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)