Changing the game: radical changes to plan charges, more new handsets revealed before XT launch

Telecom today revealed more of the services coming on the new XT Mobile network including innovative changes to mobile plan charging, and a range of exciting handset and content announcements.

At a media briefing this morning, Group CEO Paul Reynolds said Telecom is changing the game for mobile customers by having fewer plans that are less complicated and take away the guesswork.

“We have reduced the number of mobile plans on offer from 60 to just 14 – in response to customers telling us they want choosing a plan to be easy.

“With Telecom’s new One Rate plans, you will no longer have to worry if you are calling during on-peak or off-peak – it’s now One Rate. Likewise, no more having to work out if you are calling someone on the same network or another network - it’s now all One Rate.

“And for pre-paid customers we won’t be rounding up your charges to the nearest minute – after the first minute of calling you will pay by the second not by the minute, which means you’ll get a lot more calling with every top-up.”

“Likewise Telecom has removed penalty calling rates if you go over your monthly included minutes, so if your plan has 100 included minutes and you use 112 minutes, the additional 12 are charged at the same per minute rate as the included minutes of your plan,” Dr Reynolds said.

For business customers and families, Telecom has introduced the new ability to share minutes between the team or whanau. Share Calling allows customers to group multiple users onto one plan, taking advantage of a lower per minute calling rate and free calling between group members.

Telecom also today revealed the final handsets that will complete the device line-up on launch day.

Telecom Retail CEO Alan Gourdie said this line-up includes nine NZ first devices, two world firsts and a number of models exclusive to Telecom customers.

Devices announced today include the Telecom R90, Samsung S8300, Nokia E75, LG GM310 and Telecom MF636 datacard.

Telecom also announced today some of the content services that customers will be able to enjoy over the new world class 3G network and available through the new mobile portal called TWorld.

Services included a partnership with Yahoo!7 to bring the Yahoo! OneSearch tool to Telecom mobile customers. Positioned on the homepage of Telecom’s new portal TWorld, OneSearch is rated globally as the best mobile search service.

“The Telecom Music store launching on XT network early June will have New Zealand’s most extensive online music catalogue. The store has 2.7 million music tracks to choose from and they will download over the XT network in seconds,” said Mr Gourdie.

All the major social networking brands will be available on Telecom mobiles including Facebook, Bebo, MySpace and Twitter – with some of them featuring exclusive content and functions only available to Telecom customers.

Gen-i’s mobility solutions for its business clients combine mobile, fixed line and broadband with business IT services, bringing it all together for competitive advantage.

The XT network is currently operational across the country with services due to be available commercially to customers by 29 May.

Customers who move to the new network won’t need to change their phone number, and Telecom and Gen-i will have a range of offers to make it easy for both new and existing customers to switch.

Telecom’s current mobile network continues to operate and will be supported as normal following the XT Mobile Network launch in late May.

For more information and the range of handsets visit www.testdrive.co.nz