Toys ‘R’ Us signs up to BTinternet

Toys ‘R’ Us has signed a deal with BTinternet to offer free Web access to its customers, following the collapse of its previous Internet service provider (ISP) partner Breathe.net.

Free registration disks will be available in Toys ‘R’ Us stores across the UK as well as in its in-store Family Internet Communications Centres from today (Wednesday).

The toy retailer says it chose BTinternet as its ISP partner because of its “proven combination of quality service and value”.

The offer to upgrade customers to BT’s Openworld broadband service when playing online games and videos was also an attraction.

Toys ‘R’ Us was the second UK retailer to offer free Internet access to its customers, following Dixons, which launched Freeserve in 1998.

Toys ‘R’ Us marketing director Mike Coogan says: “The mums and dads who visit our stores every day aren’t looking for bells and whistles in an ISP. What they are looking for is a service that delivers on its promises, and BTinternet certainly does that.”

Toys ‘R’ Us will feature a link to the BTinternet registration page on its websites toysrus.co.uk and babiesrus.co.uk in return for banner advertising space on the BTinternet portal.

The retailer plans to roll out its Internet communication centres, which feature Internet related products such as multimedia PCs, set top Internet boxes, TVs and mobile phones, across the UK this year.

Breathe.net was bought by Great Universal Stores for &£1.4m last month, after going into administration with losses of &£10m at the end of last year.