Comet has bumped up its eagerness to offer IT support to UK home users and small businesses, with the nationwide launch today of its "Comet On Call" service.

The electrical retailer, which has 250 stores throughout Britain, has been quietly operating the service since March 2007 in Bristol, Oxford, Banbury and Hereford.

But it has now rolled out the service nationwide, offering customers technical support at home and in-store.

The firm has provided a website, in-store "drop and collect" points and a helpline for customers.

The service includes wireless network support, PC health checks and setting up new computers.

It is open to any home-computer owner and not just customers who buy equipment at the store.

Earlier this year, Comet's retail rival Carphone Warehouse adopted its own version of Best Buy's Geek Squad, offering a strikingly similar IT support concept for customers. ®