Dawes to launch mobile network

Martin Dawes Telecommunications is buying telephone airtime to launch its mobile phone network in one of three new initiatives.

The company intends to position the network, called “breathe mobile”, as the UK’s fifth mobile telephone network after Vodafone, Cellnet, One-2-One and Orange.

Dawes will buy wholesale airtime from MPCL, the One-2-One brand owner and network operator, and will resell it to consumers with a range of tariffs and Nokia, Motorola or Siemens handsets.

Available from mid-December through retail dealers, the service will cover a claimed 96 per cent of the population and will work alongside Dawes fixed-line service.

In addition, Dawes is launching “breathe net”, a service giving consumers free access to the Internet. It operates with an existing pay per month Net service, “breathe on line”.

From late January, a new initiative called “breathe mail” will allow people to access their e-mail through a telephone, computer or fax.

Technology can now convert e-mails into messages receivable on mobile phones or faxes, enabling customers to have an e-mail address without owning a computer.

Sean Gardner, Martin Dawes sales and marketing director, says: “This is a true convergent-mobility product that will enable users to be more contactable and to save time.”

Dawes has developed a billing system which enables all its services to be invoiced on one bill and is putting 30m behind a new call centre which will open in the second quarter of 1999.

The company has shelved plans to roll out its “breathe” telecoms, TV and video stores, blaming the slow development of digital TV (MW April 30). Its Leeds pilot store remains operational.

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