...AND LAUNCHES INTERNET TELEPHONY SERVICE.

In an interview for the Handelsblatt daily at the end of August, Bertelsmann's Multimedia Director Klaus Eierhoff revealed that the group plans to launch a telephony service on the Internet this autumn. The "Avanti" service has been tested over recent months among clients using Bertelsmann's on-line server AOL Europe. Without revealing precise rates, Mr Eierhoff told the economic daily that the new service will offer attractive prices, especially for international and long distance calls. Clients will be able to communicate using both computers and traditional telephones. Mr Eierhoff also revealed the group's intention to proceed with acquisitions to compete with T-Online, the Deutsche Telekom on-line server, market leader in...