US West Inc has extended its agreement with France Telecom on Minitel viewdata has launched a version of the Minitel electronic phone book in the Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota conurbation. At the end of the second quarter of 1993 we will be evaluating this offering for other cities – Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, cities like that, US West said. The partners will also work together on launching such services in other countries via their Community Link Minitel Associates joint venture, which is 60% owned by US West and 40% by France Telecom. Making clear that they are serious about the project, they have invested $80m in it. No chance of US subscribers getting Minitel terminals free, as they did in France though they can access the directory either via personal computer or by renting or buying a Minitel terminal, which will cost about $12 a month to rent or $250 to buy. Consulting the directory will cost 15 cents a minute where phoning directory enquiries in the US usually costs 50 to 75 cents a call, but the first three to six calls per line are free. To start with, users in Minneapolis-St Paul using their electronic directory will be consulting US West’s database held on France Telecom’s electronic directory system in France. France Telecom and US West said they are talking about other projects beyond information services, but declined to give any details.
