CallNet in ‘destructive’ whispering campaign

The new head of World CallNet has refused to comment on allegations that only a handful of its unmetered punters have signed up to its new unmetered service.

On Tuesday CallNet ceased offering unmetered Net access to its 100,000 punters. Industry insiders have claimed that only 2,000 people have opted for Callnet's new 1p a minute metered service.

"I can't confirm or deny anything," said Gerard Farley, president of World CallNet.

Asked whether the ISP was effectively being run down in favour of World CallNet's other major asset, the text-based email and information service, M@ilTV, he said: " Not at all. It [the ISP] is a very valuable business."

"The 0845 business is as strong as it has ever been and we're delighted with its performance," he said.

Farley said a whispering campaign was being "destructive to the company" and warned that people should be "circumspect about what they hear".

In August shareholder pressure forced the company to restructure the board. The founders of World CallNet - Paul Goodman Simpson and his brother Aaron, plus CTO Keith Goodyer - were ejected and replaced.

A series of announcements recently has suggested that the new board is looking to spin-off M@ilTV into a separate company based in the US.

But according to NMA Paul Goodman Simpson and a number of shareholders are considering a class action law suit against World CallNet to halt the asset stripping. ®

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