Video Call Help

[newviper]

Got my N80 now I just need a little information about video calls.

Do I need a dif SIM card(have 32k)
Must I call my service provider to activate it (curently get message "not supported by other phone or network")
I do have a 3g under the signal strenght.
how will I be billed. can free minutes be used for video calls

Thanks

 

[Gunny]

Video calls are billed at normal call rates I'm not sure about free minutes tho. You do need to have video calling enabled by your SP and both you and the person you calling need to have a 3G signall at the time of the call. The message you getting seems to indicate you have video calling enabled but the person you calling is either out of 3G coverage or does not have the service enabled.

 

[bwana]

Do both callers have to be on the same network?

 

[GTi]

No, because I did an international call to Italy and it worked fine,Two different networks.Expensive though, Regards

 

[Edinetz]

The tariff is not the same as for normal calls. You can also get the message ""not supported by other phone or network" when the other party is out of 3G coverage.

 

[SoTrue]

The tariff is not the same as for normal calls. You can also get the message ""not supported by other phone or network" when the other party is out of 3G coverage.

Not sure where you get your information from. Local video calls cost the same as voice calls since the inception of video calling, charging is also based on duration. Maybe I missed the announcement where this was changed?

 

[Syndyre]

Do both callers have to be on the same network?

Vodacom and MTN signed some sort of video interconnect agreement I think, as for intl depends on the other network I suppose.

 

[Edinetz]

Not sure where you get your information from. Local video calls cost the same as voice calls since the inception of video calling, charging is also based on duration. Maybe I missed the announcement where this was changed?

Yes I did too - On-net or Vodacom to Vodacom video calls are at the same rate as voice calls but video calls to MTN are always charged at the peak rate even during off-peak times. Free minutes do not apply to Vodacom to MTN video calls possible Vodacom to Vodacom as well but I have not tested it. Therefore they are not charged the same as voice calls.

 

[vodacom3g]

You're correct. All on-net video calls are as per your specific voice package. Off-net (to another network) is charged differently.

 

[Sony_3G]

BUT what about voda to voda video call. Does it count as free minute or not?

 

[Swoosh]

I did some video calls and it came from my free minutes to Vodacom!

 

[Edinetz]

So why are video calls to MTN not comming off free minutes? Can Vodacom please explain there logic and how they define the time free minutes. If video calls to MTN are not deducted from free minutes then why are normal calls to MTN and CellC not excluded from free minutes? Vodacom tariffs are heading the same way as bank charges - nobody not even the institutions themselves understand them!

 

[ic]

So why are video calls to MTN not comming off free minutes? Can Vodacom please explain there logic and how they define the time free minutes. If video calls to MTN are not deducted from free minutes then why are normal calls to MTN and CellC not excluded from free minutes? Vodacom tariffs are heading the same way as bank charges - nobody not even the institutions themselves understand them!

Bcos MTN charges Vodacom more for a 3G video call than it charges Vodacom for an ordinary 2G [non-video] call...?

Interconnect fees...

 

[Edinetz]

Bcos MTN charges Vodacom more for a 3G video call than it charges Vodacom for an ordinary 2G [non-video] call...?

Interconnect fees...

It makes no difference these are minutes included in the subscription you pay. Voice calls are included so now Vodacom must deceide whether Video calls are included or excluded else they need to redefine "free minutes". Next thing we know calls to Neotel will be excluded when they launch because the interconnect fees are higher and the big boys want to keep them out the market.

 

[ic]

It makes no difference these are minutes included in the subscription you pay. Voice calls are included so now Vodacom must deceide whether Video calls are included or excluded else they need to redefine "free minutes". Next thing we know calls to Neotel will be excluded when they launch because the interconnect fees are higher and the big boys want to keep them out the market.

Interconnect fees are allegedly a cost-factor that the I[ncompetent]CASA has been blabbering on about for a while now, with talk of scrapping interconnect fees altogether or something like that, but as usual nothing much changes for the better in SA...

 

[Sony_3G]

all that change in sa changes for the benifits of the large companies

 

[vodacom3g]

Bcos MTN charges Vodacom more for a 3G video call than it charges Vodacom for an ordinary 2G [non-video] call...?

Interconnect fees...

Yup, 100%.

MTN does not charge the same rate for video as voice and thus their interconnect is different for voice and video, which is much higher.

Same reason why calls like international, etc. won't come of your free minutes.

 

[Edinetz]

MTN does not charge the same rate for video as voice and thus their interconnect is different for voice and video, which is much higher.

But they don't charge more for off-net video calls - calls to MTN and Vodacom are the charged at the same rate (per website) :confused.

Clever Vodacom by making video calls up to 50% more expensive from Vodacom to MTN than vice versa, Vodacom is hoping this will result in more video calls from MTN to Vodacom making it the winner in the interconnect game.

In any event interconnection fees are not a function of tariff but rather tariff is a function of interconnect fees. How can you say the interconnect fees are higher for video calls becuase of the higher tariff. The interconnect fees are negotiated before the tariff is set.

P.S Neither does Vodacom charge the same for their Voice and Video Calls.

 

[ic]

But they don't charge more for off-net video calls - calls to MTN and Vodacom are the charged at the same rate (per website) :confused.

Clever Vodacom by making video calls up to 50% more expensive from Vodacom to MTN than vice versa, Vodacom is hoping this will result in more video calls from MTN to Vodacom making it the winner in the interconnect game.

In any event interconnection fees are not a function of tariff but rather tariff is a function of interconnect fees. How can you say the interconnect fees are higher for video calls becuase of the higher tariff. The interconnect fees are negotiated before the tariff is set.

P.S Neither does Vodacom charge the same for their Voice and Video Calls.

Perhaps I just need a caffeine injection, maybe then I will be able to make sense of what you posted there?

 

[vodacom3g]

Perhaps I just need a caffeine injection, maybe then I will be able to make sense of what you posted there?

I just had a cuppa but also battle to understand

1) Voice packages were constructed and interconnect for voice set up. (long time ago)

2) 3G Video calling became available.

3) Interconnect for video is different from voice interconnect (function of the other network)

4) Vodacom made video calls = voice calls where interconnect does not play a role, i.e. Vodacom controls the cost

5) Different tariffs apply where interconnect plays a role, i.e. Vodacom does not control the cost.

If I read you correctly, you say Video calls from MTN to Vodacom is the same as MTN to MTN?

Are they more expensive than MTN voice calls?

If so, it's logical that they don't need to charge more for off-net, as everything is already on the higher tariff.