Orcon launches broadband-only Genius phone

Orcon has announced it will launch the Orcon Genius, a device that routes phone calls through a broadband connection, promising savings of millions for Kiwis in telecommunications bills.

The product goes on sale in a week on July 20, with price packages starting at $70, the company said today.

The device doubles as a wireless modem, putting phone calls over a customer's broadband connection.  This means Orcon can afford to offer a "market-leading price point" to the 84% of New Zealand households that Orcon's network delivers to, Orcon head of brand and communications Quentin Reade said.

He said more provincial areas of New Zealand had not had the price competition which Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch had since being unbundled.

"But now, we'll be able to bring this price point, this price point is substantially lower...it's going to start from $70 so it's going to be at least $40 cheaper than some of these people have been paying a month, which is pretty massive for mainland New Zealand."

Users can use the unit's hand set, plug their own in, and make calls as per usual, including keeping the same number, the release said.

The device will be "fiber-ready", or capable of being switched over to the Ultra Fast Broadband network once it rolls out around New Zealand, Mr Reade said.

The Orcon Genius also offers additional functions such as sending voicemail as an audio file to an elected email address, charging USB-powered cell phones and MP3 players, and use as a central place to back-up files to an external hard drive.

Orcon chief executive Scott Bartlett said the way people use the phone did not change with the device. 

"It’s the background smarts that take advantage of putting calls over the internet that changes, so you won’t notice any difference apart from the size of your bill.”

Mr Bartlett said the Genius would replace the traditional fixed phone line, allowing Kiwis to save money.

"This breaks Telecom’s stranglehold on New Zealand and will save Kiwis millions."

The device had been developed in partnership with Australia's second largest broadband provider iiNet, the release said.  For the iiNet version of the Genius, see Bob.

Orcon is New Zealand's fourth biggest ISP, the company said, and the third largest internet wholesaler in New Zealand, employing more than 250 people in New Zealand and providing services to more than 100,000 New Zealand businesses and homes.