Interconnection Rate Back To Voip Numbers

[Tweak]

So we voip callers have a good deal right? We can phone other people for cheaper. But do you allways bother finding out what other people pay to phone back to us?

Recently a lot of hype has been built up around the FNB Connect's 25cents to any cellphone number Promotion (running until 22 January next year).

I found out that the interconnection rate when people phone your FNB Line is 2Rand above the normal rate from their provider.

I had a hard time getting this information from fnb, but I am glad now that I did get it.

What about you? What is your voip provider charging your friends and family/customers who are phoning you?

 

[MKSolutions]

Hi Tweak,

Not sure where you got your info, perhaps that is the rate to call from a Mobile Network?

Remember, there are many different rates... although the providers charge an inbound rate to customers, their cost is dependent on the calling parties network, i.e. calling FNB's number range from Telkom carries a charge of R 0.88c per minute, after the Call connection charge of R 0.57c. Mobile differs, and so does the charge from other VoIP providers.

This is very tricky business... even goes to the extent where Providers make money on Inbound calls, and then offer a rebate back to customers, iow a profit split, all the whilst the calling party is oblivious to the charges.

For information like this (and much more) I have done Research for Reporting on a few VoIP Providers in South Africa and made this available online www.WhichVoIP.co.za.

Interesting stuff... enjoy.

regards
Mitch

 

[Tweak]

nevermind I see switch telecom is there. Nice website lol
Your website reports don't list the cost of inbound calls tho.

 

[gmza]

Hi Tweak

The reason the Switch Telecom web site doesn't list inbound call costs is because those rates are determined by and billed by the operator from which the call is dialled, not by Switch Telecom.

FWIW, these rates are going to change on 1 March 2011 as a result of new regulations and there should be a single rate from Telkom to all other fixed-line operators (including fixed and fixed-mobile lines based on VoIP technology). This will remove a lot of the trickiness in the business.

--Greg

 

[MKSolutions]

nevermind I see switch telecom is there. Nice website lol
Your website reports don't list the cost of inbound calls tho.

Hey Tweak, and how do you suppose i make money out of all of this? I give a sneak peak (7 questions) the 43 questions you need to pay for... so, you pick the provider, pay your R 45, and download a full Research Report on that provider, answering 50 questions you would be interested to know.

Am working with some providers who are probably going to purchase a block of reports and make the full (and sponsored) report available to the users at no charge.. At that point: You'll get free info.

Agree with GMZA though, those days are numbered, but i've been working with these guys way too long to know that they will always find a loophole. Dont agree with it, but thats the reality.

cheers
www.WhichVoIP.co.za

 

[XConnect]

Yes, the inbound can be a rip. Especially sad since it's friends, customers and others who end up paying the price.

Ironic also that some of the most vocal people in the industry about lowering rates are the ones with the highest inbound rates.

The worst part is that at the point of making a call one has no ideas what the rate will be - the rates for geographic numbers (011, 021) and 087 numbers are mixed, they differ dramatically (from 5c to 1.25 or so) and even if you know the number range of the telco you cannot tell which operator the number is ported to. You can do research beforehand, but who has time.