British Telecommunications Plc will be marketing all its value added data services under the Dialcom name from April 1988, as part of its ambition to create an international data network, based around the X400 message-handling protocol. The company has moved its value-added data services unit into Dialcom, taking into its fold value-added business services that are currently part of British Telecom Enterprises and includes Yellow Pages, Telecom Gold and Gold 400, Prestel and Dialcom Inc, the original electronic mail business acquired from ITT Corp three years ago. The company’s computer network services division, providing technical support to the UK operation is also included. Telecom intends to establish an international ‘intelligent’ network infrastructure as part of its data network plans, and intends to use it to market its existing services worldwide – but that won’t be established until 1990s. Dialcom is virtually a household name now, controversially claimed a Telecom spokesman, the company has licensees in 16 countries outside the UK. The new group will have four marketing arms serving the US, the UK, continental Europe and ‘other countries worldwide.’ Dialcom Inc president John Morris is chairman of the new group, which starts life with ?60m annual sales. Telecom launched an X400 service, Pathfinder, in the US in 1987 through Dialcom.
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