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Vodafone's new 'at home' service, which uses the mobile providers network to allow users to make national calls via a pseudo landline, isn't quite as a limitless as the company says.
The service's unlimited local calling is governed by a 'fair use' policy that has some up in arms.
Vodafone at home allows customers to plug existing handsets into a box that contains a SIM card, keeping their current phone numbers. Calls will then be transmitted over the Vodafone network.
The policy is detailed on the Vodafone website bit does not specify what constitutes excessive use.
It says: "We may apply our Fair Use Policy where in our reasonable opinion your usage of our Services is excessive and/or unreasonable as detailed in this paragraph. We have developed our Fair Use Policy by reference to average customer profiles and estimated customer usage of our Services. If your usage of our Services materially exceeds estimated use patterns over any month, then your usage will be excessive and/or unreasonable."
While Vodafone external communications manager Paul Brislen says that it is only a measure to stop excessive use of the service, Telecommunications User Association (TUANZ) chief executive Ernie Newman says it needs to be more detailed about what actually counts as 'excessive'.
"Vodafone need to be very clear about exactly where this 'fair use' kicks in," Newman said today.
"We've been aware of these acceptable use policies for some time but believe that they need to be totally transparent about where they kick in unlimited is unlimited."
Technology blogger and mobile technology specialist Gary Rogers agrees.
"My problem is that the terms and conditions say that fair use is based on usage can I use it for four hours, or six hours, before there's a problem if it says it's unlimited, I expect to be able to use it 24/7.
"Vodafone need to state exactly what fair use is I can't understand how something can be unlimited and then have exceptions to that.
"People with teenaged kids are going to buy this, and say use it as much as you want of course, the teenagers will use it more than they'd ordinarily use a home phone, and their parents could end up getting cut off. "
But Paul Brislen says that the policy is common across telcos, and points out that the Telecom fair use policy says 'free local calling' will be cut off if phone bills aren't paid.
Vodafone's fair use policy is no different, he says, and it is based on average use of other users, meaning only the very heaviest users would run the risk of having their service disconnected.
"It's not designed to be a replacement for a baby monitor, it's a phone line. You'd have to be doing something quite stellar to be out of the ordinary."
If necessary, people who are stretching the boundaries of fair use will be contacted by Vodafone and asked to reign in their excessive phone usage.
Brislen says it is highly unusual for such a policy to be used.
