Accessing and sharing information is an increasingly important part of our business and social lives. More and more people are connecting to the Internet, the world's largest computer network.

BT and News International jointly launched LineOne - a new mass-market Internet service. LineOne uses BT's technical skills in providing easy Internet access and News International's editorial and publishing skills in providing content.

And you don't need a multimedia PC to get on-line. Touchpoint, BT's interactive public information kiosk, is being put through its paces in London, providing everything from news and sport, through to the opportunity to order theatre tickets, flowers and wine.

There are already more than 2.4 million commercial sites on the Internet and predictions are that business and retail transactions over the Internet will expand extremely rapidly over the next few years.

And a need has developed within the business world for secure internal networks which can link in to the Internet. Intranets - private corporate networks based on Internet technology - are now proving extremely popular with corporations for their internal communications.

For example, working for the National Health Service, BT has created Europe's first commercial intranet - Healthnet, linking hospitals and GPs around the UK.