At its AGM, the Sheffield, UK-based ISP announced that during the first quarter, revenue had risen 37% to 11.2m pounds ($20m) from 8.2m pounds ($14.6m), while the number of broadband customers rose 96% at 192,000 from 98,125 in the year-ago quarter.
PlusNet also revealed that from July 4, it would offer its entire customer base the opportunity to bundle their voice line rental of 10.99 pounds ($19.67) per month and their calls package with their broadband service for an additional 11 pounds ($19.69) per month. Monthly subscriptions for a voice and broadband bundle will start at 20.99 pounds ($37.56), a figure equal to Carphone Warehouse’s service, although PlusNet is only offering limited free national calls and international calls.
However, PlusNet is not describing its package as free, and details are still sketchy. For example, it said it will include free international calls to 20 of the most popular destinations if customers sign up to the 15 pounds ($26.84) fixed-line package, although it failed to reveal what these destinations are.
In the basic broadband package, PlusNet will offer speeds of up to 8Mbps, but with only a 50MB download limit, after which users will pay an additional fee. PlusNet’s service will be available to 99% of the UK population, unlike the Carphone Warehouse offering, and is offered on a contact that can be canceled with one month’s notice.
Shares in PlusNet had been hit hard following the Carphone Warehouse announcement, but have since recovered well.
