Vijayawada (AP): "State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will launch multi-system telephone by March, enabling customers to simultaneously use the telephone to watch TV and chat on the Internet,"a senior official has said.

Speaking to reporters here today Krishna district Telecom General Manager M John Chrisostom said the work on the project was on and would likely be launched in March.

He said the department will launch Fixed Line Prepaid (FLPP) PCO Account Card soon, which it would be launched at public call offices and coin collection office boxes initially.

It enables subscribers to make calls from a pre-paid account, which will be linked to the telephone number.

Unlike ITC service where authentication is done through a 16 digit pin the authentication of FLPP was implicitly linked to the CLI (Callter Line Identification) and the user, therefore, was not required to dial the account number pin.

Chrisostom said the department was also planning to commission 'hot spots' (Wireless Broad Band Connectivity) services at star hotels and railway stations, enabling up to 15 passengers or guests to use the Internet simultaneously.

It will also introduce gaming in broadband service, charging up to Rs 200 per month from the subscriber.

He said the department had a revenue target of Rs 168 crores for 2007-08 as against last year's Rs 13 million and provided three lakh connections in the city and 1,590 in the district's villages while another 23 villages were left.

"BSNL has come out with new offers in broadband and was keen to increase its base in high speed Internet service," he said.