A Sussex telecommunications company plans to make e-commerce available to all companies, no matter how small.

ED Comms, based in Fishersgate, Brighton, is promoting an e-commerce package tailored for small to medium-size businesses.

The company has struck a deal to distribute software which can be used by people with little technical knowledge to build an online shop.

Steve Bevis, ED Comms internet services manager, said: "We have found setting up an online shop from scratch using this software can take as little as one hour to do.

"We have exclusive rights to sell this e-commerce solution, which not only provides an easy to set up shop but has ongoing support, update options and add-ons.

"It uses ASP (application service provision), which means a user has very little of the software on their computer.

Instead, they are linked using a standard browser interface to a server which stores all the information needed to run their online shop.

This means when a change needs to be made, it can be instantly uploaded without the user worrying about upgrading their systems.

Mr Bevis said: "Choosing how to invest and adapting to change can be a major problem for small businesses but, using this package, they pay an ongoing fee for someone else to worry about that side of the business."

A company headquarters has been set up ready for a major roll out campaign at the beginning of next month.

At present, there are about 50 staff preparing for the launch.

Mr Bevis said: "We have prepared office space and equipment ready to accommodate a team of more than 120 people.

"We are expecting a huge demand for this product. There is nothing on the market at present offering as many features with as much support and the price is within the reach of most businesses.

"The package costs from £200 a month and can be tailored to meet individual requirements. Our research shows there is market potential, not just in Sussex or the UK but across Europe, and we have a structured marketing programme ready to reach out sales into Ireland, France, Spain and Germany."

ED Comms was originally based in Hove, and some services are still operated from this location.