BT the UK's largest telecoms provider is using call capping as a means of attracting customers into 1 or 2 year agreements. This article intends to find out if 'call capping' actually benefits the average business.
Trying to gather call rate information for this task was rather awkward to say the least - BT's website and search facility seemed to make this task 'difficult' to say the least. In my experience the best way to do this is call.
The next task was to establish UK's average call length. Telecost performed a study in 2002 of 100 UK businesses ranging from high users such as call centres to small enterprises at variuos locations. Over 2 million calls were analysed with results as shown below:
Average length of call to a mobile (07 numbers) - 110 seconds.
Average length of call to landline (01 numbers) - 112 seconds.
Average length of national call (02 numbers) - 121 seconds.
I am therefore going to assume that the average call length is 2 minutes hence:
2 minute mobile call using BT Standard Rate to is 45p and to landline call is 15p including setup charge.
A 2 Minute call through BT's 'Business Plan' to mobile would cost 25p (capped) and to landline would cost 8p on a 1 year contract.
A 2 minute call on BT's 'Oneplan' to mobile is 20p(capped) and to landline is 5p(capped) on a 2 year contract with extra services required.
A 2 minute call through Westlake to mobile would cost 18p and to landline would cost 2.5p on a one year contract.
A 2 minute call through Midland Telecom to mobile would cost 16p and to landline would cost 1.8p on a 1 year contract with a minimum spend requirement.
A 2 minute call through Gradwell Business VOIP to mobile would cost 20p and a 2 minute call to landline would be free (on all inclusive tarif else the call would cost 2.5p) on a 3 month contract.
The conclusion, based on the information above being correct therefore is:- if you own an 'average' business then you are better off with LCR or VOIP. If your bunsiness makes longer than average phonecalls then you are better off staying with BT, although...
To benefit from maximum call savings customers should consider using smart phone systems such as Asterisk which will can be programmed to take the most efficient route. For example: - you can route all national calls through VOIP hence take advantage of free calls and unlimited outbound trunks hence make instant savings on your line rentals, route mobile calls through GSM - hence achieve free calls to staff mobiles & mobile tarifs of 4.5p & use BT Oneplan to route long calls.
This is guide to help UK companies make a more informed decision about their coms - the information above was obtained on Sept 08 hence e&oe. - 15478
Trying to gather call rate information for this task was rather awkward to say the least - BT's website and search facility seemed to make this task 'difficult' to say the least. In my experience the best way to do this is call.
The next task was to establish UK's average call length. Telecost performed a study in 2002 of 100 UK businesses ranging from high users such as call centres to small enterprises at variuos locations. Over 2 million calls were analysed with results as shown below:
Average length of call to a mobile (07 numbers) - 110 seconds.
Average length of call to landline (01 numbers) - 112 seconds.
Average length of national call (02 numbers) - 121 seconds.
I am therefore going to assume that the average call length is 2 minutes hence:
2 minute mobile call using BT Standard Rate to is 45p and to landline call is 15p including setup charge.
A 2 Minute call through BT's 'Business Plan' to mobile would cost 25p (capped) and to landline would cost 8p on a 1 year contract.
A 2 minute call on BT's 'Oneplan' to mobile is 20p(capped) and to landline is 5p(capped) on a 2 year contract with extra services required.
A 2 minute call through Westlake to mobile would cost 18p and to landline would cost 2.5p on a one year contract.
A 2 minute call through Midland Telecom to mobile would cost 16p and to landline would cost 1.8p on a 1 year contract with a minimum spend requirement.
A 2 minute call through Gradwell Business VOIP to mobile would cost 20p and a 2 minute call to landline would be free (on all inclusive tarif else the call would cost 2.5p) on a 3 month contract.
The conclusion, based on the information above being correct therefore is:- if you own an 'average' business then you are better off with LCR or VOIP. If your bunsiness makes longer than average phonecalls then you are better off staying with BT, although...
To benefit from maximum call savings customers should consider using smart phone systems such as Asterisk which will can be programmed to take the most efficient route. For example: - you can route all national calls through VOIP hence take advantage of free calls and unlimited outbound trunks hence make instant savings on your line rentals, route mobile calls through GSM - hence achieve free calls to staff mobiles & mobile tarifs of 4.5p & use BT Oneplan to route long calls.
This is guide to help UK companies make a more informed decision about their coms - the information above was obtained on Sept 08 hence e&oe. - 15478
About the Author:
The author has been a business telephone system consultant since 2003 - please refer to Cheap Business Calls for more information about latest UK Call Rates & Charges.
