More speculation about The more who sign up the more you save

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › More speculation about The more who sign up the more you save

tomgeeknz

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#37962 22-Jul-2009 11:48

From an Email i just recieved from 2Degrees:
We're pretty confident you're going to love 2degrees. And while we can't give much away right now, let's just say you're about to get some much anticipated value when it comes to calling and texting everyone you know.

You didn't hear it here...
If you've got friends you call a lot, you'll probably get even more from us if they're with 2degrees as well. And there's plenty in it for them too. We've had a huge response to Chinwag, so why not quietly check that everyone you like to call is signed up, because the Great New Zealand Chinwag is filling up fast.

Sounds like there is going to be significantly cheaper on net calls than off net. Your Thoughts?

NZCoderGuy

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Kiwi Dev Studios

#237983 22-Jul-2009 17:22

yeah i received the same email here through my work email (mine) and home email (my partners).. think everyone received it.

--
Stephen
twitter/ NZCoderGuy / KiwiDevStudios

kingjj

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#238063 22-Jul-2009 21:18

Or they are just trying to encourage people to sign up their mates to Chinwag etc? Doesn't necessarily mean they will be offering cheaper on net calls. Didn't 2degrees have a moan to CC over V and T keeping interconnect fees high and offering cheap on net calls to discourage competition?

sbiddle

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#238118 23-Jul-2009 01:47

If they do offer cheaper on-net calls it will be hypocrisy at it's best.

For a long time now they have argued against MTR costs and both Telecom and Vodafone offering cheaper on-net calling. They even went as far as suggesting such plans should not be allowed.

The irony of this is that virtually every new mobile network in the world who has entered a developed market has used cheaper on-net calling as a key sales point.

ahmad

1937 posts

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Inactive user

#238126 23-Jul-2009 07:17

sbiddle: If they do offer cheaper on-net calls it will be hypocrisy at it's best.

For a long time now they have argued against MTR costs and both Telecom and Vodafone offering cheaper on-net calling. They even went as far as suggesting such plans should not be allowed.

The irony of this is that virtually every new mobile network in the world who has entered a developed market has used cheaper on-net calling as a key sales point.

I've seen this accusation before but I don't buy it.

IMO 2 Degrees can validly continue to complain about termination charges, and have a pricing plan that reflects the system that they are fighting against.

It would only be hypocrisy to have significantly cheaper on-net in the face of cheap termination charges.

While I would prefer "onerate" to apply, I would understand it if 2 Degrees did have cheaper on-net charging. If termination charges were regulated and this structure remained, then yes that would be hypocrisy.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#238153 23-Jul-2009 09:44

The main ad that shows on TV does slam the other networks for offering 'plans where you have to ruthlessly select only a handful of mates to save on calls' and 'plans that are harder to solve than the da vinci code'. ('off-net' pops up on the screen when that happens btw).

Whilst my first instinct (before seeing this ad) was that 2 degrees will compete by offering cheaper on-net calling.
However the above bits of the ad would imply that 2 degrees will be offering simple plans where you an call anyone for the same rate. If they didn't then they would basically be just as guilty as Telecom and Voda of doing the very things they complain about in the ad - i.e. complex calling plans and only calling people on the same network.

Bee

732 posts

Ultimate Geek

#238212 23-Jul-2009 12:32

So maybe something like a flat monthly fee to call anyone on their network for as long as you like?

Now that would be good :)

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

ahmad

1937 posts

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Inactive user

#238220 23-Jul-2009 12:48

NonprayingMantis: The main ad that shows on TV does slam the other networks for offering 'plans where you have to ruthlessly select only a handful of mates to save on calls' and 'plans that are harder to solve than the da vinci code'. ('off-net' pops up on the screen when that happens btw).

Whilst my first instinct (before seeing this ad) was that 2 degrees will compete by offering cheaper on-net calling.
However the above bits of the ad would imply that 2 degrees will be offering simple plans where you an call anyone for the same rate. If they didn't then they would basically be just as guilty as Telecom and Voda of doing the very things they complain about in the ad - i.e. complex calling plans and only calling people on the same network.

Yeah fair point. Stuck between rock and hard place really.

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simon14

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#238274 23-Jul-2009 14:28

They could offer free off peak calling within their own network and maybe even landlines, that would attract quite a few people.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#238304 23-Jul-2009 15:37

simon14: They could offer free off peak calling within their own network and maybe even landlines, that would attract quite a few people.

That would be pretty risky for them IMO.

Firstly they pay a termination charge for any call made to a landline – so each call that gets no reveneu will still cost them money.

Secondly, any call made to a 2d phone that is roaming on voda (i.e. outside the main population areas) will also cost 2d money.

Thirdly, that plan would only become beneficial if you know a lot of people on 2d. Until they get a decent market share then the number of people who know enough 2d people to make taking up the plan worthwhile will be miniscule.

Fourthly, With number portability there is no easy way to tell what network the number you are calling is on.

simon14

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#238317 23-Jul-2009 16:32

NonprayingMantis:
simon14: They could offer free off peak calling within their own network and maybe even landlines, that would attract quite a few people.

That would be pretty risky for them IMO.

Firstly they pay a termination charge for any call made to a landline – so each call that gets no reveneu will still cost them money.

Secondly, any call made to a 2d phone that is roaming on voda (i.e. outside the main population areas) will also cost 2d money.

Thirdly, that plan would only become beneficial if you know a lot of people on 2d. Until they get a decent market share then the number of people who know enough 2d people to make taking up the plan worthwhile will be miniscule.

Fourthly, With number portability there is no easy way to tell what network the number you are calling is on.

Good points, but we don't know what sort of arrangement 2d has with Vodafone regarding rates while roaming. It would be smart for Vodafone to charge very little as an incentive to prevent 2d from expanding their network into the rural areas.

Maybe it wouldn't make sence to offer free calling to landlines and 2d users for all users, but it could work as an addon option for a small charge.... they do it in Australia after all(although i realise their interconnection rates are a lot lower)