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Free call overseas using 0870 numbers from BT landline

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  • bunking_off
    bunking_off Posts: 1,264 Forumite
    Unless they're relying on lots of people not claiming their rewards using points, the business model seems a bit flawed on this.

    E.g. unlocked iPhone = 70000 points = 35000 minutes (assuming worst case that you don't introduce someone). Don't know how much iPhones cost...for ease of calculation let's say £350. So each minutes of call contributes a penny's worth of reward (£350.00/35000)...which has to be recovered from the revenue share.

    Given the revenue share's funding the onward call, where's the money to fund the reward coming from?

    Grab it while you can...
    I really must stop loafing and get back to work...
  • Unless they're relying on lots of people not claiming their rewards using points, the business model seems a bit flawed on this.

    -snip-

    Given the revenue share's funding the onward call, where's the money to fund the reward coming from?

    Grab it while you can...

    Firstly, to declare an interest, I'm one of the folk that put this together. There is enough difference between the revenue share that we get and the cost of outbound calls to the destinations which we support to cover the cost of the reward scheme - when you think about it, a business can have an 0870 number diverted to a geographic number and still get a revenue share, so there's money left over; we've just expanded the list of destinations supported and opened up sharing in the revenue to everyone.

    --Dave
    Working for Tony
  • bunking_off
    bunking_off Posts: 1,264 Forumite
    Hi Dave

    Ah, but a geo termination charge is 0.2-0.3ppm for a well connected operator... an international call termination is rarely that, let alone a mobile termination.

    Good luck....I didn't mean to question your integrity...it's just that when the NTS POLOs drop (as they inevitably will since BTRetail have just effectively introduced additional discounts on 0845/870 by putting them in the call packages), I'll be interested to see if your sums still add up.

    Wish you well.
    I really must stop loafing and get back to work...
  • Paul_Varjak
    Paul_Varjak Posts: 4,627 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    It would be good if this service allowed you to change the number routing - rather than deleting the number in the hope that when you ask for a different destination number that you get the SAME 0870 number!

    Having said that, I suspect that this service will die a quick death when OFCOM rules on 0870 call charges and revenue sharing is lost.

    I would be happy with this service if it was provided on an 0871 number where revenue share is greater and where OFCOM is not going to wield its big stick. Also,- 0871 are fixed prices AT ALL TIMES, so I could route to a UK mobile number 24/7 and, when I am abroad, route to an overseas mobile number instead.
  • Hello Folks

    Came across www.my0870.com which allows you to map an international number to an 0870 number, so when you call the 0870 number you get through straightaway. Its a bit like when you call a bank in the UK on 0870 which is then mapped onto the geo number. AFAIK this is not an indirect access code, so should not be charged by BT. I have made a number of calls overseas (and UK mobiles) using numbers from this website and so far BT has not charged me for these...i am on the Anytime call package. You can make calls to UK mobiles and most international landlines/mobiles through the 0870 number you are allocated, though there are time restrictions for some countries (Mon to Fri 8am-6pm). You have to register with the website and then you can allocate 0870 numbers for up to 5 numbers of your choice. More details can be found at:
    http://www.telecomforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=3975.0

    Hope this helps :)
    PS I am not in any way connected to www.my0870.com, i am only posting my experience

    There were also time restrictions on the mobile number I entered. Only being able to use it Mon to Fri 8am-6pm means that I'd have to be on the BT anytime package to take advantage. Not so great.

    tiptoe
  • Paul_Varjak
    Paul_Varjak Posts: 4,627 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    There were also time restrictions on the mobile number I entered. Only being able to use it Mon to Fri 8am-6pm means that I'd have to be on the BT anytime package to take advantage. Not so great.

    tiptoe

    There are time restrictions cos there is less revenue share in the evenings and weekends, that is one reason why, in the long term, 0871 numbers would be better.
  • There are time restrictions cos there is less revenue share in the evenings and weekends, that is one reason why, in the long term, 0871 numbers would be better.

    Except that the whole point of the site is to enable us to call for free, exploiting the fact that 0870 numbers are included by BT in their call plans, and so are free to call at certain times, depending on your plan. 0871 numbers are not included.

    tiptoe
  • It would be good if this service allowed you to change the number routing - rather than deleting the number in the hope that when you ask for a different destination number that you get the SAME 0870 number!

    You ask, we listen: you can now update destination numbers directly.
    I would be happy with this service if it was provided on an 0871 number where revenue share is greater and where OFCOM is not going to wield its big stick. Also,- 0871 are fixed prices AT ALL TIMES, so I could route to a UK mobile number 24/7 and, when I am abroad, route to an overseas mobile number instead.

    We can certainly add that - obviously the 0871s aren't going to be free to call. Let me know if you'd be happy with that, and I'll see what we can do.

    --Dave
    Working for Tony
  • I'm just wondering what the long term viability of this https://www.my0870.com is going to be.

    In a few weeks myself and a few others are going to have a requirement to be regularly phoning Cyprus (the British part!) for the next 3 years and this website could be great news for making these calls.

    Should I be expecting this service to be available for a while or is it like the old saying, "If it's too good to be true then very often it is." ?

    Thanks.
  • malc_b
    malc_b Posts: 1,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts
    Hi Dave,

    Interesting service. What happens if you dial the 0870 outside M-F 8-6? Also, from a practical point of view it would be nice to have a 24/7 service. If you have a number programmed in the phone then it is nice for that to be constant. I suppose I really need one of those programmable route the number wherever things on the phone line, except the cost would take a long time to recoup.

    Also, it would be nice is have a logout button on the website.
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