|
Kenya: Press Release: Zain launches Low Cost Handsets |
|
|
|
Monday, 13 October 2008 |
Nairobi, 13 October 2008 --- Barely two weeks after slashing cross-network call charges by over 60%, Zain Kenya has released brand new low cost handsets in the market retailing for only KES1,200.
The sturdy Motorola C118 sets which started retailing at Zain shops and distributor shops countrywide today will be available to subscribers connecting to the newly launched Vuka Tariff.
Managing Director, Mr Rene Meza said Zain had decided to release the hugely subsidized sets to the market to increase value for current and potential subscribers and also boost the mobile telephony penetration rates in the country.
Last week Zain announced an unprecedented reduction for call charges across networks, triggering excitement in the hugely competitive industry. “The response over the past couple of weeks has been tremendous. Kenyans have been yearning for very competitive tariffs for cross-network calls that enable them to talk to anyone at any time without any undue pressure. We are happy that Zain has responded to this market need through the competitive Vuka Tariff,” said Mr. Meza.
Under the Vuka Tariff, Zain subscribers are charged a flat rate of KES8 per minute, inclusive of all taxes, to call any network in Kenya. The KES8 price is quoted per minute but charged per second so that subscribers pay even less if they need to talk for a short period of time.
Subscribers on the new Vuka Tariff also pay a flat rate of KES3, inclusive of all taxes, to send text messages to any network in Kenya.
The new tariff is available to both prepaid and postpaid subscribers. Prepaid subscribers can switch to the new Vuka Tariff, free of charge, by dialling *123*8# while postpaid subscribers can migrate by dialing*128*8#.
The new Vuka Tariff is expected to ride on the Choose your number service which was launched two months ago. The service enables existing and new prepaid customers to select and reserve numbers of their choice on any prefix soon after they activate their lines. To enjoy the service, customers are required to check number availability by sending a text message (SMS) to 125.
|