BT, usually late to the party but never so late it can't squelch a little competition, has announced it plans to help create 12 wireless cities around the UK. It is targeting local councils with it's plan to rollout wireless zones in the urban areas. It has announced a number- 12 - but has deals with six: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff and Westminster. Meaning: "the Cloud, don't try to invest in rollouts in the next six cities we may choose." The Cloud announced in January it was attacking major cities to expand its Wi-Fi network across the UK, aiming at Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool and Kensington and Chelsea, Camden and Islington in London.

BT said in its announcement:

"Leisure and business applications, many developed by councils with BT and partners, will be available to a wide range of devices, including the forthcoming Wi-Fi version of BT Fusion and a similar product currently being developed for corporate customers. These handsets will use the wireless broadband network to make calls over broadband at landline rates and provide a rich media experience, such as video calling and access to internet applications and services."

I can't think of a better way to not innovate than to sit down with UK councils, but the strategy is clearly aimed at holding valuable ground for future wide-area wireless broadband business while UK consumers and businesses struggle to catch up with leading edge usage behavior.