BT steps up pressure with hardware services launch

BT has thrown down the gauntlet by stepping up the services it offers that compete with other resellers.

The telco giant has taken the wraps off its Onsite Hardware Repair service that offers SMEs 24/7 support within four hours.

Users are being offered three different packages to choose from ranging from the standard at £7.99 per PC or laptop a month through to the Anytime service that costs £14.99.

Colin Mattey, director, ICT and Solutions, BT Business, said that it was aiming to reduce the problems small companies had with getting technical support.

“We aim to cut unnecessary downtime for smaller firms at a fraction of the cost usually associated with emergency call-outs,” he said.

Barry Dodhia, marketing manager at services focused reseller Hemini, said that BT had a poor reputation in services provision, particularly around its broadband provision, and customers could have had their fingers burnt.

“Shouldn’t it be getting its house in order before starting other services?” he asked.