CONVERGENT Telecom, the Pocklington-based telecommunications company, has teamed up with a distributor to offer a sale and installation package for mobile phone car kits throughout the Dixons Stores Group.

For the first time, customers can order a Kondor car kit to suit their handheld mobiles at 295 high street branches of The Link and 125 PC World outlets - both under the Dixons umbrella.

The deal means more engineering jobs for Convergent, some of which will be based at its headquarters on the Pocklington Industrial estate, but exact numbers are not yet confirmed.

Included in the prices for the kits, which start at £249, is installation by a professional Convergent engineer.

Mobile phone accessory distributor Kondor chose Convergent Telecom as installation partner because it is one of the few firms with the engineering resources to handle such a large-scale operation.

Michael Bartlett, Kondor's commercial director, said: "They have an excellent reputation and are market leaders.

"When you are dealing with blue chip companies like Dixons and T-Mobile, you can't afford to cut corners. We needed another blue chip outfit with a good reputation."

Mark Blakeston, Convergent's technical sales director, described the deal as "a major breakthrough in terms of brand presence and positions us well in advance of demand for these kits and other in-car devices".

Also available will be car kits from other manufacturers, including wireless versions which route calls through the car stereo system.

Updated: 09:53 Tuesday, January 14, 2003