2degrees drops prices

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › 2degrees drops prices

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#315017 5-Apr-2010 16:50

Benolam: If anybody wants to get really cheap mobile calls, then I would suggest trying the GlobalTel (US) Callback Service.

http://www.globaltel.com

Their leg rates are :

NZ landlines (64) US 0.016
NZ mobiles (642) US 0.025

So a mobile to mobile call in NZ would only be US 5c/min, and between a mobile and landline only US 4c/min.

This is significant NZ mobile rates are high compared to other countries. Vodafone and Telecom prepaid is NZ 89c/min, 2degrees is better at NZ 44c/min (22c with monthly top-up to some numbers).

So what I would do is buy a $2 2degrees SIM from DSE or some other store (no longer available from 2degrees website) which includes $2 credit, and use the callback service from GlobalTel to make calls.

Cheapest option I can think of for casual mobile users.

You do you need to sign up for an account with GlobalTel and provide CC information and they bill you monthly, but I have been using them several months and they are a good crowd.

I'm not sure where you're getting those rates from because their website is telling me it's US 61c per minute to call from a NZ mobile to a NZ mobile!

There is certainly no way a telco or transit provider could be interconnecting with a NZ mobile operator and paying US 2.5c for termination!

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#315019 5-Apr-2010 16:55

ahmad: How does that work please?

Two ways.

Traditionally callback providers worked by giving you a DDI number to call that wouldn't answer and would trigger a callback to the number you called from. You would then get a dialtone which would allow you to make an outbound call. You would be charged for both legs of the call (inbound to you and outbound).

Now it's more common to find mobile apps or a WAP page that will ask you to enter a destination number, establish a WiFi/GPRS/3G data session to pass that information to the callback provider and then ring you back, and when you answer then trigger the call to the remote party and bridge the call.

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#315024 5-Apr-2010 17:27

sbiddle:
ahmad: How does that work please?

Two ways.

Traditionally callback providers worked by giving you a DDI number to call that wouldn't answer and would trigger a callback to the number you called from. You would then get a dialtone which would allow you to make an outbound call. You would be charged for both legs of the call (inbound to you and outbound).

Now it's more common to find mobile apps or a WAP page that will ask you to enter a destination number, establish a WiFi/GPRS/3G data session to pass that information to the callback provider and then ring you back, and when you answer then trigger the call to the remote party and bridge the call.

Correct, that is how it works, and they also allow you to trigger the callback via SMS or ANI (which requires Caller ID to be sent) for some services.

The DDI (also called confusingly DID) is a unique number assigned to the customer (you can have several if you like, one for each of your phones) and it is mapped to the number you want to be called back on. That number does not need to be on the phone that called the DDI number and you can change the callback number at any time. The call will be answered after about 5 rings so you do need to hang up after the first or second ring. ANI callback will give an engaged signal however.

The rate on their website is correct。I'm not sure where you are looking but you need to use their Callback rate calculator and the cost is US $0.05 per minute (billed in 6 second increments after the first minute). I have been using their services for some time and that is the rate, however it could change as did the Australian rates which were also quite low for a long time.

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#315031 5-Apr-2010 17:39

SteveON:
Benolam: If anybody wants to get really cheap mobile calls, then I would suggest trying the GlobalTel (US) Callback Service.

http://www.globaltel.com

Their leg rates are :

NZ landlines (64) US 0.016
NZ mobiles (642) US 0.025

So a mobile to mobile call in NZ would only be US 5c/min, and between a mobile and landline only US 4c/min.

This is significant NZ mobile rates are?high compared to other countries. Vodafone and Telecom prepaid is NZ 89c/min, 2degrees is better at NZ 44c/min (22c with monthly top-up to some numbers).

So what I would do is buy a $2 2degrees SIM from DSE or some other store (no longer available from 2degrees website) which includes $2 credit, and use the callback service from?GlobalTel to make calls.

Cheapest option I can think of for casual mobile users.

You do you need to sign up for an account with GlobalTel and provide CC information and they bill you monthly, but I have been using them several months and they are a good crowd.

Yeah it's an application.

You will need to have a good provider like XT to get decent enough QoS to reach their U.S based server.

