With the gradual expansion of its new generation 3G mobile network and the increasing popularity of internet on mobile phones, Telefónica O2 is making a substantial change in the field of mobile data. From August 1, 2009, it has prepared a simplified billing system for all residential customers. Instead of the quantity of downloaded data, charges will apply to download time intervals. Every customer thus gets a clear overview of their expenses and can save a considerable amount of money. With the new billing method, all customers pay only CZK 20 for 10 minutes of downloading. Telefónica O2 is thus continuing in simplifying its services, just one year after introducing the simple and successful O2 Internet on Your Mobile tariff. Customers who don't use internet on their mobiles on a regular basis will especially appreciate the new billing method for mobile data.
"Our research shows that customers aren't able to orient themselves in the current billing method. It is difficult for them to guess how big web pages are and how much it costs to browse them. Data downloading has become considerably faster; in some cases customers still pay a high amount for a relatively short download. Therefore, we have prepared a new comprehensible and clearly-arranged system that does not take the quantity of data downloaded into account. The rate is constant and applies to a time interval of ten minutes. During one connection, the customer can thus browse a given page or read emails at their leisure, and they can easily gauge how much it will cost them," says Jan Karas, Director for Segment Marketing, Telefónica O2.
The new form of billing for mobile data is valid for new as well as current customers using residential postpaid and prepaid services. The billing unit is a time interval of 10 minutes, for which the customer pays CZK 20 including VAT, regardless of their mobile phone settings or how much data they download. A ten minute block is activated with a data transmission. During this block of time, the customers can download without interruption, but they also have the option of cancelling data downloads. Internet surfing will thus cost them less than before.
TABLE: average surfing done on mobiles - comparison of old and new billing method
| OLD BILLING METHOD "Mobile internet - DATA" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 page | Pages displayed during seven minutes of surfing | Rate per kB (cheapest current settings) | Total price |
| 150 kB | 5 | CZK 0.06 | CZK 45.00 |
| NEW BILLING METHOD "Mobile internet - TIME" | |||
| Any surfing, up to ten minutes | CZK 20.00 | ||
Example for regular surfing on a middle category phone, outside of the UMTS network
Another new feature recently added to O2 mobile data services is a clearly arranged mobile guidepost intended for easy orientation on the internet. It is still available to customers free of charge. The new system of the portal adapts completely to the type of phone being used. On the smaller displays of older handsets, there is a well arranged and simple guidepost; large displays of the latest phones show the guidepost with all its graphics. In the guidepost customers can find many useful links that are clearly separated into thematic categories, as well as well-known information and entertainment services. Services labeled O2 Active are free for everyone; from August 1, other services will be available at prices that correspond with the new mobile data billing method, or they will be included in the price of the O2 Internet on Your Mobile tariff.