Telecom Italia (TI) has launched a quadruple-play offering under the name Unica, which bundles a converged fixed-mobile product with broadband internet access and IP-based television services. Customers can use a single handset to make and receive fixed line calls via their home Wi-Fi network or mobile calls over Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM)’s GSM network. The basic Unica package costs EUR78.53 (USD111.88) a month and offers unlimited calls from home plus 30 minutes of mobile calls a day to other TI or TIM numbers. The mobile calls allowance rises to 60 minutes a day under the EUR108.52 tariff and 90 minutes with the EUR138.52 package. All plans include the Nokia E65 handset.
Telecom Italia first announced its Unica product last year but has been forced to wait for regulatory approval of the service following complaints from rivals that it could serve to reinforce TI’s dominant position in the fixed line and wireless markets.
Meanwhile, TI is reportedly holding talks with News Corp to increase the number of channels it carries over its IPTV service. The telco currently only offers premium channels from News Corp’s local broadcasting subsidiary Sky Italia, but Il Corriere della Sera says the firms are discussing the possibility of Telecom Italia’s Alice Home TV service carrying all of Sky Italia’s channels.