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TIME Europe, July 1, 1996
Liberte, Egalite, Technologie
It's vive la difference at one web site
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When you've finished surfing the Eiffel Cybership, check out Wanadoo, France Telecom's new Internet service. Wanadoo offers the latest in French news, weather, sports and Youpi, a searchable mall of 1,500 sites. Since May, France Telecom has been offering Internet access for the price of a local call and a monthly connection fee of between 55 francs ($11) and 110 francs ($22).
Telephone companies from AT&T to Telecom Italia and even the Chinese have started offering Internet access to customers as an add-on to the monthly phone bill. France Telecom expects Wanadoo to attract at least a third of the online market, even though most French do not currently use the Internet.
To help overcome any resistance to the technology, the company will sell Wanadoo kits, including modems and Web browsers. Minitel System users will be able to get a videotex screen over the Net with a click of a button.
Sounds good for France Telecom, a company with $29 billion in 1995 revenues. But what's with the funky-sounding name? "Wanadoo" has no meaning but placed first during research trials. "It has a kind of exotic look," said Daniel Sainthorant, France Telecom Interactive's executive V.P. of marketing. "
And at the same time, it sounds English."
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