Electronic Commerce British Trade Secretary Stephen Byers has introduced a consultation document intended to give Britain the most attractive legal framework in the world for doing economic business. The British government intends to introduce legislation in Parliament in April in hopes of passing new laws later in the year. For consumers the move could mean lower prices and new services and features. This can also help give the customer more and more control and more and more integration. The heart of the switch is a move to packet switching technology like that used by the Internet.
Packet switching is much more efficient than today's circuit switching system.
Wireless service is especially exclusionary, as companies are not obligated to serve everyone and can deny people with bad credit. Currently, SBC, based in San Antonio, is waiting to hear from regulators that would allow it buy Ameritech, extending its reach into the Midwest. But William Barr, of GTE's general counsel says competition is hurt by federal subsidies. It is impossible for non-subsidized companies to compete in rural areas where firms are receiving federal funds to serve residents, he says. Privacy Richard M. Smith, a computer programmer, compares it to a Social Security number being stamped on every document a person creates on a computer operating with the Microsoft Windows 98 operating system.