Dell Computer Corp Tuesday became the latest company to become what increasing should be referred to as a ‘virtual’ internet service provider. DellNet was launched in the UK this week, and is planned to roll out in other European countries, including Germany and France, over the next month. The virtual ISP model allows a company to leverage its brand by offering subscription-free net access, while sharing the per-minute dialup revenues with the network operator.
In this case, Dell has partnered with British Telecommunications Plc, which offers firms the chance to rebrand its subscription-free Click service using a joint-branded portal from Excite UK (half owned by BT). The three partners take a cut of the money earned by users dialing into the service, plus any advertising revenues. Dell will distribute one-click startup software by pre-installing it onto its Dimension PCs, in the same way that computer makers Gateway Inc and Tiny Computers Ltd already do with their online offerings.
The pan-European ISP idea is one that is gradually taking off in Europe. UK retailer Kingfisher Plc has launched a similar venture through its Darty chain of electrical stores and partnerships with national telcos. Computer games manufacturer Sega Enterprises Ltd is using BT on the continent, as Dell will in the coming months. BT has subsidiaries, interests and partnerships in other EU countries that will provide the network for DellNet.de and DellNet.com/fr and further expansions.
After Granada Group Plc, themutual.net and Dell, the fifth subscription-free UK ISP to launch this week was globalnomad.net, from web-based email provider and anti-spam campaigner BiblioTech Ltd.
