Vodafone NZ launches 'fixed-line' cellular service

Stuart Corner
Monday, 12 November 2007 06:39

Your IT - Home IT

Vodafone New Zealand has launched a cellular based fixed network bypass service similar to that offered in Australia by Optus subsidiary, Virgin Mobile. The move raises the possibility of a similar offering from Vodafone Australia. Both the Virgin Mobile service, launched in July and the New Vodafone NZ service, dubbed Vodafone at home, use what is in effect a cellphone built into a fixed unit with inputs for standard telephone handsets. According to Vodafone NZ, customers simply plug their existing handsets into the at home box and carry on making calls. Customers keep their existing phone number and take advantage of Vodafone’s new prices."
 
The at home box costs $NZ99 and the service costs $NZ39.95 per month and includes unlimited calls to any New Zealand land line number. Calls to Vodafone mobiles in New Zealand will cost 39 cents per minute and calls to other mobiles 55 cents per minute. International calls charges are the same as Vodafone New Zealand’s existing fixed-line offers.

The Virgin Mobile service, Virgin Broadband at Home, was launched in July . However it operates over the 3G network and includes Internet access. Charges are $60 per month for unlimited local and national long distance calls and 4GBs of download data. Optus has not disclosed how many customers it has signed for the service: these are included in overall Optus postpaid cellphone customer numbers. However, for the quarter from 1 July to 30 September, it added 65,000 of these

Vodafone NZ's service runs on its 2G network which does not support broadband data rates. However Vodafone NZ, which bought NZ ISP ihug in October 2006   is offering a discounted mobile broadband rate to those who sign up for the at home plan. Customers can buy the Broadband Everyday 1GB plan from $NZ39.95 a month, a saving of $NZ10 a month on the standard rate. This service is not supported though the at home box: customers will need a Vodem or a Vodafone Mobile Connect Card (from $NZ99).

Vodafone NZ External Communications Manager, Paul Brislen, told iTWire: "for now we're offering voice only. We have the advantage here at Vodafone NZ of owning our own fixed-line ISP so it's not as vital to us to get broadband capability in the first generation device. Instead, we can offer a relatively low entry price point and encourage voice-only customers (Telecom's heartland) over to the service." He added: "That's not to say this is the only product we're launching. It's a work in progress."

Telstra is also offering a fixed line alternative via its Next G network. Hoewever, officially at least this is being offered primarily to customers who are beyond the reach of its copper and presently have a fixed wireless service based on its CDMA network.