What is the point? in http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19851927 en Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:00:52 EDT Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:00:52 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863195 xsiddalx :
said by NY Tel See Profile :

said by xsiddalx See Profile :

Someone is making money here....GC may never need to charge if they stay below the radar

said by NY Tel See Profile :

This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections.
For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. :)
Yes, I know they do make money with all of the termination charges/fees/etc. etc. but I can't imagine someone won't want to "double dip" and get re-reimbursed from the carriers AND the end users. It is the way of the old "Bell System"...
The problem is none of the carriers want to charge their customers for pure bandwidth/connectivity. They all want to double dip. The system is not restricted to Bell. The newspapers do it (failing model?), cable does it (failing model?), grocery stores do it (failing model?). Those are three easy pickings, there are certainly more.

I certainly think what GC is doing makes perfect sense and they SHOULD do it. It is just a matter of time before old arbitrage game ends and a new one begins :) Regulatory encourages some of this, but then again, so do contracts engaged by short sighted dominant players. How else would Cogent have a plan?

The BOCs are idiots (IMO), but their size and clout generally get them out of trouble every time (again IMO).]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863195 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:54:05 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863147 xsiddalx : Not sure how Indy works, but given that the cable companies are basically giving away voice through discounts, you'd think the telco's would give away video.

I don't think the telco's can give away video...but I do think the cable companies can give away voice. Video value comes at a cost, from the provider (studios, networks). Voice value comes at a cost, free, from the provider, the person you are talking too. Cellular companies have sort of capitalized on that by charging both parties, generally.

Think about how you can profit based on the cost.

I'm guessing the least cost route if the telephone customer that doesn't pay to receive calls if it doesn't cost the provider to terminate the call. Video is certainly driven in a large part by the video providers. How do the access providers drive the video distribution down in the same way that itunes did to the more boring part of the music industry?

said by Old_Grouch See Profile :

said by Camelot One See Profile :

I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service?
Seems that they'd offer it for free. If you take U-Verse voice, telly and internet aren't you completely out of the local (state) telecom tariff?
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863147 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:44:54 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863111 NY Tel :
said by xsiddalx See Profile :

Someone is making money here....GC may never need to charge if they stay below the radar

said by NY Tel See Profile :

This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections.
For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. :)
Yes, I know they do make money with all of the termination charges/fees/etc. etc. but I can't imagine someone won't want to "double dip" and get re-reimbursed from the carriers AND the end users. It is the way of the old "Bell System"...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863111 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:38:38 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863083 xsiddalx : Someone is making money here....GC may never need to charge if they stay below the radar

said by NY Tel See Profile :

This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections.
For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. :)
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863083 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:34:18 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863061 xsiddalx : Sounds like the grocer that has a 40% off this weeks price sale.

Those 3 dollars pizzas are only 2.50 but at this weeks prices your save MORE.

It gets em/us every time.

CableVoip has a business model based, in part, on regulatory constructs. Most Cable was circuit switched two years ago.

ATT is responding to the game. Kill the circuit switch to take advantage of the new construct.

ATT wins, price the same or slightly less as the competitor for IP based voice services in an unregulated environment (it isn't considered telephone service).

The PHONE company hasn't been pure copper based voice switched any more than the Cable company has been pure coax based video switched....they have both, as you know, they've pushed fiber deeper into the network.

Frankly, once either of them have the ability to provide internet access at any reasonable speed, both can avoid the dedicated circuit switch for origination (maybe termination) purposes. Fiber or not..wireless via any tech provides the same ability, no? It's all a matter for the accountants, engineers and MBAs to fight out.

Then again...I'd argue it's all political...it is all price regulated or not. Both the telcos and cable companies have their crosses to bear at the expense (or benefit) of their monopolies. The only thing I'll give to the latter is that they were at least able to build a business on the idea that over the air tv couldn't occur with a "community access antenna". Both business models suck, but both are winning in America. We sell out cheap :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19863061 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:31:21 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19862940 NY Tel :
said by Dithers :

You think $39.95 / year is cheap? I pay zero per year for incoming and outgoing calls throughout the US and Canada.
When I want to call out, I go the grandcentral address book at their website in my account, and click on the 'call' button next to the number I want to call.

