How to reduce telephone costs?

[leonb]

Not sure where to post this, but maybe someone can help.

My wife has a recruitment company and run up telephone bills of between R10000 and R20000 a month. They use a normal telkom bussness line with 6 in/out going lines. Most of their calls are to cellphones.

What will be their best option to reduce the telephone bill? I'm aware of the telkom cellsaver, which will give about 25% discount on all cellphone costs once activated. Anything \else that will make significant difference?

 

[Cantera]

Can your wife find me a job?

 

[Imoe]

Supreme call from Telkom, or alternatively install LCR if your wife is making calls to cell phones.

 

[LancelotSA]

Premicell?

What is Least Cost Routing (Premicell)?

* Simply put - Least Cost Routing uses individual cellular routers, to re-route cellular calls from the PBX of a company to the mobile networks. This means that an original intended fixed-to-mobile call from your PBX is converted into a mobile-to-mobile call.
* To enable this a cellular router is connected to your PBX. Depending on the volume of calls this can also be a number of routers.
* The PBX is then re-programmed to route all calls to mobile phone numbers via these cellular routers.
* Per router the company would then subscribe to an inclusive minute calling plan available from mobile operators.
* This inclusive minute calling plan would enable a customer to make cheaper cellular calls from fixed line telephones.

 

[Imoe]

Jip

 

[MadMailMan]

Tell her to use carrier pigeons.

 

[Mams]

Try using TELBO www.telbo.com with any IP phone/cordless phone

 

[kilos]

why you using voipraider for S.A. local calls...use voipblast.com....

FREE to S.A. landlines.

Cheers.

OPTION 1: Especially for multiple SIP trunk connections to sip.voipblast.com
Setup an Asterisk PBX to connect to your existing PBX (trixbox.org and setup a few SIP trunks to a couple of these Voip accounts from ZAR 0.55c.min to Cell calls

OPTION 2:
Alternatively purchase a Sipura SPA3000 with FXO & FXS connection
and connect that to a free extension ie Ext 230, so when someone dials that free extension, he will get dialtone from the SIP provider and then he can dial SA cell phone calls (not sure if someone charges less than 55c/min)
NOt sure of the latency from SA to UK or Germany where the VoIP provider dials out from.

 

[gmza]

I don't think CellSaver exists any longer. You have to take SupremeCall instead.

SupremeCall has serious limitations, not the least of which is that the benefit only applies to in-bundle calls and that bundles are pre-paid.

Using foreign VoIP providers like voipblast to call to SA mobiles is going to result in unbearable delay and call quality. Keep in mind that this is a business operation; lost calls == lost revenue. The delay associated with going SA -> USA -> SA -> SIM farm -> Cell Phone is over half a second. Humans start noticing delay from above a fifth of a second.

Realistically, there are two ideal ways of saving money in the above scenario while maintaining relatively decent call quality:
1. The complicated way (with expensive setup and 24-month contracts):
Install an expensive switchboard with premicells and SIMs with the three major networks. Monitor usage levels like a hawk to avoid overflow while ensuring you have enough SIMs on each network.
2. The easy way (with cheap setup and monthly contract):
Simply get six local VoIP lines or a Hosted Switchboard solution with six extensions and six VoIP phones.

The latter will almost certainly give you the best compromise between savings, call quality, effortless installation and low-maintenance, no long-term commitments, ability to increase or decrease volumes and value-added features.

(www.switchtel.co.za for more info)

 

[rebel998]

Try a FCT or premicell.It's the least hassle, most cost effective way. And also get a management system for the PABX. (A system that records every call's duration etc.)

I ussually tell clients if they do not save the costs of implimenting this system within six months I'll buy the whole system back in cash.

Never happened once.

 

[alkit]

Just found this:
http://www.telkom.co.za/attheoffice/services/cellsaver/index.html

 

[dayav07]

talk after 7:00pm

 

[JacquesHamman]

have you thought of going through iconnect yet? she will save around 35% per month on all calls. 35% on local, 24% on long distance, 41% on international and 38% on mobile. you can contact andre lubbe on 021 941 6688. he will explain it all to you

 

[Hosehead]

Is iconnect a viable business option to get involved with?

 

[kingpunky]

I now use VOX but I recommend if you are going to be making high volume calls and using the net quite a bit you will need a 4mb line or two smaller lines one for data and one for voice.

 

[syntax]

call Itec west and enquire about the i-gate devices...its a pretty decent solution

 

[TURNTEL]

Leonb, did you ever come right with your solution?

 

[jacobrossking]

One way to reduce telephone costs is by replacing your fax machine with an internet fax service.

 

[Vaaljapie]

Anyone know of a cheap email to fax service?