S'pore, Microsoft discuss Internet access
S'pore, Microsoft discuss Internet access
SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. said yesterday it was holding talks with U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp. on an Internet access venture that could give the local company a head start over its rivals.
"We confirm the discussions are on with Microsoft," said a spokesman for Singapore Telecom, which reportedly is working out a deal to provide access to the Internet for Singapore users of the Microsoft Network on-line service.
Microsoft Network was launched on Thursday together with Windows 95, its new personal computer operating system.
The Business Times newspaper, quoting sources, said yesterday the deal could take the form of an agreement whereby local users of Microsoft Network who want to access the Internet are automatically linked through SingNet, Singapore Telecom's gateway to the global information network.
For SingNet, the newspaper said, this could mean a potential flood of new subscribers as Microsoft Network is expected to be widely used, both here and in other countries. Windows 95 has built-in capability to access the service.
In Singapore, access to the Internet, the global collection of computer networks connecting over 30 million users, is regulated by the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS).
TAS has so far given licenses to Singapore Telecom and Pacific Internet, which has not been approached by Microsoft so far. A third license is expected to be issued after tenders were called in May.
Pacific Internet bought a gateway to Internet from Singapore's National Science and Technology Board in June.
There was earlier speculation that Microsoft, the world's leading maker of personal computer software, would become an unofficial fourth Internet access provider here, by offering access via its own on-line service, as it is now doing in the United States.
TAS told the Business Times that because Microsoft does not have the necessary license, it cannot provide Internet access in Singapore through its Network service.
A deal with Singapore Telecom will allow Microsoft to circumvent that problem.