NetOne introduces new mobile voice package

Yesterday, state owned mobile operator, NetOne, started an advertising campaign for a new mobile voice package called Relaks. The package promises lower tariffs and free SMSes. We contacted NetOne today and they sent us a press release prepared to announce the new package.

We should say the press release doesn’t do much to clarify the free minutes and free SMS the advert promises so we’ve written to NetOne for clarification.

Here’s what the advert says:

Battling to control your company’s communication expenditure? Get control, get convenience with Relaks.

• The convenience of control
• Packages tailor-made to suit your company’s budget
• The lowest tariff o the NetOne family
• Free SMS

And here’s the full text of the press release:

NetOne has launched Relaks a prepaid contract package which gives one the convenience of a contract line with the control of a prepaid line. Relaks bridges the divide between pre-paid customers who are used to recharge their accounts via recharge vouchers and operates on low tariffs which are favourable to the market.

Speaking on the new product, the NetOne Managing Director, Mr Reward Kangai indicated that Relaks is a product that ensures one is in full control of their mobile account. “The convenience is unparalleled, with Relaks you have a flexible package where one pays a monthly commitment fee to stay connected. The product is for businesses and for individuals and the value packages are tailor made for their convenience,” he said.

He elaborated that the business package has a minimum order quantity of five lines while each of the five lines can have different commitment fees, the company would be the account holder and will be effecting payments for the lines in its account. He said, “If for instance, you have a company that opens 5 Relaks lines and have paid a commitment on the 28th of February 2011, that means their next commitment fee is due on the 28th of March 2011. There is a grace period of 10 days after the due date of the commitment fee. However, if there is no payment towards the commitment fee 10 days after the due date then the accounts will be in default and stand a chance to be disconnected.”

The commitment fees are a monthly subscription decided on for each user and paid on the initial date on which the service is signed up for subsequent anniversary dates. It is how much airtime the company commits to load for each user per month and these are payable at all NetOne shops and service providers’ outlets  nationwide.

“If the commitment fee credit runs out during the course of the month one can recharge their accounts using Easycall prepaid vouchers. Recharge cards are not necessarily a replacement of the commitment fees, which remain due on the dates determined by the first registration date,” said Mr Kangai shedding more light on the mechanics of Relaks.

Relaks presents itself as a solution to contract subscribers who are struggling to put a leash on their expenditure towards phone bills. The mechanics of the product lend themselves convenient to individuals who are burdened with bills or find it hard to be scratching cards for credit due to their location or mobility.

We checked the NetOne website for the tariffs and it appears the Relaks package actually has higher tariffs for NetOne to NetOne calls. One Select, Business, Flexi-plan and Easy call are the other mobile voice packages NetOne offers.

We will post an update of the details once we get a response from NetOne.

UPDATE: We just heard back from NetOne. We’ve been told the tariff information on the website is outdated and we’ll be getting a copy of the new tariff schedule today.