Launch of Internet-enabled Photobooth with BT
Photo-Me International PLC
5 April 2000
PHOTO-ME INTERNATIONAL AND BT LAUNCH PHOTOPLANET
their revolutionary Internet-enabled photobooth
Photo-Me International and BT today launched PhotoPlanet - a
revolutionary Internet-enabled photobooth. The booths allow
users to send and receive email, create their own web page -
including photograph - and surf the Internet. PhotoPlanet
also provides e-commerce services and offers the full range of
Photo-Me International's photographic products including ID
photos, customised postcards and fun stickers.
The rollout of PhotoPlanet begins today with an initial
installation of 10 booths in and around London, at major
supermarkets, a shopping centre, a railway station and a
motorway services area. 1,000 booths will be placed in high
footfall areas throughout the UK by the end of the year.
Ben Andradi, managing director, BT Internet & eBusiness, said:
'PhotoPlanet allows people on the move to purchase goods
online, surf the Internet and send and receive emails. The
booths are an important part of BT's strategy to get as many
people in the UK online as possible by offering a variety of
access devices. PhotoPlanet offers a simple and convenient
way to use the Internet and can also provide an extension to
an individual's home or office system.'
Serge Crasnianski, chief executive officer of Photo-Me
International, stated: 'PhotoPlanet is a unique product
offering a broad range of simple-to-operate Internet and
photographic services. With its location in a network of high
footfall sites, the 36 million UK customer base enjoyed by
PMI's photobooths and their prominent position in the national
consciousness, I am confident that PhotoPlanet will prove to
be a lucrative venture for BT and PMI as well as a successful
start to a wide ranging collaboration between the two firms in
Internet-related business.'
PhotoPlanet booths provide eight services:
Passport Photos
Users can take different sized digital quality photographs
from the booth - one portrait, four ID and eight stamp-sized.
These can be printed at a cost of £3 each and then emailed for
50 pence.
EMail
The user can send, receive and print email by logging on to BT
talk21 or other specified email services accessed over the
Internet. Those users without an email account will be able
to register for the BT talk21 service. The minimum charge is
50 pence, with a rate of 10 pence per minute.
Postcards
Users can create personalised postcards by superimposing their
own image onto one of the numerous stored backgrounds e.g. Big
Ben or the Tower of London, and by adding a personal message.
Postcards can be printed for £1.50, with each additional copy
costing £1. The image can also be emailed to four addresses
for 50 pence - cheaper than sending four individual postcards
by post.
Internet
Users are able to go online and surf the Internet. In
addition, BT is offering five channels of information to the
user covering News, Sport, Travel, Entertainment and
Lifestyle. The minimum charge is 50 pence, with a rate of 10
pence per minute.
Blacklisting will be provided i.e. the user will be barred
from certain unsuitable sites to ensure the surfing experience
is suitable for all age ranges and booth locations.
Fun Photos & Stickers
Users can have their photograph taken and presented on a
chosen background that can then be printed for £1.50 and
emailed for 50 pence. Users can also produce 16 stamp-sized
stickers, which can contain a photograph and background, a
message or an email address. The stickers can be printed for
£2 and the picture emailed for 50 pence.
Copy a Photograph
Following shortly on from the launch a PhotoPlanet, users will
be able to scan a photograph. It will cost £1.50 to print the
image, with a charge of £1 for each subsequent copy. The
image can be emailed for 50 pence.
Create your own web page
Users can create their own web page by selecting a backdrop,
inserting their photograph taken at the booth and entering
information. The web page will be hosted by BT and is limited
to six months, after which the web page will expire and be
deleted. It costs £2, including photography, to use this
service. Users can also print stickers of their photograph
and web address for an extra £2.
Online Shopping
Goods and services can be purchased via the Internet or by
telephone using the handset inside the booth. Over 40 online
merchants will offer e-commerce services. Ten merchants will
be advertised on the top level menu. They are:
- Buena Vista
- thetrainline.com
- confetti.co.uk
- uTravel.co.uk
- Loot
- Buzz
- ebookers.com
- CGU Direct
- Drinx.com
- Dance DJ Direct.
This services costs 10 pence per minute.
Notes to editors:
The first ten PhotoPlanet machines will be installed in the
following locations:
Acton (Safeway)
Chiswick (Sainsburys)
Crawley (Post Office)
Crawley (Somerfield)
Edgware Road, London (Woolworths)
Roehampton (Asda)
South Mimms (Welcome Break Services)
Norwich Thorpe Railway Station
Woking (Wolsey Place Shopping Centre)
Watford (Tesco)
For more information please contact:
For BT Internet & eBusiness:
Jayne Bassham/Jennifer Griggs/Alex Laity, Spreckley Partners Ltd
Telephone 020 7388 9988, email bassham@spreckley.co.uk
griggs@spreckley.co.uk, laity@spreckley.co.uk
Serge Crasnianski, Photo-Me International
Telephone 01372 453 399, email sci@kis.fr
Bankside Consultants Limited (PR for Photo-Me) Charles Ponsonby
Telephone 020 7220 7477, email charles@bankside.co.uk
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