Optus has launched a comprehensive mobile communications package for consumers and small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) comprising voice, SMS and email.

The new solution features the BlackBerry® wireless email solution combined with a $99 capped payment plan, that includes $500 worth of voice and text service and up to 50MB of data. Other plans are available for customers who have lower voice, SMS and data usage.

"Email has become an essential part our daily lives - in the office and at home - now we want to be able to keep up to date while we are on the move. Mobile email is no longer just for large corporates and government. Small business and individuals want the same convenience," Allen Lew, Managing Director Optus Mobile said.

"Optus has designed a simple bundled product that offers consumers the freedom to access and use their email in real time via the Optus Mobile network when they are away from their computer.

"We have combined the success and popularity of the BlackBerry wireless email solution with an easy to understand cap plan format that the consumer and SME market is already familiar with.

"We believe our $99 cap is unique in the Australian market as we have combined voice and data into a single, simple cap plan. We know customers want access to both, but it must be affordable and easy to manage," Mr Lew said.

The convenient BlackBerry solution for consumers and SMEs managed by Optus is called BlackBerry Internet Service™, and allows customers to send and receive emails, browse the Internet and make and receive calls. At launch it is available on a range of BlackBerry and BlackBerry-enabled devices including the BlackBerry 7100g™, BlackBerry 7290™, BlackBerry 7730™, Nokia 6820 and Siemens SK65.

"It is important that we offer this market a choice of handset options in addition to RIM's original BlackBerry devices. We will offer an expanding selection of BlackBerry-enabled phones, such as those from Nokia and Siemens. Customers can choose a handset depending on what type of interface they prefer and how much they want to spend," Mr Lew said.

BlackBerry Internet Service allows Optus small business customers or individual users to access up to ten corporate and/or personal email accounts (including Microsoft® Exchange, IBM Lotus® Domino™, and many popular ISP email accounts) from a single device.

The BlackBerry 99 Cap is available from all Optus World stores and authorised Optus dealers. Full-scale product demonstrations will be featured at twenty selected Optus World stores. Customers will have 24x7 access to assistance from Optus’ Mobile Technical Support Centre.

Optus has offered a choice of mobile email products and payment plans to Australian businesses for more than five years, and has seen significant growth. As at 31 December 2004, data traffic accounted for 16 per cent of Optus' total mobile service revenue.

For more media information:
Claire Hosegood
Optus Corporate Affairs
Phone: +61 2 9342 5042