Mobile-8 slashes phone rates

JAKARTA: A month after being launched, the code division multiple access (CDMA)-based cellular operator Mobile-8 has slashed its phone rates by more than 30 percent to attract subscribers.

Company director and chief marketing officer Tom Alamas said on Thursday the firm had slashed the rate for local calls between subscribers to Rp 550 per minute from Rp 800, while the rate for non-local calls between subscribers was cut to Rp 1,000 per minute from Rp 1,500.

The rate for calls between subscribers and non-subscribers will remain unchanged at Rp 1,500 per minute for local calls and Rp 3,800 per minute for non-local calls.

The operator also is offering additional data services for its subscribers.

"Subscribers now can enjoy an e-mail account with five megabyte capacity, animated horoscopes wallpaper and ringtone downloading for free until April 2004," said Alamas.

After the promotion period ends, data accessing will cost Rp 5 per kilobyte. -- JP