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harvey gotalk to netcomm....u do the math. Harvey Norman takes VoIP to the masses
By Stuart Corner

Australia's biggest technology retailer Harvey Norman says it has launched "a major nation-wide mass market consumer campaign" to persuade 'non tech' consumers to try VoIP claiming it can cut family phone bills by 50 percent to 60 percent.

The campaign will begin with the distribution of 4.5 million catalogues and specially trained staff in participating computer stores across Australia will offer customers free 30-day broadband trials - and a free long distance telephone call - as part of an in store demonstration.

Harvey Norman is promoting the broadband VoIP service of Telecorp's Gotalk division and analogue phone adaptors from Netcomm. Three models will be offered: the V100 RRP $129, a simple analogue phone adaptor; the VT300 RRP229 which supports 000 calling via the PSTN and the NB5 which combines an ADSL modem and router. The VT300 and NB5 also support prioritisation of VoIP traffic.

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GOtalk and NetComm announce VoIP alliance
By Stan Beer

GOTalk Broadband Voice, a division of phone card company Telecorp, has teamed up with communications hardware developer NetComm (ASX:NTC) to provide a packaged VoIP solution for consumers.

The GOtalk/NetComm agreement calls for a range of seven co-branded broadband products, ranging in price from $99 to be released progressively.

In the arrangement, NetComm will be responsible for warehousing and distribution of stock and both companies will combine to educate customers and retail staff about the technology in the months leading up to Christmas.

"GOtalk and NetComm have, perhaps uniquely, the right combination of product quality, marketing and distribution to service a national consumer retail market," said Steve Picton, CEO of GOtalk Broadband Voice. "GOtalk's Broadband and Broadband Voice services will be bundled and co-branded with NetComm's hardware."

"The combination of broadband and VoIP is fast emerging as the new way that Australians will communicate with one another over the telephone," NetComm managing director David Stewart said. "With the cost savings that are possible with VoIP more and more consumers are installing the technology into their homes, and the combination of NetComm hardware and GOtalk's service makes it an easy plug and play solution."

Recent statistics from the ACCC show that broadband adoption now totals 2,183,200 - up 108.3% from June 2004 and along with this has been a dramatic rise in the consumer adoption of VoIP.

"With broadband connections smashing through the two million mark, we believe that VoIP is about to become a mass market consumer product," said Picton.

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U do the math.