Opening of Perth offices for Internet service provides OzEmail

May 7, 1997

Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan has opened new Perth offices for one of Australia's biggest Internet service providers.

Opening the OzEmail office jointly with company chairman Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Cowan said the company was at the leading edge of Internet development.

"It is in an ideal position to take advantage of the many opportunities which are becoming a normal part of corporate and community communications," he said.

A Perth-based company, Microweb, will manage OzEmail's operations in Perth under the name OzEmail West. The company offers a range of Internet value-added services, which include more than 40 point-of-presence sites for local call access, web design and implementation and network design and support services.

"What is most exciting is an OzEmail development which has the prospect of extending the Internet for telephone access in a user friendly manner and at much cheaper rates for long distance calls. It does not need a PC or individual Internet access, or special software," Mr Cowan said.

"As we all know, Western Australia is a vast State. We have had to be innovative in our communications, our transport and our services to enable this State to achieve its high production and export capability and support the social fabric of our community."

Mr Cowan said that keeping up with developments in information technology was no longer simply a question of working smarter.

"The Internet is becoming part of our everyday life," he said.

"What is around the corner is an entirely new way of conducting business - whether it is the business of private companies or Government, or providing new ways of training and education and conducting everyday commerce."

Mr Cowan said telecommunications was a critical but costly component. Companies which had products and services that could deliver cheaper and more flexible options were welcome.

"I look forward to learning of other new, hopefully home-grown, developments from innovative organisations like OzEmail," he said.

Microweb is a Perth-based company recently acquired by Future Technology Resources Pty Ltd to manage its WA operations. Microweb has had success with its innovative applications on Internet.

Future Technology Resources participated at the recent CeBIT exhibition in Germany. Its products and services were promoted as part of the group of WA exhibitors. The company has received support through the Department of Commerce and Trade's Export Market Support Scheme.

Local IT companies which exhibited at CeBIT were supported with a comprehensive CeBIT web page created by Commerce and Trade to promote their products and promote WA as an IT centre. Exhibitors at this month's ATUG '97 exhibition in Sydney will also have a specialised web page.

Media contacts: Peter Jackson (Minister's office) 9222 9595

Helen Forde (OzEmail) 0411 530 461