

“Both BT and Yahoo! share a common aim - to deliver the best possible online experience. Joining forces will allow us to achieve this, but also makes great business sense by strengthening both of our market leading positions.”

Terry Semel, chairman and CEO, Yahoo! Inc. said: “We believe that the powerful combination of Yahoo!`s world-renowned brand and BT`s leading market position can help drive increased DSL adoption in the UK.

“Our alliance with SBC in the United States has already proved this to be a highly successful business model with the largest growth of any US DSL service in the first financial quarter of this year.

“With this announcement, Yahoo! is the first internet brand to have entered into this kind of deep access and programming partnership in the three largest broadband regions, Europe, Asia and North America.

“Through our global network, Yahoo! serves the largest broadband audience in the world, and we are committed to providing the best broadband user experience anywhere.”

The alliance will also offer BT Yahoo! Internet Services, a best of breed narrowband service.

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