PhoneLink Plc, the developer of the Tel-Me on-demand UK information retrieval system, has posted interim losses, reflecting the launch and marketing expenses of the service, which became available during the summer. However the Birkenhead-based telecommunications company says that it has now completed the Tel-Me infrastructure, spending UKP1.1m in the six months to September 30. Pre-tax losses were UKP2.0m on turnover up 36.0% at UKP797,000. The company is adding two new services for subscribers – an on-line catalogue from W H Smith Office Supplies Ltd and a hotel reservation system from Expotel, but the search for new services goes on. In October PhoneLink launched the Tel-Me AA Journey Planner and this month began a pilot on-line newspaper venture with the Liverpool Daily Post. Early 1995 will see two Internet access services and Tel-Me is also set to extend its services to mobile users, with an agreement with Cellnet Mobile Communications (CI No 2,552). Cash reserves have fallen to UKP4.1m, from UKP9.9m on flotation in May 1993 (CI No 2,176), but the company is not looking to raise any more. Rather, it hopes income will start coming from its subscribers, whose number it would not divulge. It continues to pay no dividend.
