Telkom’s new mobile arm, 8ta, is upping the ante in SA’s increasingly competitive mobile market, launching “free” mobile YouTube streaming to BlackBerry devices and free and unlimited calls to a designated fixed-line Telkom number.

It’s the first time 8ta has offered the popular BlackBerry range from Canada’s Research In Motion on its network. Prices are between R49/month and R59/month and, as on other networks, offer unlimited on-device e-mail and Web browsing.

8ta managing executive Amith Maharaj says the operator wants to “shake up the market” with its new offerings.

Consumers will be able to stream YouTube videos for free, up to 500MB of data a month. BlackBerry users on other networks accessing YouTube have had to fork out for data charges to access the popular Google-owned online video repository.

Contract customers who take a 24-month BlackBerry contract can also nominate one Telkom landline number to which they will be able to make unlimited free calls for the contract term.

At launch 8ta will offer the Curve 3G and Curve 8520 BlackBerry smartphones. The Bold 9780 and Torch 9800 smartphones will be added to the line-up soon, the company says. — Staff reporter, TechCentral