BT outraged at AltaVista slur

Duck, or you'll be caught in the crossfire

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 22nd August 2000 11:36 GMT

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BT has slammed AltaVista for trying to blame the telco for the ISP's ignominious fall from grace.

In a statement, AltaVista tried to avert blame away from itself and onto a BT. It didn't even apologise for lying about its so-called unmetered service.

"The launch of AltaVista’s unmetered access service is dependent on availability of flat rate circuits from British Telecom," the disgraced outfit said in a statement.

Andy Mitchell, MD of AltaVista UK, said: "AltaVista access is the symptom but not the cause. We are reliant on the provision of flat-rate circuits from BT, direct to the end-user, to be able to offer a service that is sustainable, quality-focused, and economically viable. To date BT has failed to make this possible, and its continuing delays make it difficult to plan a solution."

A spokesman for BT said: "That's simply not true.

"BT has had a flat rate interconnect product based on Oftel's recommendations on the table since the end of May.

"AltaVista could have taken this up at any time.

"Their comments are frankly rubbish," he said. ®