Less than five months after the public launch of its Help at Hand mobile care service, O2 UK has decided to close the m-health service down.
O2 Help at Hand was launched online and in shops on 5th March, having previously just been available via the NHS and local authorities. Customers received a mobile phone that offered GPS tracking, could automatically detect if the user fell and also had an ‘emergency’ button to contact a 24-hour support centre. Instead of a conventional keypad there were four ‘memory’ buttons that could be programmed with contact telephone numbers for friends and family.
Although new connections are no longer being accepted, O2 says it’ll keep the support service running for existing customers until the end of the year. The £20 monthly subscription charge is being dropped for this period. The purchase price and unused airtime will be refunded; customers will also receive an additional £100.
One of the FAQ on the O2 Health Help at Hand website currently says “The uptake of mobile telecare (Help at Hand) in the UK marketplace has taken longer and volumes have been lower than anticipated. For these reasons, the decision has been taken to withdraw these two products from the UK marketplace.”