State-owned Indosat launches interactive Internet service
State-owned Indosat launches interactive Internet service
JAKARTA (JP): State-owned international telecommunications
carrier PT Indosat launched yesterday Indonesia Interactive, an
interactive Internet service in cooperation with U.S. software
company Microsoft.
Indosat's president, Tjahjono Soerjodibroto, said that his
company and Microsoft also had formed an alliance for the use of
Windows NT, Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS) and
Microsoft BackOffice-based system to run variety of services.
"Microsoft's tradition of excellence and commitment to
Internet technologies made this the right choice for Indosat," he
said.
"Microsoft's technologies provide Indosat with a core set of
technologies that enable us to deliver Internet-based online
service and other broadband multimedia services. We will gain a
tremendous business and technical advantage across our wide range
of services for consumers and business."
Indosat, which is listed on the Jakarta, Surabaya and New York
stock exchanges, operates international telecommunications
service. Last year the company launched its Internet service,
Indosatnet, in a bid to tap the growing multimedia business.
Indosatnet applies MCIS technology in offering the Indonesia
Interactive, which is known as i2 locally. The i2 service
features news, business information, stock quotes, tour and
travel information, entertainment, news and chat-lines, net
meetings and movie previews.
MCIS enhances the i2 system by allowing users to personalize
their Internet service and choose subjects based on their
interests. Microsoft software can be used to search the Web for
Internet users. In addition, the system offers online financial
dealings, also known as E-Commerce, supported by Citibank.
The i2, which is also supported by Digital, is free to all
Indosatnet users and available to everyone on the net.
Microsoft's director of international business development,
Stephen Wu, said that his company and Indosat were working
together to deliver superior Internet-based services to
Indosatnet users.
"Indosat's commitment to our MCIS is the beginning of an
alliance that will take advantage of the strengths of both
companies," he said.
In a recorded video, Microsoft head Bill Gates said that
Indosat had been a leader in providing local content on the
Internet.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications
Joop Ave said of the i2 launch that the government, if necessary,
would dispatch "Internet cops" to block the transmission of
materials that go against the country's values.
Pornography and materials that threaten national security are
among the contents that would be restricted on the Internet, he
said.
Though Joop said such restrictions were technically feasible,
he did not know what device could be used to control Internet
access in Indonesia. (icn)