Local ISP Tiscali World Online has launched its cellphone offering and plans to differentiate itself from other cellular service providers through superior customer service. Tiscali World Online Cellular is targeted at high-end users, businesses and corporate clients, but all Vodacom tariff plans will be on offer.
Earlier this year Vodacom sold its shares in World Online to Tiscali, a Milan Stock Exchange-listed company, after deciding to dispose of non-core business and refocus on voice activities. One of the conditions of the sale was for World Online to become a Vodacom service provider, selling cellphone handsets and Vodacom airtime.
This is in line with the company`s strategic focus on the convergence of Internet and mobile technologies, and especially on the convergence of voice and data, says Graeme Victor, Tiscali World Online MD.
"We understand the frustrations that cellphone users experience with their accounts, from incorrect billing to inefficient call centres and faulty phones," says Victor. "We are focusing on customer service and customisation. We have drawn on our experience as a successful communications company to provide superior levels of service through embracing the convergence of technologies."
With World Online Mobile the ISP has brought the Internet to its subscribers` mobile devices. The new cellular offering complements this convergence and ensures that subscribers have more portable, more convenient and faster communication access than before.
"We will be keeping our customer base informed of new technology developments and will offer a total communication solution to attract our target market," says Victor.
He adds that the new cellphone services are in line with the company`s strategy to grow business-to-business and business-to-customer connectivity, related services and portal revenue.
Tiscali World Online will offer its current subscribers a discount of 5% on new cellphone accounts, while corporate and business customers will be able to take advantage of bulk discounts. The ISP is also offering a least cost routing service which allows cellular calls made via a switchboard to be routed to a Vodacom SIM card, resulting in savings of up to 30% on business telephone accounts.
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