Mercury One-2-One offers data over GSM 24 June
Mercury One-2-One has become the fourth UK digital phone service -- and the last -- to offer data over its GSM 1800 (megahertz) network to subscribers.

The company is also notable as being the cheapest to use for data, with a new per-minute rate of 15 pence for data, compared with rates of up to 25 pence per minute on some tariffs for voice calls. Some subscribers, on the so-called Simple Tariff, can place data calls for 10 pence per minute, Newsbytes notes.

According to Jan Peters, One-2-One's managing director, with the Internet driving awareness of the huge potential of data communications, there is increasing interest in "mobile office" products and services. "With the launch of this new service, our customers will be able to enjoy One-2-One's traditional value for money whether they are making fax, data, or voice calls," he said.

According to Peters, the data service is available for no extra monthly subscription for most subscribers of One-2-One's services, with the same 15 pence (10 pence for simple tariff customers) rate being charged all the time.

Although most One-2-One phones are not capable of supporting data, One-2-One has launched its own version of the Nokia 2110/2140 phone seen on UK and US networks. Known as the Nokia 2146, the digital phone, notable for its large screen, accepts the Nokia data card, a $500 PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) card and supports data transmissions of up to 9,600 bits-per-second.

The Nokia 2146 phone is being sold at a fairly hefty £199.99 on One-2-One, although Mercury is offering a 40 per cent discount as a promotion when the phone is bought in conjunction with a new One-2-One subscription. As previously reported by Newsbytes, One-2-One is unusual in marketing its handsets separately from the subscriptions, although Newsbytes notes that all One-2-One phones are "latched" (locked) to the One-2-One network.

Peters told journalists that, while some large companies have successfully integrated mobile data capabilities into their computer networks, One-2-One is launching it data service "just as advances in personal computers and software are bringing user-friendly mobile data applications within reach of the small- and medium-sized businesses who are already joining One 2 One in increasing numbers."

Further details of One-2-One's data service can be found on the company's Web pages at http://www.one2one.co.uk.

(Steve Gold/19960621/19960621/Press Contact: One-2-One, +44-1956-700121; Reader Contact: 0500-500121)


From the NEWSBYTES news service, 24 June