BT is installing "Community Point" information kiosks in 50 sub-post offices in the county in partnership with the National Federation of SubPostmasters and Multimedia International Services Limited. It capitalises on post offices' traditional position at the heart of local communities, using them as natural access points for people without the internet at home and as an alternative to travelling to larger towns and cities for shopping and personal business.
Community Point is intended to broaden access to government services, provide self-help information and bring online shopping to local communities.
The new kiosks have a touch screen as well as a traditional keyboard and a printer. They have been designed so that services and information can be found quickly, although the sub-postmaster will also be on hand to help users.
Customers will be able to source a variety of information, from finding out about local schools, to tracking down their local councillor or shopping online. Users can print off information such as details of local jobs and forms such as driving license applications.
Julian Turner, head of Multimedia Solutions for BT Payphones, said: "For those without the means or time to travel to urban centres or those who are not connected to the internet at home, the kiosks are an ideal way to access information and take advantage of commercial offers. Community Point will also mean sub-postmasters can work more efficiently because customers with simple queries will be able to get the information on their own."
Rod Stevens, Commercial Director of the National Federation of SubPostmasters, said: "Community Point will be a great benefit to our customers, giving them free access to a wide selection of information and shopping sites. This is another example of the post office being at the heart of the community."
John Richardson, General Manager of Multimedia International Services, said: "Post office customers can now take advantage of the latest technology, with Community Point designed to be as accessible as possible. The kiosks also allow the Post Office another way to communicate information to its customers. The launch of Community Point follows the huge success of Subpostmaster TV, a digital TV network installed in Post Offices across the UK since January 2002."
The Leicestershire pilot, whose primary sponsor is National Savings and Investments, runs for six months and if successful will be rolled out across the country.
Leicestershire County Council and Blue Arrow, one of the UK's largest recruitment agencies, are two of a number of organisations who are also sponsoring the service.
Quelle: Publictechnology.net, 25.10.2004
