BT is to unveil a new corporate-strength version of its Fusion batphone early next year.

The BT Fusion phone is already being flogged to end users and small firms.

But it seems big business likes the idea of a phone that can hop between mobile and Wi-Fi networks, helping to cut the cost of using a cellphone. But they also want it beefed up to meet their needs.

BT has hooked up with French outfit Alcatel, which worked with the UK telco on Fusion, to develop the "Enterprise Fixed-Mobile Convergence" (FMC) phone aimed at large businesses and multinational corporations.

The phone will be made available in the UK and overseas.

In a statement, the firm said: "No longer will employees be required to have a mobile, a data device, and a fixed phone as everything will be possible from a single handset with PBX type functionality at home, in the office, and at BT's Openzone hotspots, plus all the benefits of normal mobile."

BT will be developing the new product over the coming months, with trials due to take place early in 2007. ®

Related stories

• BT Openzone closed for business (6 June 2007)
• BT Fusion goes Wi-Fi (8 January 2007)
• Are carriers learning to love dual-mode? (17 November 2006)
• BT yet to feel impact of the 'Carphone effect' (18 May 2006)
• O2 eyes UK shores for fixed-mobile convergence (8 May 2006)
• Eleven new UK GSM mobile carriers (26 April 2006)
• BT links arms with Verisign (6 April 2006)
• BT takes on cellcos in converged services for SMEs (5 April 2006)
• BT Fusion batphone dials up 13,000 punters (9 February 2006)
• BT repackages Fusion batphone for business (8 February 2006)