BT has launched its SmartTalk app which links its customers’ smart phones with their BT landlines.
This means when customers make a call, it’s billed as if they were calling from their BT home phone. BT said the app works best over WiFi, but will also work over any mobile data connection. BT broadband customers also have access to more than 7.5 million hotspots globally for free, BT said.
The company says this is the first app launched in the United Kingdom to link an iPhone with a customer’s home phone calling plan. The app is available for iPhones and Androids.
BT said the app could help land line customers save money in a number of ways, including by allowing them to phone home while travelling abroad for the price of a UK call (01, 02 and 03 calls, with 0845 and 0870 maximum 1000 minutes/150 calls a month or charges apply), by allowing pay as you go smart phone customers call to mobiles with the cheaper BT landline rates or continue to use their smart phone to make calls when running out of credit, and by allowing customers to make inclusive calls, using their home calling plan, to UK landlines, 0800, 0845 and 0870 numbers on their smart phone, with more details for calls to 0871 and 070 available from BT.
BT managing director consumer John Petter said the app helped customers get more value from their BT package and smartphone.
“At last you can actually call freephone 0800 numbers for free from mobiles and get inclusive 0845 and 0870 calls too. And of course, you can take advantage of BT Wi-fi which gives you access to a massive network of 7.5 million hotspots around the world.”
BT said as an example that customers on BT’s Unlimited Anytime Plus Plan would be able to make any time calls to any UK landline or 0845 number at no extra cost.
BT said the app supported up to five users on one calling plan.
The app is available from the app store now.
