ihug targets dial up users with “surf and switch” option
NO missed calls while surfing online
Kiwi ISP, ihug, is offering to make online life easier for many of New Zealand’s 800,000 dial-up Internet users. The
company today announced its new Internet Call Waiting product, “Xchange”, which will enable internet subscribers with
dial up connections to receive voice calls, even when they are online.
The software service, which doesn’t require any additional hardware purchase, means an end to the all-too-familiar
constant busy signal and the frustration of missed calls.
With Xchange, users will be able to stay online as long as they want, without missing any calls. Incoming phone calls
will be automatically re-directed to ihug’s Xchange servers. As part of the service, a message will also be sent as a
pop-up window showing who’s calling – enabling the user to switch and take the call, divert it to mobile, or receive as
a voice message.
Combining Xchange with ihug’s “Xpress Accelerator” – a service which provides 3-5 times faster dial up access – means
ihug Dial Up customers can now enjoy a superior service with no hardware costs, for significantly less cost than
Broadband access.
“This is the most significant innovation in dial up access since ihug introduced Virus and Spam filtering in 2001,” says
ihug General Manager Sales and Marketing, Duncan Shand. “It will give the vast majority of people using dial up internet
a real improvement in usability and convenience at a very realistic price.”
The Xchange service costs $4.95 per month and customers can subscribe to both Xpress and Xchange Call Waiting for the
special offer of $8.00 per month. Call divert service ($3.95) is required for Xchange.
In October ihug announced that it had signed a sale and purchase agreement to merge with ASX-listed Australian ISP,
iiNet Limited (ASX: IIN).