Compuserve Ready to Let Users Access All Areas

Compuserve is preparing to focus its efforts on providing content across the Web, as the company opens up its proprietary system.

From the autumn, Compuserve will allow internet users to access its content for a reduced fee, without having to use its online system. The decision to unbundle its content and integrate it with the rest of the Web was interpreted by observers as a response to pressure from big- ger players with multinational telecoms infrastructure, such as BT, into the ISP area. Demon Internet recently announced it was seeking major investment to compete in the market.

A Compuserve representative denied that the decision represented a withdrawal from the internet access market: ?We are absolutely not retreating from internet access. Compuserve?s biggest strength has always been content. Now what we are saying is we will unbundle that content and make it accessible through an ordinary internet connection.?

Compuserve UK general manager Martin Turner has admitted that he believes the Net access market will be dominated by telecoms companies.

Compuserve will make its core content provision services, available on subscription. Limited content, such as company credit data will be available on a pay-per-view basis.

Although Compuserve is still the UK?s largest online service, the company has made losses for the past four quarters. Compuserve has been in talks with America Online, after Compuserve CEO Frank Salizzoni announced the company was up for sale.