A new scheme is to be launched in the South to make life easier for both business and domestic users of computers.

Southampton-based Computer Intelli-gence is setting out to encourage smaller computer services companies to promote themselves in their own localities. This should give computer users the option of using a local expert as opposed to a remote corporation.

Peter Hardy, managing director, said: "A lot of users prefer to call on someone local if only they can be found. In many cases, particularly in the computer services industry, small companies give a better, more personal service but don't have the marketing budget to publicise themselves.

"Our idea is to pool the resources of many such companies to advertise. We use a single freephone number and refer the enquirer to their nearest specialist.''

He has already successfully set up investor and mortgage intelligence networks.