BT offers mobile office package

Office Anywhere is based on the HTC S620 Windows Mobile handset and allows users to make VoIP calls from Wi-Fi hotspots

BT has introduced a mobile business service aimed at giving users a Windows PC experience in a mobile device, plus the option to save on call charges by making voice-over-IP (VoIP) calls from Wi-Fi hotspots.

Office Anywhere, available now, is based around an HTC S620 Windows Mobile handset and gives users access to a BT-hosted mail account on an Exchange server.

The Office Anywhere service starts at £39.50 per month for 10MB data and 250 inclusive minutes for voice calls. However, a VoIP client pre-loaded on the handset lets the user make calls via Wi-Fi. Subscribers to BT's Openzone Wi-Fi service can make free calls for up to an hour from any of its hotspots, the company said.

Although users can make free VoIP calls from any wireless hotspot, an Openzone subscription makes it easier by automatically connecting when in range of a hotspot, said Warren Buckley, director of portfolio convergence at BT.

Alex Bottomley, BT's general manager for mobility, said the service is aimed at small to medium-sized companies that want simplified billing.

"Customers like things that help them control costs, so we've given them one bill for the whole package," Bottomley said.

However, firms that already operate their own Exchange email system can still sign up for Office Anywhere.

"Hosted email is included in the tariff if you want it, but it's about £3 per month cheaper if you don't," said Bottomley.

The HTC S620 has a qwerty keypad, viewers for Microsoft Office files and PDF documents, and supports remote synchronisation with Exchange 2003 mail servers.

The hosted email service can be configured for push email delivery, if customers require, BT said.