BT told to end call minder monopoly

BT must allow rival firms to offer alternatives to its Call Minder voice- mail service, the telecoms watchdog Oftel said yesterday.

Oftel said other companies should be able to set up competing services to BT's system, which answers calls, records messages and alerts customers when they have messages waiting. Earlier this year, BT was ordered to stop promoting Call Minder and not take on new customers, amid accusations that the way the service was operated discriminated against rival companies setting up alternatives.