According to My Broadband, industry speculation suggests that MTN is getting ready to launch a cheaper internet service for BlackBerry customers with a fair use policy similar to its recently launched smartphone data packages.
The more affordable BIS service will be launched in partnership with BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM).
MTN SA CEO Karel Pienaar previously told the site that MTN are closely following usage trends on their network and that with this information they were developing products to offer to specific segments of the market, the aim of which is to bring smartphones to more South Africans. A more affordable BlackBerry data option is one way in which this can be achieved and making mobile Internet access available to a larger portion of the population.
While the details of the cheaper BlackBerry service remain unclear at this point, it is understood that it may carry a fair use limit similar to MTN‘s newly launched smartphone packages.
A cheaper BlackBerry service may also have more limited access to certain services to cut input costs. For prepaid, MTN may follow Virgin Mobile‘s model of cheaper packages for limited time periods.
When asked for a comment on the speculation, Ryan Gould, general manager for brand and communications said that “MTN will not comment on speculation. If any developments around BIS occur, MTN will issue an official notification to the media.”
