British Telecommunications PLC and USWeb/CKS have launched a consulting service to cash in on retailers’ greed for a piece of the electronic shopping market, estimated at $1.7bn this year and $10.2bn by 2000. Next PLC, a UK-based High Street store and home shopping brand, has already signed up to be a customer of the service. BT and USWeb/CKS plan to offer strategic planning, technology design and implementation, secure purchasing, confirmation, order tracking and brand development through one- to-one marketing. The partners say they will use their technology alliances with Microsoft and Compaq to build custom IT systems for online retailers.
