[Source: The Paypers, Friday 22 May 2009]
BT Tradespace, an online social networking community for small businesses, has launched the BT Book It Now online payment and booking service which allows UK consumers to make payments via a social networking system.
Via BT Tradespace’s web 2.0 platform, businesses can engage with customers, partners and suppliers by accessing social networking and blogging tools. The new service, which integrates Dutch online booking applications developer Libersy’s technology, will be made available to users of Tradespace facilities via the BT Tradespace business network.
The initiative allows for companies in the service industry, including hairdressers, restaurants, sports clubs and consultants to add a PayPal payments system to an online bookings platform within a social network environment where customers can book appointments and make online payments. The Book It Now comes in three versions: free, basic and advanced. The basic package offers businesses the possibility of accepting full or partial payments, as well as adding other services.