"When you dial your destination phone number your iPhone will use its built in data connection to send a signal to the Globaltel Switching Center in the U.S."?

No, the service itself does not require an application. I am referring to the Callback Service, not the iPhone application but if you want to you can trigger the calback from a mobile phone either using the iPhone application or from the GlobalTel website using any internet capable phone or direct from your PC via your account portal.

The service simply involves calling a unique trigger number, hanging up after one ring and you are then called back on your designated number and you in effect have a US dial tone to make your call. No data is required on either parties' end.

nyquist

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#315035 5-Apr-2010 17:46

ahmad: Hey Vodafone don't promote "easy to understand pricing" in any marketing I've ever seen from them.

2 Degrees on the other hand....

So don't complain about our whinging!

Huh? I'm not sure where in my previous posts I was complaining about anyone whinging... I'm firmly in the opinion that whinging is therapeutic. Just offering an opinion with regards to understanding pricing schemes re: 2degrees, Vodafone from personal experience, the main point of which that while 2degrees pricing has gotten an extra layer, they have put in reminders/services that try to negate the complexity, and that in terms of complexity, other mobile networks are still a bit further ahead.

Well, Vodafone has promoted other things... all networks do, I just mentally shelve these in a big Marketing box ;)

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#315037 5-Apr-2010 17:53

Benolam:
The rate on their website is correct。I'm not sure where you are looking but you need to use their Callback rate calculator and the cost is US $0.05 per minute (billed in 6 second increments after the first minute). I have been using their services for some time and that is the rate, however it could change as did the Australian rates which were also quite low for a long time.

I'm clicking on international callback service and then clicking on "low callback rates from 240 countries" which gives me a calculator.

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#315040 5-Apr-2010 17:58

sbiddle: I'm clicking on international callback service and then clicking on "low callback rates from 240 countries" which gives me a calculator.

Ah, sorry yes they have an old pricing file from 2007 still there. I'll send them a note to update the link.

The current (well almost, there are some minor changes they have not uploaded) file is here:

http://secure1.globaltel.com/eRate/Single_Rate_Callback.aspx?ratefilename=rate9c&color=azure

which shows the rates I mentioned. The Australian landline and mobile rates have been recently updated and are not reflected in the calculator, but NZ rates are still what is billed on their switch.

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#315051 5-Apr-2010 18:17

It certainly doesn't give me a great deal of confidence in a company when they can't even get things like pricing correct on their website, especially when you say the corrected file isn't even correct!

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#315158 5-Apr-2010 23:33

Benolam: Ah, sorry yes they have an old pricing file from 2007 still there. I'll send them a note to update the link.

The current (well almost, there are some minor changes they have not uploaded) file is here:

http://secure1.globaltel.com/eRate/Single_Rate_Callback.aspx?ratefilename=rate9c&color=azure

which shows the rates I mentioned. The Australian landline and mobile rates have been recently updated and are not reflected in the calculator, but NZ rates are still what is billed on their switch.

That still doesn't explain how they manage to provide the service at less than the current termination rates, unless they're running their service at a loss (not likely).

richms

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#315164 6-Apr-2010 00:04

Perhaps callingcards etc get special rates - how else would those ones that have no surcharge calling out from vodafone operate?

Richard rich.ms

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#315168 6-Apr-2010 00:26

Kyanar:
That still doesn't explain how they manage to provide the service at less than the current termination rates, unless they're running their service at a loss (not likely).

You know what, they are running at a loss on those routes. They even told me as much. But then why shouldn't customers take advantage of that? Only caution is that they can change their rates without notice, so you could get caught out.

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#317383 12-Apr-2010 15:42

SteveON: I'm looking forward to April 12th; new prices coming from Vodafone, May have to switch back to being native 021 again =]

3G is way to expensive.

anyone seen any news of this secret weapon SteveON? looking at my calendar it is the 12th of April

Any posts are personal comments and not that of my employer

johnr

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#317385 12-Apr-2010 15:43

pwner:
SteveON: I'm looking forward to April 12th; new prices coming from Vodafone, May have to switch back to being native 021 again =]

3G is way to expensive.

anyone seen any news of this secret weapon SteveON? looking at my calendar it is the 12th of April

There will be no news today