The governments £300m Broadband for All (Home Access) scheme (original news), which aims to help get low income families hooked up to the Internet by funding their connection and computer purchases with special grants (worth between £100 and £700 per family), has awarded "approved supplier" status to five UK tech firms.

The firms, which include XMA, Centerprise International, Positive IT Solutions, RM Education and Stone Computers, will all be responsible for supplying the programmes trial scheme with software, computers, support and or broadband.

Trials are due to begin with 20,000 disadvantaged families resident in Suffolk and Oldham from February. To quality the families would need to either have an annual income of less than £15,500 or be on benefits.