Vodafone Launches Small Business Fixed-Mobile Service
Vodafone Australia, Cisco and Research In Motion (RIM) have announced a three-way initiative to deliver integrated business communications services in Australia, to be marketed as Vodafone Business One. The service will be focusing primarily on small-medium sized businesses of between 10 to 100 employees.
Launching later this year, Vodafone Business One will combine all telecommunication services - fixed and mobile, voice and data, services and equipment - into one managed service with single-point accountability on installation, technical support and fleet management and one monthly invoice.
Russell Hewitt, CEO at Vodafone Australia explained the significance of the announcement: “Today, Vodafone Australia makes it’s most significant strategic play since the launch of 3G services three years ago. With the announcement of Vodafone Business One, Vodafone has evolved from being a 'mobile-only’ provider, to the world of full-service telecommunications services, enabling Vodafone to bring the principles of innovation and competition it has delivered in the mobile space to the fixed-line arena.”
By using Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerry smartphones along with Cisco Wi-Fi and IP-PBX in the office, Vodafone Business One customers can use their BlackBerry smartphones to make calls within the office zone at fixed-line rates, while making calls outside the office via the Vodafone mobile network. Both fixed and mobile calls will be covered by a single account-level service fee.
An integral part of the Vodafone Business One solution, BlackBerry smartphones can automatically select Wi-Fi as the preferred transmission method to send and receive calls and emails, as well as access other data applications, when in the office. Customers can choose to use IP phones or their BlackBerry dual-mode smartphones while in the office.
Vodafone, Cisco and RIM have been collaborating for more than 12 months to develop the converged solution of services and equipment and since early 2008, Vodafone Business One has been deployed at a number of Sydney-based businesses, where the service has undergone stringent testing, development and refinement.
Vodafone says that it will begin a progressive rollout of Vodafone Business One over the coming months to small and medium-sized enterprises in New South Wales before extending the service to customers in all major business centres by the end of the year.
Posted to the site on 25th June 2008
