New WiMax Service Launches in Whangarei

MEDIA RELEASE

New WiMax Service - Slingshot MAX - Launches in Whangarei

Slingshot’s MAX service to allow customers to say good bye to Telecom

Full range of residential services offered including a smart homeline, full speed broadband plans and unlimited calling plans

Slingshot MAX announced:

* Flat rate calling packs - unlimited national calls to a local landline for $19.95 a month.

* Second home line for $14.95 a month and can select a local number from anywhere in NZ.

* International calling packs with unlimited calls to over 40 destinations around the world.

* Broadband with fast speeds up to 10Mb.

* Customers can select a broadband plan that provides an enhanced experience at busy times.

* Pricing starts at $69.90 a month and includes a smart phone line and full speed broadband plan with a 1GB data limit.

* Saving of around 15% on fixed charges when compared to Telecom. Up to 50% savings on calling.

New Zealand, Auckland – Thursday 12 October, 2006 - Slingshot, part of CallPlus New Zealand’s largest 100% kiwi owned full service telecommunications company, has today launched its new WiMax service in Whangarei under the Slingshot MAX brand. The new service will offer a full range of residential services that challenge traditional offerings through disruptive pricing and innovative services and will save Slingshot customers money.

As part of the Slingshot MAX launch, CallPlus is introducing flat rate calling packs allowing customers to make an unlimited number of national calls to a landline for just $19.95 a month. Slingshot MAX customers can also get a second home line for just $14.95 a month and select a local number from anywhere in New Zealand if they choose. In addition there are some great value international calling packs which offer unlimited calls to over 40 destinations around the world.

Martin Wylie, CEO for CallPlus said, “This is only the first step in our investment commitment for an alternative access network for the New Zealand market. We can’t sit around and wait for LLU to happen. Our strategy has been to invest in the most economic solution so customers have a choice for communication services. There are currently no viable alternatives to providing a true fixed line replacement service for residential customers and WiMax puts us in control of our future.”

Mark Callander, Marketing Manager for Slingshot said, “We have spent over six months developing and refining the service to ensure we exceed customers’ expectations at every point.

“Our MAX broadband service will offer some of the fastest speeds available in the market with speeds up to10Mb. Unlike Telecom’s ADSL service, it is not one size fits all with our service. We will allow customers to select a broadband plan that will have higher speeds during any busy times.”

Pricing for the Slingshot MAX service starts at just $69.90 a month and this includes a smart phone line and a full speed broadband plan with a 1GB data limit. This offers customers a saving of around 15% on fixed charges when compared to Telecom and obviously increases significantly depending on the amount of calls a customer makes.

Bernadette Collins, a retired residential user from Whangarei, has been one of the earliest trial customers of Slingshot MAX since early 2006. “It has made a great difference to the way we communicate with family,” said Bernadette. “Faster broadband speeds and the calling packages from Slingshot MAX allow us to spend more time on the internet and keep in touch with family and grandchildren scattered around the world from UK to USA.

“The all in one package makes it simpler, not to mention enjoying free calling from Warkworth northwards, which is quite an extensive area. Going from our past experience these last 9 months we are going to get an even faster and efficient service from Slingshot when we require it, than we could have possibly received from Telecom.”

The Slingshot MAX service only available in selected regions in Whangarei and full details can be found at www.slingshot.co.nz/max

ENDS

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