Following my post reply #143 at
http://www.telecomforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=3643.msg18923,
I have engaged in protracted discussions with Mikael, off and on, concerning my ideas for a pre-dial NGN service, for mobile users in particular.
Although most would probably want to call 0870 and 0845 numbers as needed, I believe that it would be marvellous if the new service could facilitate calls to
all NGN number ranges. This would enable the choice of many more callthroughs to be made for various destinations, and would be no threat to pre-dial if they were providing
part of the service economically - for a larger volume of calls.
In fact there is already a choice for calling both 0845 and 0870 numbers, ( I know of
Telesave,
GoTalk, and
18185 currently, apart from Top Up options ), but I know of little competition for calls to 0871 numbers ( just
QX Dial + and
GoTalk ), and no competition at all for calling 0844 and 0872, ( just
QX Dial+ as far as I am aware ).
I think it is high time that QX were given some competition for such services, and I should greatly like to be able to announce that you would provide for the lot !
From your point of view, you are limited in profit margin by the existing offerings on 0870 and 0845, BUT you could make competitive offerings on 0844, 0871 and 0872, whilst still undercutting QX by some margin, possibly.
FYI QX Dial+ charges 6 points for calling 0871 ( which I calculate is approximately 12p / min ), AND 6 points for calling 0844 ( except for their own 0844 number to India, which is charged half price at 3 points ).
GoTalk beat this with their 10p rate for all 0871 calls, but I don't think they provide 0872 access.
So, if you could charge between 10 and 12p for 0871, and somewhere in between 5 and 6p for 0844, I believe that it may be possible for you to undercut QX a little, gain good will for your services, and derive more traffic and income for pre-dial.
You could also consider offering different prices for the different price bands, which QX do not really do at present, although that may complicate how your prices could be displayed.
We all know how the mobile networks are hacking out monopoly profits for themselves by making NGN calls non inclusive, and charging what they like. There would be nothing better for consumer competition than a reasonably priced alternative for mobile users.
I am sure that someone will pick up that business sooner or later: so why don't you make that pre-dial's territory ?
I commend this proposal to your kind consideration.
Regards.
mh.