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BT free local calls available Dec 1
But the telco still won't come out and admit it
BT is to start offering "free" local calls from December 1 as part of a massive shake-up of its residential business, according to detailed internal documents seen by The Register.
Advertising for the new US-style inclusive tariffs and line rentals will begin on November 1 ahead of a major marketing push from the monster telecom.
The new services are more keenly priced than originally thought and cover a wider range of telcoms needs.
The documents reveal that BT Talk Together will cost £14.99 a month and includes line rental plus an unlimited number of local evening and weekend phone calls, as well as discounted national and international calls.
BT Surf Together provides line rental and unlimited Internet calls - to SurfTime-affiliated ISPs only - during the evenings and weekends. It will also provide discounted national and international calls - and all for £14.99 a month.
For those who want both unmetered off-peak Net and voice calls, BT is to introduce BT Talk & Surf Together. This includes line rental plus an unlimited number of local phone and Internet calls (to SurfTime numbers) during the evenings and weekends plus discounted national and international calls - and all for £17.99 a month.
The internal documents also shows that BT is set to increase the cost of the standard line rental from £27.76 a quarter (£9.25 a month) to £9.99 a month, although this increased tariff will include up to three hours of calls at local weekend rates.
Last week The Register reported that BT would introduce free local calls in December. This latest information confirms this - the only difference being a minor change in the branding of the service.
At the time, no pricing information was available although it was understood that the unmetered voice service would cost £19.99 a month - but this now seems a little high.
A spokesman for BT would not comment on these new revelations. He insisted that "BT keeps its price package under constant review in what is a very fast-moving and competitive market".
"We're looking at new possibilities all the time. Some of these come to light - some don't," he said. ®
Biting the hand that feeds IT
