Despite a successful three-month pilot in Strasbourg, France Telecom is delaying the commercial launch of its Bi-Bop pocket phone Groupe Speciale Mobile network in Paris to complete its network of radio posts, which assure more comprehensive connection of the pocket terminals with the urban phone network. The tests that we have conducted in this experiment indicate that 75% of the users are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the service offering, said Michel Bertinetto, director of the France Telecom Mobile division. Initially, France Telecom had predicted the opening of the network in central, urban Paris at the end of this year. But a spokesman says the experiment in Strasbourg showed that users want to be able to call into or out of the suburbs surrounding the city as well. As a result, he says, France Telecom decided not to launch the network in Paris until it covers more of the suburbs as well. To install an extra 1,500 posts will take until Easter, he adds. In Strasbourg, the network is now completely equipped, both in the city centre and in the suburbs, he said, and will have its commercial launch on January 1. The phone operator has also delayed by three months the opening of its GSM digital mobile phone network along the Lille Paris Marseille Nice axis. Having launched in July, France Telecom and SFR count only 200 paying GSM customers to date.
