BSkyB, Macro 4 launch first e-billing service using Sky Interactive Microbrowser

BSkyB has partnered with global software company, Macro 4 plc, to launch the world`s first service to enable consumers to view their bills and get answers to basic queries using a comprehensive service on Sky`s new interactive platform. The same solution will enable telephone, power and retail finance organisations to offer e-billing, customer service and account information to their customers as a service on Sky`s Interactive Digital TV platform (iDTV).

"With analogue switch off due for 2010, Interactive Digital TV is an ideal mechanism to deliver efficient and high quality customer service to UK consumers. Sky are leading this field, demonstrating an ideal way for any organisation to offer the benefits of electronic billing to their customers," comments Ian Valentine, Technical Alliances Director for Sky Interactive Limited.

Tobin Ireland, Commercial Director of Sky Interactive Limited, recognises: "For many organisations, iDTV is already a vital component of their multi-channel service delivery strategy, and can add value to call centre or other traditional operations."

Alan Sloan, Director of Group Operations at Macro 4, adds: "The new service is convenient and easy for consumers, who can view bills and other information on their TV screens, with the potential to analyse their billing data from the comfort of their armchairs. It`s great for organisations, who can use bills to regularly draw consumers into their iDTV sites to offer them new products and services. Ultimately they could eliminate printed bills altogether, resulting in massive savings against the print, postage and admin costs currently associated with producing millions of paper bills."

Some 200 000 Sky Digital customers were offered the new iDTV e-billing service on a trial basis for more than six months. The service was then rolled out to its full customer base of 5.7 million Sky Digital households.

Macro 4`s award-winning document management and delivery software, Columbus, has been adapted to drive this new market. It takes existing computer generated bills and documents and automatically converts them into a format that can be viewed on iDTV or the Internet.

"What`s interesting is that we`re using Sky`s enhanced WML microbrowser technology to present the bills in a format compatible for viewing on TV. Ever since it was introduced, the telecom industry has been looking for an effective use for WAP technology - I`m pleased to say we`ve found one," adds Alan Sloan of Macro 4.