2degrees launching shared data plan today; details spill

One of the hassles of the mobile data age is that your smartphone, laptop dongle and tablet all have to have their own plan.

2degrees says it will tackle this problem when it launches a Shared Data option later today.

"Shared Data could, for example, work across a household with multiple gadgets, such as two smartphones, two tablets and a data stick," 2degrees' corporate affairs director Mat Bolland told NBR ONLINE.

"We expect it will especially helpful to businesses that have multiple 2degrees devices and want to have data paid from one pay monthly account."

A catch is that the customer holding the shared data account has to be on-account or pay monthly, not lower-yielding pre-pay accounts.

However, the people they share their data with can be on-account or prepay.

2degrees is pitching that given the ability to share the cost, customers will be able to sign on to its larger volume mobile data plans that offer better economies of scale.

Shared Data will cost $5 a month on top of an existing 2degrees on-account or pay monthly plan, plus $1 a month for every gadget added. A promotion will see the service free for six months (until December 7), with a monthly 1GB data bonus for those who join.

A txt-based system will be used to add or subtract devices from a shared account.

"I'm delighted to see shared data. It's something we've been talking about for years and will be a huge benefit to customers who use multiple devices," Telecommunications Users Association CEO Paul Brislen told NBR this morning.

"Ultimately, data will take over from traditional voice as the reason we use mobiles so this is very welcome news," Mr Brislen said.

"This really throws down the gauntlet to the other network providers with their claims of being smart phone specialists."

IDC senior telecommunications market analyst Glen Saunders told NBR ONLINE the new plans were a welcome addition to the market, "In particular the 'free trail' nature of the offering will allow users to give it a go and perhaps look at the cost savings they might be able to get out of it."

Mr Saunders added, "There are number of situations that customers might get real benefit from using the shared data - the $99 for 12GB of on net data that 2degrees is offering might allow businesses who might have multiple sales teams out and about to share a central plan for data at a much betterper-gigabyte price than having multiple smaller amounts of data in their plans."

Likewise a household with teens or tablets might get better options having a centralised data plan rather than using prepaid data if they are out and about, Mr Saunders said. "One of the real areas we see as potentially benefiting NZ households is where they are total wireless as it allows for multiple access without needing something like a Mi-Fi device (a portable hotspot)."

Telecom and Vodafone will no doubt take notice of 2degree's investment in this area, Mr Saunders said.

"In terms of whether they will respond or not really depends on how much demand their will be for shared data options and how much it would cost for the technical and billing system setup to be able to offer similar services."

The move caps a front-foot week for 2degrees.

Tuesday saw a Commerce Commission annual survey - based on data provided to the watchdog by each carrier - that pegged 2degrees' market share at 13.6%, up from 8% in the prior year.

And Thursday saw 2degrees team with Snapper and LG to launch New Zealand's first commercial mobile payment system, and CEO Eric Hertz making bullish new predictions about the company's financial and customer goals.