Network blames 3.6 per cent hike on inflation, with rise only affecting existing customers
Three is increasing its prices for existing mobile contract and mobile broadband customers by 3.6 per cent from July 16. It is the first price increase the operator has implemented for contract customers since it entered the market in 2003.
The changes will affect customers who joined Three or upgraded their contract before March 8, 2012, the date at which the operator introduced its ‘Ultimate Internet’ and ‘Essential Internet’ tariffs.
Three said the price increase is the result of rising costs in its business due to inflation and is in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) figure for March 2012, which is 3.6 per cent.
The increase will be based on the customer’s monthly bill prior to the addition of any add-ons or out-of-bundle charges.
For example, customers paying £15 will see a monthly increase of 54p, while those paying £25 will experience a monthly increase of 90p.
Customers affected by the price increase were notified by text, email or letter by June 1, detailing exactly how much their individual increase will be.
Three marketing director Thomas Malleschitz said: “Despite costs increasing in a number of areas within our business, we have not passed on an RPI-level rise to our contract handset customers in the nine years we have been in operation.
“Increasing our prices for existing customers is a decision we have not taken lightly. We know that increases are never welcome and we have tried to do this in the fairest way possible for all of our customers. We are confident our plans continue to offer the best possible value for money.”
It follows a similar move by Orange last November, when it announced the customers that signed up to an Orange contract before October 1, 2011, would see their monthly bills increase by 4.34 per cent due to a rise in inflation.
Orange had said that customers who had signed up to a new contract after this date had already had the inflation rise included into their deal.

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Fujitsu today announced its enhanced line of LIFEBOOK notebook PCs and ESPRIMO desktop PCs for enterprise customers. Upgrades have been made to the CPU and memory in a total of 39 models in nine product families, as well as three FUTRO thin client models. The new models will be available starting today only inJapan.

• Includes LIFEBOOK U772/E Ultrabook and large-screen LIFEBOOK N532/E

The LIFEBOOK notebook PCs are now equipped with the third-generation Intel Core processor family of high-performance CPUs. The new line also includes as new models the ultra-thin yet sturdy LIFEBOOK U772/E Ultrabook with full security features and the LIFEBOOK N532/E model with a 17.3″ screen.

• World’s first models with keyboards supporting optional built-in palm vein sensors

The ESPRIMO desktop PCs have enhanced CPUs and other basic features, and all ESPRIMO models have, as an available option, keyboards supporting built-in palm vein sensors, thereby meeting a variety of customer needs.

• Addition of compact desktop model in line of thin clients

With the addition of a compact desktop model, the FUTRO thin client line now has a full selection of models, including desktop, compact desktop, A4-sized notebook, and B5-sized mobile models, enabling customers to select models that best meet their usage needs.

• Support for energy-conservation efforts

The new line-up complies with the International ENERGY STAR program(2) and includes proprietary Fujitsu energy conservation features that enable standby power to approach zero when the computer is turned off or in sleep mode, thereby also contributing to the energy conservation efforts of customers.  

Product Features

1. LIFEBOOK enterprise notebook PCs: new Ultrabook and large-screen models

1) Ultra-thin yet sturdy LIFEBOOK U772/E Ultrabook with full security features

Combining a high-speed solid state drive with a large-capacity hard disk drive (up to 500GB), the LIFEBOOK U772/E is an Ultrabook with “Made inJapan” quality that delivers the ultimate in mobility. It measures 9.0mm at its thinnest point and just 15.6mm at its thickest to realize a compact casing with a 14-inch liquid crystal display. A magnesium alloy is used in the top and bottom casing, enabling the top cover to withstand load testing(3) of 200kg, thereby delivering sturdiness in an ultra-thin form factor. From sleep mode, operational start-up times are very quick(4), and it uses a slim and lightweight stick AC adapter. With a long battery run-time of up to 9.0 hours, it can be used on the go, conveniently and worry free. It is also equipped with full security features, such as a built-in fingerprint sensor and security chip.

2) LIFEBOOK N532/E features desktop PC-sized screen

Equipped with a 17.3-inch HD+ (1600 x 900 pixel) high-resolution LED liquid crystal display screen, the LIFEBOOK N532/E delivers the large screen size of a desktop PC while offering the energy conservation of a notebook PC. It is a standard PC for which specifications can be changed to fit operational needs, enabling customization of the CPU, security features, and hard disk drive. The keyboard includes a numeric keypad as a standard feature, enabling convenient input of numbers.

3) Contributes to energy conservation

The new LIFEBOOK line again includes Fujitsu’s proprietary ECO Sleep function(5), an energy conservation feature that enable standby power to approach zero when the computer is turned off or in sleep mode, and an ECO Sleep-compatible AC adapter(6). Moreover, it also includes a peak-shift control feature that automatically switches the power source to the internal battery during predefined periods of time, even if the PC is connected to the AC adapter, and a dashboard for power-saving utilities that easily enables adjustment of settings, such as the brightness of the LDC display, or features not being used to be disabled, thereby reducing power consumption whether the PC is in use or at rest.

2. ESPRIMO enterprise desktop PCs: world’s first keyboard palm vein sensor models

All of the new ESPRIMO desktop models are equipped with the latest architecture for high-speed processing, including the third-generation Intel Core processor family of high-performance CPUs. The ESPRIMO D752/E supports Intel vPro technology, which facilitates PC operations management work, The ESPRIMO D582/E offers a wide range of customizations, and the ESPRIMO K553/E, which is a space-saving all-in-one PC unit with a built-in LCD screen.

In addition, all ESPRIMO models now have, as an available option, the world’s first keyboards supporting built-in palm vein sensors that easily enable the user to be authenticated simply with the passing of the user’s hand over a scanner.

Moreover, power consumption can be cut with such features as the Power Supply Coordination Service Concept(7), which enables zero power to be consumed in standby mode when with main switch or display switch has been accidentally left on. Another way to save power is offered by the all-in-one PC with a built-in LCD screen that enables just the power for the display to be turned off.

3. FUTRO thin clients: full selection with addition of compact desktop model

With the addition of the new FUTRO A300 compact desktop model, the FUTRO thin client line now has a full selection, including desktop, compact desktop, A4-sized notebook, and B5-sized mobile models. The FUTRO A300 compact desktop model is equipped with only the minimum necessary features and runs Fujitsu’s proprietary OS (eLux), resulting in a highly-compact form factor (42 x 185 x 185mm) that allows it to be placed wherever is most convenient for the user.

The B5-sized FUTRO MP702 model is compact and lightweight, and, as standard features, is equipped with security buttons(8) to preserve strict security as well as a new smartcard reader/writer, resulting in a mobile terminal that can be used with peace of mind.

The A4-sized FUTRO MA552 model is available with such options as a numerical keypad in the keyboard to enable easy input of numbers with one hand and a full HD (1920 x 1080 pixel) high-resolution liquid crystal display, contributing to improvements in work efficiency.