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16th June 2005 - BT today launched the world's first
combined fixed and mobile phone service.
The announcement marks an important milestone in the
broadband revolution which is allowing people to communicate
in ways they never have before.
BT Fusion works just like a mobile phone when you are
out and about, but switches automatically and seamlessly
onto a BT Broadband line when you get home.
That means you get all the convenience and all the
features of a mobile phone but with fixed lines prices
and quality.
BT Fusion can offer customers huge savings by allowing
calls to UK landline numbers to be charged at BT landline
rates of 5.5p for up to an hour for all off-peak calls
and 3p a minute at peak times.
For example, a BT Fusion 10-minute off-peak rate mobile
call from home will cost up to 95 per cent less than
the same call using a typical mobile competitor package.
Calls over broadband in the home means customers can
make a mobile call but with the quality of a fixed-line
and worry less about the signal being lost or dropping
out. A recent survey of BT Broadband customer revealed
that as many as 19 per cent had experienced problems
with mobile coverage in the home.
It is all made possible by a special access point installed
in the home – called the BT Hub – which uses
Bluetooth wireless technology to switch the BT Fusion
handset seamlessly to the broadband line – even
in mid-call.
The BT hub also works as a wireless (Wi-Fi) router–
allowing the user to connect up PCs, laptops, games
consoles and printers wirelessly around the home.
Ian Livingston, CEO for BT Retail, said: "We promised
to launch the world's first seamless combined fixed
and mobile service and now we're doing it. The service
will transform the communications landscape and bring
excellent value to customers.
"For the first time customers will be able to get
the best of both worlds in one service – combining
the convenience and features of a mobile with fixed
line prices and quality."
"The cornerstone of this strategy is BT Broadband
which can be wirelessly enabled – to link up everything
from your laptop, PC, games console to your home security
system – and now your mobile."
"We know that many of our customers enjoy the convenience
of their mobile phones when they're out and about -
but switch to using a landline phone when they arrive
back home to save money or because they have little
or no mobile coverage.
"We're now delivering a world-first service that
allows our customers to benefit from BT's great value
landline rates with guaranteed coverage at home. You
can even set the handset to work at more than one location.
"The launch of BT Fusion will start with approximately
400 early adopter customers, with the service being
widely available for delivery in September.
Customers who want to sign up for BT Fusion ready for
full roll-out can register their interest at www.bt.com/btfusion.
"BT is taking a world lead in pushing forward fixed-mobile
convergence and BT Fusion will form a significant part
of our growth plans."
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