Cable and Wireless has inaugurated an alternative to British Telecom and the Post Office for small business micro users.

Easylink uses the Telecom network to offer electronic mail and telex services with the bonus of translation into foreign languages for exporters. The subscription is £30 and messages after the first hundred will cost 15p each. There will be additional monthly rental charges and the connection charge levied by British Telecom.

French and German translations (performed by people rather than machines) will be followed in two months by Spanish and Italian.