All: just some I* pricing in New Zealand of all places! Not too many people to sell to, how about some sheep?
Maurice, what's the local exchange rate? Still sounds expensive even in Kiwi tender.
Jeff Vayda
cnnfn.news-real.com
Iridium bringing satellite cellphone services to NZ
The Dominion
SATELLITE phone company Iridium South Pacific aims to sell 2500 satellite
phones in the New Zealand market by the end of next year.
Tim Herring, Iridium South Pacific's Melbourne-based marketing and sales
director, says the company also expects traffic to be between 1.5 and 2 million
minutes a year by then.
In Auckland last week, Mr Herring says Telecom is an official sales agent for
the product, which will be launched in the market soon, and negotiations are
underway with BellSouth as well for a roaming agreement. Contracts with
BellSouth are still to be signed.
Under the roaming agreement, customers will use either BellSouth or
Telecom's networks where there is coverage, and Iridium's outside coverage
zones.
Iridium offers a global network provided by 66 satellites and its access number
8816 "is like that of a country", says Mr Herring.
"We are talking about 'planet Iridium' or 'country Iridium' because you dial the
international access code then our number."
An international directory service for Iridium customers is being set up.
Customers who wish to use the Iridium service will be required to buy a
satellite phone for about $6000, and the charges will be on either Telecom or
BellSouth's bills. The phone has a facility which allows customers to insert a a
smartcard for cellular network identification.
Mr Herring says pricing for New Zealand is still be finalised but he expects it
to be about A$5 (NZ$6) a minute, though customers who sign up for a
monthly access fee of $90 a month may expect to pay about $3.50 a minute.
Prices for New Zealand will be set by Telecom, he says.
He says a retail network is still being finalised for Iridium phones but he
expects it to be Telecom's top mobile dealers and network integrators. While
no phones have been sold in New Zealand yet, Mr Herring says interest is
high.
Iridium is targeting export companies and the international "travelling
small-businessperson".
(Copyright 1998)
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