2degrees has extended its range of one-month plans from one (it's $39 option) to five, and added a data component (see table above). The new plans launch Wednesday. On August 3, correctly anticipating a 2degrees' move, Vodafone launched its first one
2degrees has extended its range of one-month plans from one (it's $39 option) to five, and added a data component (see table above). The new plans launch Wednesday.
On August 3, correctly anticipating a 2degrees’ move, Vodafone launched its first one-month contracts, including a plan that offered 60 minutes of calling and 600 txts plus one "best mate" for $39.95 (now $40.80 following the GST rise).
On September 16, 2degrees duly launched its own ultra short term plans, offering 120 minutes of calling time and 600 texts for $39.00 a month (the month being the entire duration of the contract; the price has been kept the same following GST).
Carry-over minutes
2degrees' unique selling point: if you don’t use your minutes, they roll over into the next month - or at least they do for up to a year, giving “one-month” contract holders an incentive to stick around.
Such so-called "carry-over minutes" also feature in the new range of plans listed above, and remain 2degrees' main unique selling point.
Vodafone had its own incentive for one-monthers to stay in the fold. They were promised 50% more minutes if they signed on for a (cough) good old-fashioned 12 month contract.
On September 27, Vodafone has sharpened that incentive, offering 100% extra minutes for one-monthers who upgrade to a year.
Those who have already signed up for one of the “SIMple” plans will be automatically upgraded.
And those who sign up by the end of October (for one month or longer) will get free Vodafone Weekends for the next 12 months, including unlimited calling and txting to Vodafone NZ mobiles from midnight Friday to midnight Sunday every weekend.
What's next?
Look for Vodafone to extend its unmetered data for Facebook and Twitter to on-contract customers in the New Year.
The carrier is currently only offering free Facebook and Twitter data (including photos, videos and other multimedia) to pre-pay customers.
Yesterday, Telecom managers were discussing how to reach the Auckland youth market - identified as a target a the company's September quarter results session by chief executive Paul Reynolds. So watch for developments in that space.
Currently, Telecom offers free Facebook data for both pre-pay and contract XT customers, but only for text updates.
At the company's September results briefing, Telecom Retail chief executive Alan Gourdie described this 0.Facebook.com initiative as a good way to encourage mobile users to use the full version of Facebook on their mobiles, helping to increase average revenue per user per month (arpu).
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