BT offers fixed/mobile service for smaller firms

Requires a broadband connection, enables limited concurrent calls

BT has unveiled a business version of its broadband-based fixed/mobile phone service, BT Fusion. Paolo Cuneo, general manager for BT Business, said, "From a technical viewpoint, it's the same as the residential offering, but we're targeting businesses having 10 employees or less."

BT Fusion requires a BT Broadband connection, and customers get a free Bluetooth broadband hub. The service costs £75 + VAT for six handsets per month, but only three simultaneous calls will be allowed over the hub. The service will launch with Motorola V560 and RAZR V3B handsets and there will be 50 free minutes per handset per month. Calls going through the broadband connection, including calls to local and mobile networks, will be charged at 50 percent of the standard rate. Calls going through partner Vodafone's GSM network will be charged at the standard rate of 6p per minute to other BT mobiles.

Current Analysis analyst Sandra O'Boyle, said, "The pricing is simple and easy to understand, which makes a nice change from mobile offers. It's basically half price on all mobile calls and the phones aren´t bad. For larger companies, BT is planning to wait for dual-mode GSM/Wi-Fi phones and route mobile calls over PBX in the office."

Pauline Trotter of analyst Ovum said, "BT Fusion for Business will appeal to small businesses who are rich enough to subscribe to BT Broadband, small enough to be covered by a single hub, sophisticated enough to use a wireless LAN and who make a lot of on-site mobile (voice) calls." However, Trotter added that it was not clear why small businesses should buy the business service instead of the consumer product. "They must decide for themselves which offer is best for them, based on their own usage patterns," she said.