Esat Telecom has agreed to market a new a smartcard operated device aimed at making the Internet more accessible. Webnote, which has been designed by Irish company, Netnote International, will be available from Esat dealers from late June.

To use Webnote, a lightweight appliance, users plug it into a power point, connect to a standard telephone line and insert the Webnote smart card. Once online the user can browse the World Wide Web and send and receive Internet-based mail. It is typically suited to people who want to access the Internet and e-mail, without having to master the complexity of a PC.

All users of webnote will access the Internet via Esat Telecom's broadband fibre optic network, which offers local, national and international connectivity. Mr Sean Corkery, chief operating officer at Esat Telecom said the partnership was based on promoting not only Internet usage but on making Internet access easier.