2Talk has changed destination country bundle - South Africa no longer included

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Malingo

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Topic # 223364 25-Sep-2017 21:50

I've been with 2 Talk for a number of years and we make daily calls to South Africa. The $20 bundle was sufficient for us as it included calls to South Africa.

I've just noticed that South Africa is no longer included in the list of countries that qualify for in bundle minutes. They now charge $0.1 or $0..01 per minute I think (website isnt clear on pricing rate model, just has a value of 0.1)

Anyone have any insights for whats resulted in the change? I'm looking at other options too as $20 was the sweet spot for me.

On average 600-800 minutes per month for calls to SA.

Thanks

darylblake

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Reply # 1872754 25-Sep-2017 22:14

Any companies in SA sell VoIP? Can you get an acct with one of them and make local calls?

LostBoy

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Reply # 1872756 25-Sep-2017 22:17

0.1 looks like 1 cent a minute on their site, so your looking at $6-$8 increase.

I haven't found anything that's priced anywhere near 2Talk that includes the pbx functionality that they offer, but if you find something post it.

darylblake

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Reply # 1872757 25-Sep-2017 22:19

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LostBoy: 0.1 looks like 1 cent a minute on their site, so your looking at $6-$8 increase.

I haven't found anything that's priced anywhere near 2Talk that includes the pbx functionality that they offer, but if you find something post it.

$ 0.1 to me says 10 cents. So he would go from paying $20 to $60-$80. So I can see why he might be looking around. If he were getting 0.01c per min to SA then yeh, thats a good price.

LostBoy

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Reply # 1872758 25-Sep-2017 22:25

darylblake:
LostBoy: 0.1 looks like 1 cent a minute on their site, so your looking at $6-$8 increase.

I haven't found anything that's priced anywhere near 2Talk that includes the pbx functionality that they offer, but if you find something post it.

$ 0.1 to me says 10 cents. So he would go from paying $20 to $60-$80. So I can see why he might be looking around. If he were getting 0.01c per min to SA then yeh, thats a good price.

Yeah actually your right, it is actually 10 cents which is quite a hike!

Might be something else in that price range, what are the big telco plans offering?

Malingo

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Reply # 1872831 26-Sep-2017 07:09

Just loooked at call record and a 1 min call actually is 11c with gst. So yes, quite the hike!
Can't find any other providers that are cheaper so the closest may be skype it's about $9 /month with 400 minutes included. They also have you a local number. We use as a homeline so don't need pabx but was good to have a physical analogue phone instead of mobile app.

Will look into SA VoIP providers but that means we lose a Nz number.

Disappointed at 2 talk for doing this with no real notice.

Behodar

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Reply # 1872845 26-Sep-2017 07:48

Malingo: (website isnt clear on pricing rate model, just has a value of 0.1)

That's a bit dodgy! The table doesn't list the unit, as you say it just says "0.1", but the table above that has everything in cents. You could therefore logically conclude that it's 0.1 cents per minute*, when in reality it's 100 times that.

*It also doesn't say that the rates are per minute.

Edit: Wait, it does say "All rates are in NZ dollars" up the top in blue text on a blue background.

tchart

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Reply # 1872853 26-Sep-2017 08:20

Not sure who you are calling but couldn't you use WhatsApp, FB Messenger or Viber? They are all pretty good. My wife uses those to talk to her family in SA.

Unfortunately the crumbling infrastructure there means that the price of connection will keep going up. My mother in law had no end of trouble with her land line for years before giving in and moving to cellular.

Slight side topic but the roaming rates in SA are terrible too. $1 for a text. $10 per mb for data. Tell them their dreaming.

Edit: on another note 2 degrees used to offer a pack of minutes like it does for other countries. That too got taken off the list - I suspect it's just not economical when the foreign providers keep putting up prices to sustain their business. Yes I know it's their business etc but in this case there are other factors (currency devaluation etc).

tripp

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Reply # 1872854 26-Sep-2017 08:31

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God I hope the lady next door to me is on 2talk as well and it cuts down on her yelling down the phone in Afrikaans for 8 hours a day.

Malingo

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Reply # 1875411 1-Oct-2017 12:11

Ok have decided to give 2talk the boot. Have reverted back to skype calling. Many of the older folks we call in SA dont really know how to use OTT apps so we just call them directly via skype calling.

There rates are really good. Found a bundle for under 10 euro and has about 400 bundled minutes to landline and mobiles.

Also quite like the skype number option in SA (allowing friends and family to call us by dialing a local number there).

Next thing to research is a good blue tooth speaker option to allow for handsfree calling (via BT on pc or phones). Jabra 510 is top of short list at the moment. Just considering getting a BT speaker which has better sound quality but worried may compromise on the 510's excellent omnidirectional mics.

Any suggestions from those that have this setup? PS wife often calls from kitchen and there will be background noise and moving around so need something that has a good mic.

old3eyes

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Reply # 1875456 1-Oct-2017 12:58

Malingo: Just loooked at call record and a 1 min call actually is 11c with gst. So yes, quite the hike!
Can't find any other providers that are cheaper so the closest may be skype it's about $9 /month with 400 minutes included. They also have you a local number. We use as a homeline so don't need pabx but was good to have a physical analogue phone instead of mobile app.

Will look into SA VoIP providers but that means we lose a Nz number.

Disappointed at 2 talk for doing this with no real notice.

They've most likely done it because their South African terminating carrier has hikes their rate to 2Talk. Usually it's the terminating carrier that sets the rates from NZ..

Regards,

Old3eyes