Facitel, Minitel’s first electronic payment service, was put into operation last month, with nine initial service providers, France Telecom announced. Once equipped with card readers, Minitel users can pay electronically for products and services from the French national railway, SNCF, Air Inter, Interflora, A La Page, Novalis for disks and videos, MC France for sporting event tickets, Rock MC for concert tickets, Episodes, a tour operator and Socad for insurance group Azur. Until December 31, French consumers can pick up a card reader free at their local France Telecom agency. After that date, it will cost approximately $5 per month to rent.
