Google leads initiative to get small businesses online

Google, BT and Paypal have launched a new campaign aimed at getting small businesses online. The 'Getting British Business Online' (GBBO) campaign has been set up to help small firms get a web-based presence for free.

The GBBO initiative has been initiated in response to a recent survey that showed over 1.5 million small firms had no web presence due to cost implications or complexity of setting a website up.

The initiative allows small businesses based in the UK to setup a free .co.uk website by entering basic company details. The features available include Google maps business listings, Google analytics to monitor website traffic, and telephone support provided by BT. Paypal are also offering eCommerce solutions to small businesses through their websites.

Lord Mandelson, the Business secretary, commented:

"Encouraging more businesses to seize the opportunities the internet offers is particularly important now that the economy is growing again. Getting British Business Online brings together valuable support to set up a website and training to make the most of the internet."

Despite this good news for small british businesses there has been an outcry from a number of web-development companies as they feel that the GBBO initiative undermines the "long-term commercial viability of the web sector that earns its livelihood from selling similar packages", commented Stuart Spice, owner of web-development software firm Mr Site Ltd.