Listed firm CommodiTel has launched the first of its retailer-branded services in the pre-paid mobile sector in a deal with 7-Eleven.
This is the first major deal for the company’s pre-paid model in Australia, although the concept has proven successful by other vendors in overseas markets.
Perth-based CommodiTel changed its name from Natural Intelligence following the acquisition of the assets of Revolution Telecom Limited last year.
Revolution secured an agreement with Vodafone to operate as a value-added reseller (VAR) for the Vodafone Target program in Australia, designed to create reselling opportunities with corporate customers.
CommodiTel offers branded services in the pre-paid sector at discounted rates compared with other offerings on the market, an offering made possible due to low overheads.
CommodiTel Limited executive director David Sweet said retailers of pre-paid SIM cards could offer special services, introduce customer loyalty programs, direct market, and set their own tariffs independent of the carrier.
The 7-Eleven SpeakUp pre-paid SIM card starter packs will retail through 7-Eleven stores for $15.
“This unique telco product has proven to be extremely popular in a range of developed markets, notably the US, UK and Denmark,” Mr Sweet said.
“Companies such as 7-Eleven, Tesco and MTV have successfully introduced branded pre-paid SIM cards overseas.
“Based on what we have seen happen overseas we have no reason to think that it won’t be a success,” he said.
Mr Sweet said the company hoped the 7-Eleven deal would be the first of many as the concept gained wider acceptance in the Australian market.
“We’ve been working with Vodafone for 12 months. It’s not an easy proposition,” he said.
However, Mr Sweet said CommodiTel was in discussions with other organisations regarding the concept.
