UK Calls Checker

MSE_Martin

As you'll have read in the tip we're developing the UK calls checker.

Here is a VERY early stage development. Your feedback would be great.

A few pointers

1. Ignore the text around it - its copied from the international call checker. I need to rewrite and include stuff about bigger packages
2. Its missing a couple of providers on it so far
3. The aim isn't for a macro package comparison service like Uswitch has, but a service for individual call types

What do you think - useability, any suggestions. Here it is

UK CALLS CHECKER DEVELOPMENT SITE

PS. Please don't post this anywhere else, it isn't the final link, and its just here for testing and because it hought you folks would like to see it early.

April2

First thoughts:

Drop-down menu needs expanding with mini-explanations (MANY people don't know that 070 numbers are not mobile numbers just as MANY people don't know that 077, 078 and 079 are the only UK mobile prefixes).

I'd suggest the title for the drop-down menu box should not be Destination but should be something like STD code starting and then the drop-down text should be in numerical order with those mini-explanations alongside:

01 - UK geographic numbers
02 - UK geographic numbers
070 - Personal numbers
077 - UK mobile numbers
078 - UK mobile numbers
079 - UK mobile numbers
0844
0845
0870
0871

It may be necessary to expand the list to take account of the different charging regimes for some groups (e.g. 0844 numbers - which can cost between 1p and 5p/minute depending upon subsequent digits).

Further thoughts:

When checking for 'UK Mobile' the current option is to choose ALL or Vodafone, O2 etc. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that, except for my own and the good lady's mobiles (because I pay the bills), I don't have a clue which network I'm calling.

I think I'm right in saying that landline to mobile calls are now charged as if the mobile was still on its original network so the fact that a number has been ported won't affect the cost.

I'm sure someone will know the prefixes used by the various companies so, as above, I'd suggest a modification of the drop-down menu here to numerical order with the network name alongside:

07905 (Virgin)
07989 (Orange)
etc.

(Yes, you guessed correctly, the wife has a Virgin mobile and I have an Orange one - that's how I know those 2 prefixes).

CrazyChemist_2

Your link takes me to a blank page...

I'll edit this post to give feedback when I see the UK Callchecker. :beer:

April2

CrazyChemist wrote:

Your link takes me to a blank page...
I'll edit this post to give feedback when I see the UK Callchecker. :beer:

It works for me.

Try copying and pasting the below:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/callchecker/UK/index.php

CrazyChemist_2

nope, still doesn't work.

pricefighter

You appear to have overlooked BT who are normally the cheapest supplier of calls to 0845/0870 during evening and weekends.

Also what about calls to 0844/0871 numbering ranges.

bbb_uk

April2 wrote:

..I think I'm right in saying that landline to mobile calls are now charged as if the mobile was still on its original network so the fact that a number has been ported won't affect the cost.

That is true. Martin it may be wise to have a small note saying that calls to mobiles from landlines are charged as if on the original network and don't take into consideration if a mobile number has been ported.

I also agree to certain degree with April2 about what the combo (dropdown) list should read.

Here is what I think:

UK Geographic Numbers (those beginning 01 or 02)
UK Mobile numbers (those beginning 077, 078 or 079)
UK Personal Numbers (those beginning 070)
Non-Geographical 0844
Non-Geographical 0845
Non-Geographical 0870
Non-Geographical 0871

The problem (as highlighted by April) is that calls to 0844 range upto 5ppm depending on 0844 number dialled. I'm not sure if you therefore wish to mention this range as I think (but not sure) that BT and other telecom providers charge the same for these calls providing they actually carry them as some number ranges aren't supported from some carriers like OneTel/TalkTalk, etc but only from BT.

You may wish to point website viewers to BT's .pdf pricelist on all specialist numbers here.

MSE_Martin

Hi

OK a few notes

1. Don't worry about the text, I of course will write an explkanation to go with this - as you can see at the moment its the calls checker
2. What about the functionality
3. I like some of the descriptions above
4. As I said not all providers have yet been added, this includes BT and One-Tel
5. As for the multi-tariff 0844, the idea was to have a note saying "main rate, may very depending on number" and link to the exact link mentioned above

CrazyChemist_2

If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it (the link takes me to a page with the cheesy Martin pic logo on the left but just that top frame and a vertical grey bar on the right hand side. it's as if something is supposed to load but it doesn't.

I'm using Win XP Service Pack 2, do you think it's something to do with the draconian security installed in SP2?? Someone please help! It's beginning to embarrass me...

bbb_uk

CrazyChemist wrote:

If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it (the link takes me to a page with the cheesy Martin pic logo on the left but just that top frame and a vertical grey bar on the right hand side. it's as if something is supposed to load but it doesn't...

It can't be anything to do with SP2 as I have WinXP with SP2 and have no probs at all.

Here is what the page is meant to look like. Note a small bit is missing from the top and a quite a bit from the bottom due to size of the page but essentially the main part is visible.

What does it look like when you view it? Can you see all the text except the drop-down list?

Note: The image link provided is automatically deleted after a certain period (not sure when) so anyone trying to view this image may have problems if its later than the date I posted.

bbb_uk

MSE_Martin wrote:

...2. What about the functionality...

I think the functionality is ok. One question though does the Time of Day choice, "Anytime" display (or will display) anything different from "Weekday"? Personally, I think post people would (hopefully) know that the most expensive time is daytime (weekday as you have listed) so would the "Anytime" choice list anything different?

Just thought of a something and will some people not mistake "Weekday" to mean anytime mon-fri? How about changing descriptions slightly for the time of day choice:-

Anytime (I'm not sure if this is necessary?)

Weekday Daytime
Weekday Evening
Weekend

Now I realise that a lot of people would probably say it wasn't necessary but I thought that some people may just quickly see the "weekday" and think that incorporates the weekday evening as it still is a weekday, etc! Whereas, the above descriptions are clearer I think.