Osborne Park-based internet kiosk company pieNetworks Ltd has signed a contract with Telecom New Zealand for them to trial its new Webphone product.
Osborne Park-based internet kiosk company pieNetworks Ltd has signed a contract with Telecom New Zealand for a trial of its new Webphone product.
The Webphones are designed to allow Voice over Internet Protocol calls, as well as internet access and email services.
Telecom will trial around six Webphones for nine months in high profile locations.
The New Zealand telecommunications giant, which operates AAPT in Australia, recently paid $357 million for Sydney-based telco PowerTel Ltd.
pieNetworks managing director Campbell Smith said the company was continuing discussions with other potential customers in Australia and overseas in the hope of securing further Webphone commitments.
The full text of a pieNetworks announcement is pasted below
pieNETWORKS Ltd is pleased to announce it has signed a contract with Telecom New Zealand (NZX:TEL, ASX:TEL, NYSE:NZT) to trial its new Webphone product.
Telecom Payphone Manager Lisa Wright said the trial will test how customers respond to the new services and functionality offered by the Webphones.
"Initially about six Webphones will be trialed in high profile internal Telecom payphone locations and will replace the existing payphones for a period of nine months," Ms Wright said.
"The information gathered during the trial will enable Telecom to decide if it can scale a business model and structure for the possible future roll out of Webphone's throughout New Zealand." Telecom operates approximately 4,300 payphones in New Zealand and like
payphone operators worldwide is seeking new ways to improve its payphone service.
"pieNETWORKS Ltd is continuing discussions with other potential customers in Australia and other markets and is hopeful of securing further commitments for the Webphone," pieNETWORKS' Managing Director Campbell Smith said.
"The Webphone can offer an innovative new business plan for payphone operators combining increased functionality in a single device, interoperability with mobile phones through Wifi and an `online media' component giving it exposure to the now proven and rapidly growing internet advertising sector," Mr Smith added.
The Webphone is a fully Internet Protocol payphone offering; -Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") telephone calls, -internet access, -digital download and upload, -SMS messaging, -email services And -Wifi hotspot.
