One.Tel administrators have rejected media suggestions that a decision by Telstra to establish a "special hotline" for One.Tel customers marked a final blow for the embattled telco.
Full page advertisements have appeared in metropolitan newspapers today, urging One.Tel customers to contact Telstra for assistance in "reviewing" their Internet and mobile connections.
The advertisement: "A message to assist One.Tel customers" tells customers they can rest assured Telstra is doing everything it can to maintain all home and business phone services.
It also invites customers wishing to discuss their phone and Internet options to ring a special hotline number.
The move comes just days after Cable & Wireless Optus cut network coverage to One.Tel, which owes Optus AU$30million.
The Optus move was dubbed a -corporate raid" by joint administrator Steve Sherman, who referred the matter to the competition watchdog.
"The difference in Telstra's action is that they continue to maintain services," Sherman said Saturday.
In a statement emailed to ZDNet, Sherman said he was in "constant contact" with Telstra, which provides Internet and telephone services to One.Tel customers.
"Both Telstra and Optus have been aware since last week that the administrators are in ongoing discussions with a party that is exploring means of potentially restructuring One.Tel wireless operations.
"We had sought the assistance of both carriers to maintain the status-quo until June 8 to allow due diligence to be conducted.
"Telstra has assisted in that request - they have not severed One.Tel services, and they are in constant contact with us."
Meanwhile, the administrators said they were cooperating with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's investigation into the telco's collapse.
"We will work as closely as possible with ASIC to ensure that questions over One.Tel are answered as comprehensively as possible," Sherman said.
I use One.Tel and I have only received an SMS from One.Tel. My phone still works.