BT announces trial of new technology to cut the price of international mobile calls.

BT today announced a trial of an innovative new mobile phone technology that will enable mobile phone users to obtain substantially lower prices for international calls.

The product, called BT Callwise, enables mobile phone users to use BT's network for their International calls at significantly reduced prices, whilst enabling users to continue using their phone normally, including using their handset phone book to make the calls.

It works by downloading new software onto a mobile phone that can re-route international calls onto BT's cheaper fixed-line network.

BT has signed a deal with new mobile services company Intelli-Call to supply the price busting technology.

The application is free to install by anyone with a compatible mobile phone and can be simply downloaded from www.bt.com/callwise. Users can also send the application from their mobile to family or friends' mobiles using Bluetooth technology.

Initially customers will only be charged for calls on a pre-pay basis. Users can top up credit on their account with a credit or debit card.

David Pamplin from BT said: "Currently if a UK mobile phone user dials an International number, the call is routed from the mobile phone through the mobile operator's network and cannot benefit from the lower costs of the fixed line international calling rates through BT. A mobile call can cost as much as £1 per minute whereas a call to the USA over BT's fixed-line network can be as low as 5 pence per minute.

Now mobile users can have the convenience of making international calls from their mobile - whether it be to family and friends overseas or doing business on the move - but without having to worry about the cost of the call."

Nick Hancock from Intelli-call added: "This technology offers mobile users significant price reductions and an ease of use that is unprecedented."

An initial trial of the new technology was launched on the 28th October.

4th January 2005

UPDATE APRIL 24th 2006