BT has made its BT Fusion fixed mobile convergence (FMC)
platform available to businesses, with the promise of cheaper
mobile phone costs.
Analyst group Strategy Analytics estimates that 22% of mobile
calls are made in the office.
BT Fusion allows mobile calls to be made via a broadband line
when in range of a wireless hub which is bundled with the service.
These calls can be up to 50% cheaper than over mobile networks.
When out of the office, the mobile phone can make calls over the
BT Mobile network. The basic idea of the service is that users can
use a single phone while in the office or on the road.
Using the system, a call to a UK fixed line number, via the
wireless hub over the broadband line, costs 4p a minute, while a
call over the BT Mobile network costs 8p a minute.
There is a £12.50 a month line rental per handset to use the
service. Up to three handsets can make cheaper calls in the office
over the broadband line at the same time.
The BT Hub can also be used to create a wireless network in the
office, connecting PCs and printers to a BT broadband connection
and each other without wires.
BT Fusion was launched in the consumer market last year.