BT Analyst: pricing
No. 28/10/2004
Ofcom has concluded that BT Group plc (BT) has not infringed Section 18 (the Chapter II prohibition) of the Competition Act 1998 or Article 82 of the EC Treaty by providing an electronic billing analysis product (BT Analyst) free of charge to its retail business telephony customers.
BT offers BT Analyst free of charge to its business retail telephony customers that have five or more lines or accounts. Where customers take up BT Analyst, a paper bill is not provided.
Designbyte is a software and outsource company that designs, develops and distributes electronic telephony billing analysis software products and services. Designbyte provides an electronic billing analysis service (which is known by the product name Magictelecom) directly to business retail telephony customers.
On 30 October 2003, Designbyte complained to Ofcom that the provision of BT Analyst free of charge to BT’s business retail telephony customers had the effect of foreclosing competitors attempting to supply billing analysis products directly to retail business telephony customers.
Ofcom has considered the available evidence and concluded that BT's conduct does not amount to an infringement of the Chapter II prohibition or the prohibition in Article 82 and, therefore, there are no grounds for action.
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