BT repackages Fusion batphone for business

Firms need to tick boxes

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Networks, 8th February 2006 13:29 GMT

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BT has repackaged its Fusion phone for small businesses. When Fusion was launched last year it was boxed up as a consumer product.

Now, though, BT wants firms with up to ten workers to start signing up for BT Fusion - the phone that works like a mobile when used out of the office, while calls made from the office are routed over a BT broadband connection.

Which is one of the first stumbling points with this service. For firms to buy into Fusion they need to be a BT broadband punters as well. Which suggests that BT's marketing of the product - and how much it can save businesses on the cost of their calls - is geared more to retaining existing BT broadband punters.

With regards to BT's launch offer, firms ordering Fusion before March 31 can get it for £6.25 a month per handset for the first three months, subject to a 24-month contract, with 50 inclusive anytime minutes. After that, the standard line rental of £12.50 kicks in.

Analysts at Ovum, summed up BT Fusion for Business as appealling 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".

Last week, BT introduced "new simple tariff plans" for its consumer Fusion service. Despite bragging that the tariff changes would give punters the "chance to get even better value from the calls they make from home", the giant telco declined to say how many had signed up to the service so far. ®

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