Skype to invest in UM

[Keighleyboy]

Originally Posted by prion

But here, in Greece it is different. I have already explained that dialing the +447937 prefix costs much more than other uk mobile networks. OTE has claimed that this is due to higher termination rates imposed by foreign networks (Jersey telecom in our case).

I am almost certain that BT is going to charge more when calling to 07937. I would also like to mention that voipfone (UK voip provider) does not connect to 07937.

After a few days of emails back and forth between myself and Voipfone.co.uk it looks like they will be connecting to Jersey Telecom based numbers

Their latest reply was...

Thanks for taking the time to contact Voipfone.


We are currently making changes with our routing tables, and negotiating prices.

We’ll see if we can get 07937 routed, at the moment if we enabled that route we would have to charge around 32p per minute (ex VAT).

...Which is more than what they charge for IOM based numbers at 12p (ex VAT)


At least they are a company that listens to it customers, I remember not so long ago they wouldn't connect 07911 WiFi services but after one email with them they now do

[prion]

Voipfone is a serious company. Bear also in mind that BT charges 28.5 p/min (peak) to connect to 07937 numbers!

[bbob]

Originally Posted by GadgetKen

Based on the [United Mobile will deliver a combination of Truphone, Jajah and Skype on a "One SIM card Service"] statement and the new Jersey card that they said will have UMTS data service in 4q07, I wonder if they will have the option of VOIP calls over UMTS and if this would be cheaper than either a standard GSM callback on United Mobile or using a CBW solution?

UMTS or any dataservice does not work using callback. UM can keep rates low because the use callback.

I don''t think that they will be able to offer roaming free data as data is charged per kb or mb or whatever.
When they offer is it porbably depends on the network you are using if this is blocking voip / skype, some networks do. UM will have no influence on them.

[bbob]

Originally Posted by Keighleyboy

After a few days of emails back and forth between myself and Voipfone.co.uk it looks like they will be connecting to Jersey Telecom based numbers

Their latest reply was...

Thanks for taking the time to contact Voipfone.


We are currently making changes with our routing tables, and negotiating prices.

We’ll see if we can get 07937 routed, at the moment if we enabled that route we would have to charge around 32p per minute (ex VAT).

...Which is more than what they charge for IOM based numbers at 12p (ex VAT)


At least they are a company that listens to it customers, I remember not so long ago they wouldn't connect 07911 WiFi services but after one email with them they now do

For my busniess I use voicetrading the pro part of betamax only for companies. You need a vat number and company registration to buy credit, which is at leasat 500 euro credit. But the rate is only 0,10 euro and it works fine.
The also have very competitive rates to other destinations and their rates to mobile phones in many countries are very low.
The now offer 3 type of services. dail 0001 for a cheap call rate. 00 for a normal rate and 000 for a premium quality. the 000 rate is not really that much higher than the normal or low quality rate.

[DRNewcomb]

Originally Posted by bbob

UMTS or any dataservice does not work using callback. UM can keep rates low because the use callback.

I don''t think that they will be able to offer roaming free data as data is charged per kb or mb or whatever.

Many carrier who use callback for roaming calls (e.g. Wind) also offer prepaid roaming. This is done by having to pass your data connection back through the home APN where it can be metered.

[Stu]

I don't see a conflict between callbacks and data for the reasons mentioned by DN. It should be noted that callbacks are not limited to prepaid. Several Hong Kong providers offer their subscribers better roaming rates when using their callbackservice.

From what I've read, voip using an efficient codec gives you roughly ten minutes of talk time per meg. The average data roaming rate that I've seen is ten to fifteen US dollars a meg. (Come back Mega No Limits!!!).

Assume the lower rate and no termination rates, you are still talking about US$1 a minute over VOIP.

VOIP over 3g is also real shaky. I've done it on one provider in the UK and to quote my British friends "it was simply brilliant." In other places, this isn't likely to be the case.

By the way, for those of you using SIP and Windows Mobile 5 or 6 (without the SIP module) take a look at Fring. It has great connectivity to both Skype and SIP. It also gives you Skype on Symbian.

[MATHA531]

Originally Posted by VladS

I have a hunch Barry @ CBW will have a very attractive callback solution for +44-7937.

Don't be so sure about this (not that I don't like Barry and think cbw has worked real well for me until the fiasco with Liechtenstein mobiles that started in April when the price was raised from 14¢ to 29¢ and now to well over 50¢.

However, if you check the tables, you will find that calls to and from UK mobiles on cbw cost over 40¢/minute as compared to 28¢/minute from and to German and French mobiles.

One would sense they are averaging things out to the +44 mobiles with the calls to and from the Isle of Man pulling this price up (perhaps their billing tables cannot distinguish between one +44 carrier from another)...only voicestick to the best of my limited knowledge has different prices to and from +44 carriers with Orange and T Mobile being in the 13¢ range and O2 and Isle of Man being around 31¢/minute.

Unfortunately I am afraid to use voicestick for call forwarding purposes because of their inability (or refusal) to fix the problem of being charged for 5 minutes when a quick 10 second message is left in voice mail. This has been an ongoing problem unique to them that I find it difficult to believe has not been resolved despits countless e mails regarding this.

I've been able to use my verizon landline call forwarding when I've travelled away from home to various European sims....generally when in the UK I've used local sims and the rate runs around 28¢/minute...up till April to Liechtenstein mobiles it was 11¢/minute and now has shot through the roof to 41¢/minute...the question is what will at&t which is my ld carrier used when call forwarding internationally charge to either the Isle of Man.....I was hoping to find out simplyusing a call into voicemail (to set it up anyway) with the new UM+ sim but as noted elsewhere, when the phone is off I get an error message the number doesn't exist while of course if I have the phone on and let it slide into voicemail, we get the double billing whammy gsm phones are famous for and of course while in the USA I can't answer the UM+ or its over €2...and both the Estonian and Icelandic termination fees on at&t ld are absurd.