Brussels, 14 February 2007 - Mobistar launches on 19 March 2007 Mobistar AtHome, which puts the mobile operator into competition with fixed telephony players in the residential market. Mobistar AtHome makes calling to fix numbers in Belgium and abroad from home using a mobile phone cheaper than with a fixed phone. Customers no longer need a fixed line at all, and enjoy greater convenience.
The huge commercial success of technological hardware (mobile phones, iPods, BlackBerry, etc.) proves that our society is becoming more and more mobile. Market research shows that 65% of Belgians still have a fixed phone line at home. They keep their fixed line to call more cheaply to fixed numbers in Belgium and abroad and/or for an Internet connection. But 63% prefer to be "mobile only". This means that Mobistar has tremendous potential in this area. An innovative, competitive product offering a maximum user convenience for customers is therefore required in order to exploit that potential.
Mobistar has decided to opt for a substitution strategy in the residential market, and launch Mobistar AtHome. Mobistar AtHome is the perfect response to the replacement of fixed by mobile in the residential market.
Mobistar customers who take up this option can call 40 hours from home for just 10 euro/month using their mobile phone to any fixed lines in Belgium and they enjoy competitive rates for international calls (0.15 euro/min.). Mobile-to-fix calls in the customer's homezone will become substantially cheaper. The geolocation of the customer at home uses the Cell-ID from the closest GSM antenna.
Customers who choose this option save every month the cost of a fixed line subscription, and have the convenience of a single handset, one address book, one invoice and one customer service. For customers who want to use the Internet in this package without a fixed phone line, there is Mobistar ADSL Connect.
In a competitive market, with a current SIM penetration of 89%, Mobistar has opted for a strategy that will intensify competition. With Mobistar AtHome, Mobistar aims to break through the monopolised market of fixed telephony. Consumers will benefit from this, and will enjoy an ever more competitive offering.