BT to launch public multimedia ad kiosks in partnership with Photo-Me

BT and partner Photo-Me are planning to install high-street multimedia booths designed to carry advertising.

The companies aim to install 100 Photo Planets in railways stations, airports, retail chains and post offices by May.

From June, 200 will be installed each month, with 3,000 in use by the end of 2001.

The booths will offer Internet and e-mail access, e-commerce services and Website creation, as well as being able to print photographs and postcards.

A video screen on the outside of the booth will show TV-style ads. Inside, advertisers will have a “thumb-nail” button ever-present on the screen to offer direct access to their Website, or a “hot button” accessed through Photo Planet’s shopping site.

Consumers will be able use a telephone in the booth to contact the advertiser if they do not want to carry out a transaction on the Net.

Website sponsorship and banner ads will also be available, and all the ads will have the ability to target consumers demographically or geographically.

Ads on the video will cost &£10 for 30 seconds per month per booth. The “hot button” telephony service will cost &£100 to set up, and will include 500 free calls, which thereafter cost 5p each. Thumb-nails will be priced at &£30 per thousand clicks, with an ad banner costing &£35 per thousand clicks.

BT declined to reveal what consumers will be charged for using the kiosks.

A radio, poster and direct marketing campaign will accompany the launch.

In addition, BT has launched a &£1m press, radio, online and outdoor ad campaign for its new online shopping service btspree.com, which involves retailers in the UK and US.