Now you can take your broadband anywhere

New broadband option offers free smartphone for web and e-mail on the move

BT takes broadband out of the home with the launch today of BT Total Broadband Anywhere, an all-inclusive package which offers a free, internet-capable smartphone – the BT ToGo – worth around £150, and BT’s Total Broadband service in the home.

From £23.99 per month1, only £5 more than the price of BT Total Broadband Option 3, the new BT Total Broadband Anywhere option delivers the most complete broadband experience, both at home and out and about – for surfing the web, sending and receiving e-mails, making calls or texting.

John Petter, managing director, Consumer at BT, said: “Broadband Anywhere customers get the total broadband experience – BT’s top-of-the-range broadband service at home, and a free BT ToGo smartphone for when out and about or on the move.”

“Communications services are converging, and it is clear that customers want consistent access to the things that matter not only at home, but in the palm of their hands wherever they are. When shopping, waiting for a train or having a coffee, Broadband Anywhere enables you to read e-mails, check the football score or compare prices.”

Broadband Anywhere customers get a choice of two stylish, full-function BT ToGo smartphones2 – the HTC S620 or S710 – both powered by Microsoft Windows Mobile 6. When in range of a WiFi hotspot, the BT ToGo connects to the internet at broadband speeds and provides cheaper calls through BT Broadband Talk3. When out of WiFi, there is a 10MB4 monthly download allowance, and the package includes 50 call minutes and 50 texts on any network at any time5. Larger minute and text bundle options are also available.

The BT ToGo integrates seamlessly with many other BT Total Broadband services, and is preconfigured with a BT e-mail address, although customers are able to set up other popular email accounts easily. In addition, the BT ToGo comes with mobile security software for comprehensive virus protection.

The BT ToGo boasts a built-in camera for taking photos and video clips, and comes complete with a media player so customers can enjoy their favourite music and videos wherever they go. It also includes BT Snap & Send, which means photos taken with the BT ToGo can be quickly transferred to a personal online BT Digital Vault so they can be safely stored or instantly shared with family and friends.

At home, Broadband Anywhere customers get BT’s premium Option 3 Total Broadband service, including a free, future-proof black wireless Home Hub with Hub Phone, download speeds of up to 8Mb/s6 with unlimited downloads7, advanced online security8, free 5GB Digital Vault9 secure online storage and free 24/7 customer support.

All Broadband Anywhere customers automatically join the BT FON WiFi community. Using any wireless device, including the BT ToGo, customers get unlimited WiFi access7 at more than 82,000 BT FON Hotspots in the UK, a further 190,000 hotspots around the world and over 2,500 BT Openzone hotspots10 in the UK and Ireland. A range of BT Total Broadband Anywhere packages are available, each offering BT’s top of the range Total Broadband Option 3 and an inclusive BT ToGo.

4. 10MB usage per month. Additional usage will be charged at £1.50 per MB. Any allowance not used during the month may not be carried forward. As a launch promotion, all BT Total Broadband Anywhere customers receive unlimited GPRS usage for no additional cost until 31 July 2008. After that date, customers will be able to choose whether they wish to continue with unlimited GPRS (at additional charge) or retain the 10MB inclusive allowance.

Looking to get a Smartphone that you can use out and about without fear of racking up huge data charges?

Best steer clear of 'BT Total Broadband Anywhere' then!

From the Press Release...


OMG BT what are you thinking?

At first site this seems pretty sound. A bolt on to your existing broadband = good, home hub = good, WinMo Smartphone = good, WiFi access = good, Digital Vaule = good I guess but 10MB per month usage cap = absolutely ridiculous, not to mention the £1.50 / MB over-use charges.

Anyone signing up for this? ;)

P

10Mb a month = hopeless. I can use 10Mb in half an hour! Not surprising really when they're using Vodafone for the GPRS/3G access - their own data packages aren't exactly competitive so BT had no hope of getting an attractive deal. Back to the drawing board BT - nice idea tying broadband and mobile into one - but you've got to do better than that.

there is a 10MB4 monthly

Am I missing the point here? If you are (or were thinking of becoming) a BT Broadband customer you can now get a free WM smartphone with 50 min xnet and 50 texts, free wifi and 10MB data (useful for checking the odd email here and there) for a fiver? There's even going to be an unlimited data option after the end of June but no mention of how much it will cost. Where's the problem in that, leaving aside the small GPRS data allowance where can you get a better deal than that?

This is plain ridiculous. This is all against the Information Age.

Just as a comparison, in Finland, DNA, Elisa and TeliaSonera all offer flat rate data services, all in HSPA with 3+G coverage almost everywhere where 2G is also accessible. The latter, for example, offers 384 kbit/s flat-rate for under 10 euros a month...

Like I said, it is pointless comparing this against other flat rate deals until you know the pricing of the BT's flat rate package. As it stands, show me where else an existing broadband customer can get a 50 min / 50 SMS 10MB contract, including a free Wm Qwerty smartphone, for a fiver a month [1]?

I'm all for reasoned discussion, but to knock this down for the sake of it, especially when you don't know the full pricing, is just stupid. I expect better objectivity from so called "pundits".

[1] plus the option to add up to 5 extra handests to the same contract at £5/m + £29.99 one off each.

But why a SmartPhone? For a 'normal' phone 10Mb may be enough but SmartPhones really need lots of data. If they offered increased data usage at a reasonable price then this would be a good deal but as it stands it could work out VERY expensive if you actually use the phone as intended.

It is nearly a very good deal - just hampered by the lack of 'data'.

If I was an existing customer I would probably go for it, and as a 'first attempt' it's quite good - but could be so much better!

unlimited data until the end of July with the option to pay the extra once the flat rate price is finalised.

Like I said, it is pointless comparing this against other flat rate deals until you know the pricing of the BT's flat rate package. As it stands, show me where else an existing broadband customer can get a 50 min / 50 SMS 10MB contract, including a free Wm Qwerty smartphone, for a fiver a month [1]?

I'm all for reasoned discussion, but to knock this down for the sake of it, especially when you don't know the full pricing, is just stupid. I expect better objectivity from so called "pundits".

[1] plus the option to add up to 5 extra handests to the same contract at £5/m + £29.99 one off each.