New Service Aims To Make Every Call Local
LONDON AND BARCELONA (17 February 2009) – Truphone today announced plans to launch, later this year, Truphone Local AnywhereTM: a single-SIM, multi-country mobile service that will make any mobile call within the set of supported countries into a local call.
The introduction of Truphone’s multi-country, single-SIM service will change the current experience of people with an international lifestyle. Their mobile experience is currently characterized by frustration, brought on by constantly having to juggle multiple SIM cards and mobile phones in order to minimize their mobile costs.
The company announced its plans today at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain (Stand 7C38).
As the world’s first true commercial multi-country mobile service, Truphone Local Anywhere will deliver low rates on their Truphone plan in any supported country – eliminating the need to maintain separate phones, switch between multiple SIMs or incur expensive roaming charges.
The new service also provides savings to people calling Truphone Local Anywhere customers as well. Friends, family or business associates can call whichever number is most convenient to the caller – making every call cost the same as a local call.
Additional Truphone Local Anywhere features and cost savings include:
• Number portability of existing mobile and landline numbers to Truphone;
• Full service multi-language customer support;
• Ability to manage their Caller ID (CLI);
• Competitive rates on domestic calls, SMS, and data in home country;
• Low cost international calling to the world from any Truphone Local Anywhere-supported country;
• Up to 80 percent savings on roaming charges when visiting other countries;
• No roaming surcharges to receive calls in most major destinations;
• TruFriendsTM – providing even lower calling rates to call to other Truphone Local Anywhere customers;
• Additional “virtual” country mobile numbers to seem 'local' in another country so friends/colleagues can call at local rates.
Meeting the Unique Needs of People with International Lifestyle
The Truphone Local Anywhere service is designed to meet the needs of people living an international lifestyle, such as:
• Travel industry workers including pilots, cruise ship captains or tourism professionals who travel from one country to another and who need to be in touch with people locally, in other countries and back home;
• Second home owners who want a local mobile number in both locations so they can talk to friends and family in different countries at local rates;
• Professional expatriate workers and their families who want a local mobile number in both locations so they can talk at local rates to families, friends and colleagues;
• International students who want to avoid roaming charges, but wish to maintain contact using a single phone number; and
• International business people who want a unified solution for their international communications needs as they roam from country to country.
“Until now, the only way to avoid the massive cost of mobile roaming is to carry multiple phones and multiple SIM cards, one for each country you frequent,” stated Truphone CEO Geraldine Wilson. “This means juggling multiple devices and phone numbers to avoid paying the high roaming rates traditionally associated with travel.
“Our customers tell us that they value our current services to make low cost international calls when at home and when roaming. Now they’re asking us to bring it all together. They want one phone, one SIM and one plan. Truphone Local Anywhere delivers this all-in-one solution by providing the first fully-integrated multi-country mobile service for personal users and business professionals. Now these internationalists can enjoy all the benefits of home wherever they may be.”
Truphone Seeking Strategic Partnerships
In addition to launching this year in several key territories, Truphone announced that it is seeking to rapidly expand its international network and customer base via a global franchise model. Operators and retailers who partner with the Truphone Local Anywhere program can appeal to highly targeted groups of international customers and increase their network traffic. Other partners will also be able to connect to the service with minimal infrastructure requirements.
For more information or to become part of the development process, contact truphonepartners@truphone.com
Price and Availability
The first implementations of Truphone Local Anywhere will be available in the second half of 2009.
Media contacts
UK/Europe:
Rose Ross
Both Barrels Communications
+44 7976 154 597
+44 208 255 5225
rose@bbcomms.co.uk
Tim Donnelly Smith
Both Barrels Communications
+44 7978 800275
tim@bbcomms.co.uk
North America:
Sue Huss
Comunicano Inc.
+1 619 379 4396
sue.huss@comunicano.com
About Truphone
Founded in 2006, Truphone is a global mobile communications provider in the business of innovating how people converse in our globally connected world. As the industry’s first mobile Internet operator, the company makes it easy and affordable for users all over the world to keep in touch with friends, family and business contacts overseas or whilst roaming.
Truphone is the trading name of Software Cellular Network (SCN). SCN is privately owned, funded by both venture capital investment and angel investors.
Important information
Truphone is not a replacement for an ordinary telephone service and emergency calls cannot be made using Truphone. However Truphone does not prevent emergency calls being made via a handset’s normal cellular service provider.
Truphone cannot advise on the legality of VoIP services in specific territories or jurisdictions. It is the user's responsibility to confirm that use of the Truphone VoIP software and service is permitted in the location in which they use it.
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