BT names team for Net venture

BT has announced the team that will head its micropayments venture – an Internet service that aims to provide consumers with a secure way to buy online content and services.

As chief executive, Ian Price will be reporting directly to BT retail managing director Angus Porter. Price has been with BT for more than eight years, working in a number of marketing, planning and strategic roles.

Most recently, as general manager of core business in BT’s consumer division, Price was responsible for the launch of BT Answer, the UK calls package, and BT’s entertainment deal with Sky.

Helen Davis has been appointed head of business development and marketing. She returns to BT after two years as European vice-president of strategic sales and marketing at US domain name company RealNames.

In her new role, Davis will be responsible for developing commercial relationships with online content and service providers and for setting the venture’s marketing and promotions strategy.

Available from September, the service is being launched in partnership with Firstgate Internet of Germany. It forms part of BT’s new Net strategy: to play a central role in the UK Internet access and services market.

Consumers will be able to take advantage of a “secure, reliable and flexible” payment mechanism, according to a BT spokeswoman. This will enable them to buy multiple low-price items, such as games, music, news articles and financial information, across a range of content providers, without having to set up subscription services.