30 March 2000 - Oh Yeah! Vodafone answers the call of the bush to provide 100% mobile phone coverage across Australia Senator the Hon Richard Alston launches Vodafone.
Globalstar Vodafone today unveiled its new Globalstar service that will provide 100 per cent mobile phone coverage across Australia and up to 200 nautical miles off the mainland and Tasmania.
Vodafone Globalstar represents a significant investment on behalf of Vodafone Australia to provide the first ever fully-integrated GSM/satellite mobile phone service in Australia.
The unique service offered by Vodafone Globalstar is designed to cater to Australia's vast and rugged landscape and will allow Vodafone to effectively answer the call of Australians living in rural and regional areas for improved telecommunications services.
Vodafone Globalstar is a high quality, easy-to-use and affordable GSM/satellite mobile phone service for all Australians wherever they may live work or travel.
Vodafone Pacific Chairman, Mr Rob Ferguson said, "The launch means that Vodafone Globalstar customers will now be able to make or receive mobile calls and send messages even when in the most remote parts of the country. The Vodafone Globalstar system has been designed to complement and build upon our existing GSM infrastructure, reinforcing our commitment to extending mobile phone coverage throughout Australia."
Customers can access the service from today in New South Wales, southern Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia with dealerships opening their doors in more than 150 new locations. The remainder of Australia will be fully operational in May this year, completing the rollout of Vodafone Globalstar and 100 per cent mobile phone coverage to the nation. In total, 450 outlets will be authorised to sell the new service Australia-wide.
At linked events in Sydney and Dubbo today, the Federal Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Richard Alston, and former Australian Businesswoman of the Year and rural icon Sara Henderson, officially launched Vodafone Globalstar. The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, welcomed Vodafone Globalstar's investment in Australia.
"Australia is a world leader in adopting new technologies, especially in the communications sector. Australian cities and major rural areas are well served by terrestrial mobile telephony systems - including Vodafone's GSM network," Senator Alston said.
"With the advent of satellite based systems such as Vodafone Globalstar, Australia's sparsely populated rural and remote regions will now also have access to world class mobile telephony systems - fully destroying the "tyranny of distance"."
Sara Henderson attended the Dubbo launch event and is sure the rural and regional community will welcome this new service.
"Business and industry in remote outback areas have the same, if not greater need, for mobile communications because of the vast distances we need to cover. We can't always get in a car or cab and meet someone in person, our nearest neighbour may be 10 km to 100 km away and in my case it's 75 km just to my front gate. Being in contact anywhere and at any time is absolutely vital."
The Vodafone Globalstar handsets can be used in any part of the country. When in areas serviced by Vodafone's existing network the handset communicates via GSM, however once in more remote areas the phone switches to satellite mode.
Customers have the choice of the Telit SAT550 that is available in stores today or the Ericsson R290 that will be available for purchase next week. Vehicle mounted kits for on-road use are also available next week. House kits and portable marine kits for boaties are being developed and will be available soon.
Globalstar handsets will be priced competitively, from $1,099 on plan. To celebrate the launch of Vodafone Globalstar customers can purchase the Telit handset at a special introductory price of $999 on plan, or only $733 tax exempt for primary producers, valid until 30 June 2000.
Satellite call rates will range from $1.80 per minute to as low as $1.62 per minute, depending on the plan the customer chooses. Calls made using Vodafone's existing GSM service on the same handset will be charged at the usual Vodafone rate, which is as low as five cents per minute. All calls are billed by the second so the only time customers pay for is the time they use.
With Vodafone Globalstar customers receive 100 per cent coverage, one bill, one normal mobile number, one mobile phone and one fully-integrated, quality Vodafone service.
Mr Ferguson concluded, "I believe today's announcement will establish Vodafone Globalstar as the fresh face of service for people living in rural and regional Australia, providing this country with the first fully-integrated mobile phone service with 100 per cent coverage."
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