Apple Computer Inc is launching a home shopping pilot programme that will enable consumers to browse retail catalogues on CD-ROM that will sing and talk to them and display video: the En Passant venture, with Electronic Data Systems Corp and Redgate Communications Corp, will distribute CD-ROM disks to some 30,000 CD-ROM drive owners in the US, which will enable people to browse 21 catalogues from 18 retail companies, as well as fashion and personal finance products; users can interact by changing the colour of clothes and so forth, and order anything they like by phone; the partners will generate revenue by charging retailers for space on the disk and by imposing a transaction fee on each purchase made.
