V21 takes the Biscit

ISP V21 and Biscit are to merge in a plan to take on the big boys for a slice of the converged broadband and VoIP market.

The deal should go through in 60 days. Biscit hopes to flog its FreeMax combined voice call and broadband internet package to V21's 43,000 punters. Biscit, a BT ADSL reseller, has 6,000 customers.

The combined company will employ around 30 people.

Biscit CEO Hugh Paterson said: "Merging with V21 fits perfectly with Biscit's forward strategy to compete directly with companies such as Carphone Warehouse, Orange and Sky."

He told The Register: "We're going head to head with Carphone Warehouse. The difference between our product and theirs is that ours is available," referring to Carphone Warehouse's problems in meeting demand for the Talk Talk "free" broadband offer for voice customers.

V21 CEO Steve Kaye chipped in: "Clearly, Biscit is now one of the most dynamic and ambitious voice and data providers in Britain."

It's still a bit of a silly name, though. ®