Polkomtel banks on bringing mobiles to rural areas

The third largest mobile phone operator, Polkomtel, has begun selling a new prepaid phone card service in an attempt to catch up with its arch rival Centertel. New prepaid cards sold under the 'Sami Swoi' brand are primarily addressed to older clients from smaller towns, people who have never owned a mobile phone before. Polkomtel hopes to sell its zł.199 phone sets with 'Sami Swoi' brand through Post Offices, during holiday outdoor events and in some 2,000 new outlets that will be set up in small and medium-sized towns. Robert Krawczyk, the head of the marketing and sales department, said he wants to defeat the competition by introducing new solutions and new technologies rather than through a price war. He is positive that Polkomtel will post good results this year, but if the company is taken over by global mobile operator Vodafone, Polkomtel's strategy will no doubt be altered. (Parkiet, p. 4) J.J.