Nashua Mobile, the independent telecommunications service provider in the Reunert Group, has introduced a unique data package called Xtreme Data for select Nokia smartphones and mobile phones.

For just R59.00 per month - on top of standard contract charges - professionals and consumers will be able to enjoy access to email, instant messaging, browsing and social networking on their smartphones and mobile phones. The predictable and fixed monthly cost removes the uncertainty associated with other data rate plans and eliminates the chance of 'bill shock'.

Says Nashua Mobile MD, Chris Radley: "The cost of data usage has been one of the most significant barriers to wider use of smartphones for Web access and other online applications. With our new offering, we hope to make the mobile Web accessible and affordable to a wider range of smartphone users."

The service is initially available for the Nokia X2-01 and Nokia C3 mobile phones based on the Series 40 platform, and the Nokia N8, Nokia E5 and Nokia E7 from Nokia's smartphone range. It is expected that in the near future the service will be expanded to other smartphones based on the Symbian, Windows Phone, iOS and Android platforms, allowing a much wider group of people to enjoy affordable, predictable data costs no matter which smartphone platform they prefer.

"Fixed cost is a clear consumer trend in South Africa, and Nokia have been working with operators and service provider's to provide true competition in the market for some time now," says Colin Baumgart, Nokia's General Manager in South Africa. "We have a wide range of supported devices which we hope to grow further, fitting perfectly with a key pillar of Nokia's strategy which is bringing Internet to the next billion consumers."

Nashua Mobile's new service works by routing data from the handset to Nashua Mobile's shared GSM data access point names (APNs) from Vodacom and MTN. Web access is controlled and managed intelligently by Nashua Mobile's infrastructure partners, giving the customer a seamless experience that will enable all of their communication, social networking and information.

"No longer will you be restricted to only one manufacturer's handsets if you want the peace of mind of an affordable fixed rate for your smartphone data usage," says Radley. "Whichever platform you prefer, you will be able to fully enjoy your smartphone's features without worrying about receiving an enormous bill at the end of the month."