What is an i+ point

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A. An i+ point is an internet terminal located on a public street providing free, if restricted, access to the internet. It provides primarily local information to its users, eg local transport news, council websites, job information and send-only email. You can also buy tickets, eg for the local cinema from an i+ terminal. Some kiosks also carry ITN news headlines.

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Q. Who manages these i+ points

A. They are usually managed by the local council and provided by Cityspace. All kiosks are maintained by Adshel.

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Q. How much does each i+ point cost

A. It is estimated to cost in the region of �10,000 per i+ point. But local councils do not usually have to pay this full fee as Cityspace also take payment in kind; councils can opt to give Cityspace's sister company Adshel the right to erect advertising billboards. Adshel will then pay Cityspace an agreed fee - local councils and bus companies have been working with similar barter deals for advertising on bus shelters for years.

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Q. Why are local authorities so keen to sign up for this scheme

A. It is a relatively cheap way of communicating with the residents of a borough. Electronic advertising can also be displayed on the screens in the i+ cubicle, and the idea is in tune with�the Government's "Modernising Government" agenda, whereby all local authorities get in line with the information age. By 2005 the Government expects 100% of all local government transactions to be available to the public electronically. It is believed that by this time you will be able to pay your council tax and parking fines at an i+ point, fill out e-forms, e-vote and obtain information on your benefits entitlement.

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Q. What does an i+ point look like

A. It is a stainless steel cabinet with toughened glass windows, similar in size to a telephone box, with a large i+ logo painted on it in white. It is big enough for wheelchair users to get inside the cubicle, with a touch-screen interface. It also has a credit-card reader for buying online, eg tickets.

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Q. Where can I find an i+ point

A. There are now hundreds around the country, primarily in London, but other major cities have also taken the initiative and installed them. They can be found at the following locations:

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Islington, London: More than 20 kiosks have been installed throughout the borough. Freemail is the most popular service. It was the first London borough to install an i+ kiosk.

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Southwark, London: The Borough of Southwark hit the news in September 2000 when its I+ points in Peckham and Camberwell were the first to link up to local childcare services, offering advice and help 24 hours a day with links to ChildcareLink.

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Kensington and Chelsea, London: Installed five kiosks near bus stops in March 2000. Kensington High St is believed to be the busiest i+ point, with over 2,500 visitors a month.

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Westminster, London: Westminster Council installed 30 kiosks in July 2001 in main thoroughfares e.g. Oxford Street, Bayswater, Victoria Street. These kiosks include access to the council's own Streetscene Channel for local information; e-street, which provides information on events in the central London area; freemail, a free email service; TV licence payment; local council news and Ticketshop, for reserving tickets online.

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Lambeth, London: Installed a booth outside Brixton Tube station in May 2001. If successful Lambeth Council will install more throughout the borough.

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Sutton, Surrey: Eight i+ points were installed in the borough in July 2001. Freemail has so far been the most successful service provided here.

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Bromley, Kent: The Borough of Bromley has installed 15 i+ points over the last year. The kiosks link directly to Signpost, Bromley council's local information service, plus other local services.

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Bristol: 20 i+ points were installed throughout the city in high streets, at bus stops and train stations and inside shopping centres in March 2001. One of its most popular features is e-street.com's city guide to Bristol which provides accurate information, maps, and images of Bristol's thousands of street-facing businesses. Information on every shop, pub, restaurant, cinema and hotel is checked every�six weeks to ensure it is up-to-date.

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Knowsley, Merseyside: The first i+ point outside London was opened here on 23 October 2000. The first kiosks were installed in the Huyton Shopping Centre, and followed throughout the borough.

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Additional i+ kiosks can also be found in Manchester and Reading. In London, i+ kiosks can also be found at many indoor locations such as Madame Tussauds and the Natural History Museum.

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Q. Was it an i+ point that was installed on a park bench earlier this year

A. No, this was a pilot free internet access scheme sponsored by Microsoft - it was installed on a park bench in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. It�hit the headlines earlier this year as it had not installed any call-barring technology, so two local school boys plugged in a telephone and called friends and family abroad. They were very honest, though, and called Bill Gates at Microsoft to tell him about the loophole. Needless to say, you can no longer make free phone calls from the bench. Microsoft paid for the internet access for three months after paying �60 for the bench and �30 to BT for the line installation. It will be up to the local council to continue the service if it proves to be a success.

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by Karen Anderson