Aussie software drives Vodafone NZ 'home zone' mobile offering

Stuart Corner
Friday, 04 July 2008 10:03

Your IT - Home IT

Vodafone NZ mobiles can act like a fixed phone with a fixed number and fixed line rates when you use them at home, and the key technology behind the service comes from a small Australian company, Seeker Wireless.

Vodafone NZ claims that, for the first time ever, New Zealanders can have all their calls – whether they're made to a mobile or landline number – on one phone "No more juggling multiple phone bills, no more missing important calls to your landline, just because you're out and about," Vodafone says.

According to Vodafone NZ's general manager of products and services, Kursten Shalfoon, "Local Zone is a massive advance for small business owners in particular, allowing them to add a landline to their business for less than half the price of a fixed landline. It also means both businesses and consumers alike can keep their existing geographic landline number so their customers, or their Mum, can call without worrying about cost, yet they have added simplicity and mobility."

Prices start from $NZ20 for Local Zone - local, which gives unlimited local calls. National calling is 20c a minute and $NZ2.50 for two hours and all calls to the landline number when out of zone are diverted to mobile voicemail as standard.

Local Zone – national is $NZ40 a month for unlimited local and national calling. Calls to the landline number can be diverted to ring on the mobile when out of zone for a fixed charge of $NZ30 a month.

Vodafone NZ claims that customers on Telecom NZ's Anytime $NZ42.40 per month fixed line plan can save up to 52 percent of costs with its Local Zone service.
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