Telecom (an MNO in New Zealand) has announced an early launch of its new world class 3G mobile network with services available to customers from 6.30pm on 13 May 2009.
CEO Paul Reynolds said the development of the Telecom XT Mobile Network had progressed extremely well and the service will be operational across the country from launch day. “This will mean world class 3G mobile service is available, for the first time, in 97% of places where Kiwis live and work.” Dr Reynolds said the XT Mobile Network will be faster in more places, and Telecom is poised to reveal an exciting range of mobile handsets and services.
Telecom today revealed a world-first exclusive handset, the W995 from Sony Ericsson. A sleek device with 8.1 mega pixel camera, Walkman music player and Outlook email support, the W995 will be available to Telecom customers before any others in the world from July. Another handset confirmed today was the Samsung F480 an exciting touch-screen device exclusive to Telecom and available from launch day.
“Telecom will also now provide New Zealand’s premium overseas roaming service with seamless international roaming to more than 206 destinations for voice calling and SMS and at least 110 destinations for mobile data,” Dr Reynolds said.
Just one example of the content coming on the new network was revealed earlier this month when Telecom signed an exclusive partnership with NZ’s favourite youth social networking site Bebo. This gives Telecom customers the ability to update their Bebo profiles with photos and video and interact with friends via their mobile. “While we are fired-up by the technology and services that will be on offer, we have also made a commitment to back this with a standard of customer service and support that our competitors can not match,” Dr Reynolds said.
Telecom is investing over $574 million in the new network over a two year period which reflects investment in the core network, retail stores and services, and extensive investment in fibre to ensure an unparalleled customer experience.
Customers who wish to move to the new network won’t need to change their mobile number, and Telecom and Gen-i will have a range of offers to make it easy for both new and existing customers to switch to Telecom’s new mobile network. Telecom’s current mobile network continues to operate and will be supported as normal following the XT Network launch.
[Via: Telecom]