BT and Phones4u get together for Fusion deal

BT has signed a deal with mobile phone retailer Phones4u to get its wi-fi FMC service Fusion into the hands of high street shoppers.

As of next month, customers will be able to pick up a Fusion subscription and one of three dual-mode handsets - Nokia 6136, Motorola A910 and Samsung P200 - from the chain's 400 high street stores.

According to analysts, the revamped Fusion service will be more attractive than its Bluetooth predecessor. Carrie Pawsey, analyst at Ovum, said in a research note: "To date Fusion has not been a runaway success with only 40,000 connections. However, since it launched the service, BT has learnt a lot in the market place and we are seeing evidence of this in the second evolution of Fusion."

Customers using BT Openzone hotspots while out and about will have to pay for the privilege, although the telco is promising four minutes for the price of one. It will also throw in free browsing.

BT was the first operator to launch an FMC service but it's not been the last. Since the launch of Fusion, Cable & Wireless, Orange and Vodafone have all announced plans or services in the area.