Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/08/09/btclick_unveils_voip_helpline/

BTClick unveils VOIP helpline

Great idea -- well, kind of...

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 9th August 1999 13:09 GMT

Internauts who need help using BTClick can now speak directly to helpline staff directly over the Net. Hyped by BTClick as the first time a subscription free service has introduced such software, it claims that users will be able to make calls to the helpdesk while surfing the Net at the same time. BT reckons this is a major advance in voice over the Internet technology. But anyone who has tried speaking to people over the Net will know it can be ropy even at the best of times. The delay in the voice transmission is reminiscent of transatlantic TV satellite broadcast where it appeared that questions were answered even before they were asked. There is one other problem. What if your reason for contacting the helpline is because you can't access the Net in the first place? ®