BT Fusion for business
BT Group PLC
14 December 2006
DC06-669 December 14, 2006
WORLD-FIRST BT FUSION NOW AVAILABLE WITH WI-FI
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
BT today launched BT Fusion Wi-Fi for business, bringing together the benefits
of fixed and mobile convergence on one mobile device, with seamless two-way
handover between Wi-Fi and GSM.
The new service will give small business customers a range of benefits to
increase their productivity and performance, including: high speed access to
business applications in Wi-Fi mode at up to five times faster than GPRS, free
access to all your fixed and mobile voice messages stored in one place, and call
rates as cheap as 5p for 60 minutes from the office and out and about.
Two cutting edge dual-mode Wi-Fi mobile handsets are available from BT
immediately, the Nokia 6136 and the Motorola A910. Samsung's P200 will be added
to the range next month.
When combined with BT Business One Plan, BT's triple-play package for mobile,
fixed and broadband, prices start from just £15 a month including the handset,
allowing businesses to squeeze extra value from their existing BT broadband
line.
In the office, or at BT Openzone hotspots, for up to 60 minutes customers pay 5p
for UK fixed line calls, less than the cost of a text; 15p for calls to BT
mobiles, and 25p for calls to other UK mobiles. On the move all calls to both
fixed and mobile numbers are capped at 25p for up to 60 minutes.
Steve Andrews, managing director of Mobility and Convergence, said: "This is a
great day for small businesses. Customers tell us they need communications
services that are better, simpler and faster to help them succeed wherever they
are working.
"BT Fusion brings together in one service, high speed access to critical
business information, free access to all your messages stored in one place and a
great value calls package - wherever you are, all on one high quality handset."
BT's estate of around 2,000 Openzone hotspots at premium business locations,
such as airports, railway stations and hotels, as well as an increasing number
of leisure sites, mean that it is in a unique position to offer customers even
more places where they can get higher quality, ultra high-speed access and fixed
line rates for all their BT Fusion calls.
Additionally, BT's plans to build a first phase of 12 Wireless Cities by the end
of March next year means that most of the UK's major city centres will soon
offer comprehensive, high quality, Wi-Fi coverage with Openzone access.
Andrews said: "We were the first to market in the world with BT Fusion, we've
already offered UK businesses the first triple-play tailored for their needs and
now we are the first to offer them fixed-mobile handsets using Wi-Fi, at home,
in the office and out and about with BT Openzone. And we will continue to build
on our extensive and growing Wi-Fi network."
The new groundbreaking service also includes a free 20Mb GPRS data allowance so
that businesses can use their mobiles for more than just phone calls without
worry. Customers can use their handsets to access their e-mails, business
applications and the mobile internet, in the office and at BT Openzone hotspots
at faster speeds than GPRS.
Also available free is Call Minder Multi, BT's smart messaging service, which
combines the customer's mobile and landline voicemail, giving them only one
mailbox to call to pick up all their messages.
Other benefits for Wi-Fi Fusion customers are that they can keep their existing
mobile number, receive a single bill and have just one point of contact.
Customers can visit http://www.btbusinessshop.com/page/btfusion_hub or call
0800 345 7630 for more information.
For more information please contact Michael Jarvis on 020 7356 6045, e-mail:
michael.2.jarvis@bt.com or Leslie King on 020 7356 5383, e-mail:
leslie.king@bt.com
Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its
24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369.
All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and
services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked
IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and
higher-value broadband and internet products and services. BT consists
principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail
and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended March 31, 2006, BT Group plc's revenue was £19,514 million
with profit before taxation of £2,040 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and
encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is
listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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