O2 snaffles HomeServe mobile contract

Mobile operator O2 has secured a three-year contract to provide mobile voice and data services for home emergency insurance company HomeServe from incumbent providers Orange and Vodafone.

O2 said it will be providing various mobile solutions to HomeServe, including routing calls via a VPN to help cut costs and facilitate easier and cheaper employee-customer communication.

HomeServe, which has more than 5,000 employees and sub contractors remotely located across the UK, is using mobile technology to boost efficiency and call response time, and maintain high levels of customer service, according to CIO Trevor Didcock.

Didcock said mobile technology plays an important role in keeping the company's thousands of travelling tradesmen in touch with customers and offices 24/7.

"From real time updates on PDAs to communicating with customers via SMS, this new partnership with O2 will support our future ambition to stay ahead of the pack and ensure we are delivering a first rate service for our customers," he said in a statement.

The deal will see around 4,000 connections transferred to O2 - using devices including BlackBerrys and PDAs.

O2 claimed "excellent" network coverage was a significant factor in the company's selection - despite only recently meeting its 3G coverage licence obligation, a situation which had led to a threat from telecoms regulator Ofcom to shave months off its licence term.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.