Vodafone lobs Best Mates bombshell
Telco looks to recoup recent customer loses with an "any net" twist to one of its flagship plans.
Vodafone - which has recently suffered the ignomy of losing 50,000 customers, and losing its iPhone exclusivity - is looking for a come-back with a series of new "Best Mates" plans.
Best Mates plans have previously been controversial (at least with regulators and rivals), for their emphasis on steep discounts for calling or txtings contacts also with Vodafone ("on-net" discounts in industry-speak).
The new Best Mates plans, which kick in this Friday - as NZBestMates - also include calls and txts to Telecom, 2degrees and others (or "off-net").
In a statement, Vodafone customers could choose 1000 minutes and 1000 TXTs a month to any New Zealand mobile or 1000 minutes to any New Zealand landline.
On account customers who have a $45 or $65 Vodafone Smart plan will also be able to choose one NZBestMate. Those on the $85 Vodafone Smart plans or above will have three NZBestMates included.
Beyond competitive pressure, Vodafone (and Telecom and 2degrees) now face monthly Commerce Commission review of their plans and pricing.
The commission holds that on-net pricing makes it harder for newcomers to gain traction in the market, and is looking for an increase in off-net calls and txts.
In its first monitoring report, released in September, the commission said progress had been made but that there was "a long way to go". The watchdog has threatened further regulation if it doesn't see more movement.
Vodafone's new plans (click to enlarge):
I had a reader query on why the $25 pre-pay Smart plan isn't included in the above table. It's because it doens't include a Best Mate - CK
Chris Keall
Wed, 16 Nov 2011
Wed, 16 Nov 2011
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Vodafone lobs Best Mates bombshell
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