Can One Call Betamax Gateways In Germany on German Flat Rate Plans?

[ronwi]

I see that a number of the German carriers have prepaid flat rate plans of EUR 15 - EUR 20 per month, allowing unlimited calls to German landlines and on-network mobile calls.

Betamax has local rate numbers in Berlin and Muenchen that allow you to call over the Betamax network at their regular rates (including free minutes.) If I signed up for the flat mobile rate plan, would calls to the Betamax number be covered in the flat rate plan?

The number for Berlin is given on the Poivy website as 03031190303.

[inquisitor]

eplus and O2 including all providers on their networks have blocked or strictly limited calls to Betamax' access numbers for a year now. I don't know if T-Mobile and Vodafone proceed in a similar way, but Fonic offers cheap rates for direct calling from your mobile: http://www.prepaidgsm.net/forum/euro...-visitors.html

[saintsimon]

Originally Posted by inquisitor

eplus ... including all providers on their networks have blocked or strictly limited calls to Betamax' access numbers for a year now...

For Eplus this is NOT correct. I call the Berlin access numbers of Betamax almost daily without any problems from my Eplus line.

[dg7feq]

Originally Posted by saintsimon

For Eplus this is NOT correct. I call the Berlin access numbers of Betamax almost daily without any problems from my Eplus line.

Yep, i can confirm that the access numbers e.g. from smsdiscount work fine from a BASE flatrate card on eplus network.

Chris

[ronwi]

It appears that the Betamax numbers are now reachable from Eplus.

I am going to Berlin next week and was thinking of buying one of the Tchibo SIMs with USB internet: Tchibo - Internet Stick inkl. Prepaid SIM-Karte

I understand that Tchibo uses O2, and Tchibo has a flatrate to landlines of 12.95 EUR per month. However, it has been poste here the O2 cannot dial the Betamax number. However, it appears that things can change, given that Eplus can not dial Betamax.

Can anyone in Germany who has O2 (or Tchibo) try dialing the Betamax access number at 03031190303 and see if it now works? Thanks.

Originally Posted by dg7feq

Yep, i can confirm that the access numbers e.g. from smsdiscount work fine from a BASE flatrate card on eplus network.

Chris

[saintsimon]

Originally Posted by ronwi

It appears that the Betamax numbers are now reachable from Eplus.

I am going to Berlin next week and was thinking of buying one of the Tchibo SIMs with USB internet: Tchibo - Internet Stick inkl. Prepaid SIM-Karte

I understand that Tchibo uses O2, and Tchibo has a flatrate to landlines of 12.95 EUR per month. However, it has been poste here the O2 cannot dial the Betamax number. However, it appears that things can change, given that Eplus can not dial Betamax.

Can anyone in Germany who has O2 (or Tchibo) try dialing the Betamax access number at 03031190303 and see if it now works? Thanks.

Eplus access to Betamax numbers (in Berlin at least) was never blocked in the first place. Inquisitor did make assumptions.

To state facts: I just tried Tchibo and that number IS blocked.

[dg7feq]

Originally Posted by ronwi

Can anyone in Germany who has O2 (or Tchibo) try dialing the Betamax access number at 03031190303 and see if it now works? Thanks.

the number is even blocked on our o2 company contract SIM cards (where we pay per minute to landlines...).

Chris

[dg7feq]

From Vodafone and T-Mobile it still works to call these numbers. But from the terms of service all providers could theoretically block the access numbers any day as o2 and eplus already did.

Chris

[ronwi]

What is it in their terms of service that gives them the theoretical right? Do they just reserve the right to block any number they choose for any reason they choose?

Originally Posted by dg7feq

From Vodafone and T-Mobile it still works to call these numbers. But from the terms of service all providers could theoretically block the access numbers any day as o2 and eplus already did.

Chris

[dg7feq]

Originally Posted by ronwi

What is it in their terms of service that gives them the theoretical right? Do they just reserve the right to block any number they choose for any reason they choose?

The official announcement from the providers say that there is a "high network load" to certain number ranges and they block these numbers "to ensure a good quality of service" for all customers....

Chris