Grandcentral tells gizmoproject to call my phone, and, when I pick up, grandcentral connects to the number I am calling.
No charge.
This will work until Grand Central begins charging to connect these types of calls. It is stated in the Beta TOS that eventually, they will charge a "fee" for outgoing connections.
For now, enjoy the calls. I also have a similar setup minus the spinning propeller on my head. :)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19862940 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:12:08 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19860886 anon : You think $39.95 / year is cheap? I pay zero per year for incoming and outgoing calls throughout the US and Canada.

And the voice quality is excellent and the service has been very reliable for the past 6 months that I have used it.

How is it infinitely cheap? Simple, I got an account with grandcentral.com and a free number where my relatives live.

Then I got account with Gizmoproject.

Both the grandcentral and gizmoproject accounts are free.

Then I set up grandcentral to forward calls made to my number to gizmoproject, and set up gizmoproject to forward calls directly to my ata.

So when someone calls the grandcentral number, my ata receives the call and there is no charge for anyone.

When I want to call out, I go the grandcentral address book at their website in my account, and click on the 'call' button next to the number I want to call.

Grandcentral tells gizmoproject to call my phone, and, when I pick up, grandcentral connects to the number I am calling.
No charge.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19860886 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:50:27 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19857642 anon :
said by fiberguy See Profile
I would expect Cable to sell a voip product over a switched one because of the nature of their service. But, for a PHONE company to want to go VOIP over their copper switched service is beyond me. Still, I have to say, to them, phone is phone. Since they control the line, as comcast and cable claims, I see no difference. For some at&t consumers, they will get a better sounding call and less static as well. Still, the price? eh.. can live with out it.
[/BQUOTE :

Because telco switches are being upgraded to session switches and the like. You can take a 200x200ft dms switch with over 200 DTC's and 100 DTCI's, not including a few SPM's tossed in, replace it with 3 bays the size of a double wide frig and accomplish the same task plus everything is broken down into IP, which ends up being cheaper for hardware and upkeep. Plus, you can have soft switches all over, at other POP sites and switches where everything goes by fiber requiring less eqp over all. IP doesn't care what medium it travels on, as long as it gets there. The days of the DMS 100, 250 and 300 are history. Make room for the Nortel session switches and equivalent. ;)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19857642 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:08:37 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19854427 en102 : I used Skypeout, at $16/year, and it worked very well.
Downside: You don't get a phone number - only skype users can call you.
Upside: Unlimited Canada/US calling.
--
Canada = Hollywood North]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19854427 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:29:23 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19853167 fiberguy :
said by got copper :

unless they plan to get rid of the copper
:: scratches head ::

...but if they get rid of copper, then how will they send ANYTHING to the home... PLEASE don't make me laugh and say "via fiber" because we are talking about at&t here.. and I've had a good enough laugh in another thread already today. :P]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19853167 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:40:56 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852901 anon : unless they plan to get rid of the copper]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852901 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:11:34 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852569 Corona :
said by Camelot One See Profile :

said by lew_jean See Profile :

My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls

Lew N4HRA
...AT&T's own CallVantage VoIP service is cheaper!
Read between the lines on that one...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852569 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:24:47 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852528 Old_Grouch :
said by Camelot One See Profile :

I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service?
Seems that they'd offer it for free. If you take U-Verse voice, telly and internet aren't you completely out of the local (state) telecom tariff?
--
At Team Discovery we know how to get more outta that danged 'puter of yours!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852528 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:18:33 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852505 fiberguy : Honestly... this is the AT&T way. If they jack up the price of their features, it makes packages look more appealing. Caller ID is $9.99 a month because it's the most popular feature next to voice mail.

SBC was never this bad.. they must have brought someone on board from the old, tired, dead AT&T corporation that brought this vast knowledge with them.

But, when you jack up the price of ala carts, and then you put them in a bundle, it makes that "You save X when you buy this bundle"... um, no kidding?

I would expect Cable to sell a voip product over a switched one because of the nature of their service. But, for a PHONE company to want to go VOIP over their copper switched service is beyond me. Still, I have to say, to them, phone is phone. Since they control the line, as comcast and cable claims, I see no difference. For some at&t consumers, they will get a better sounding call and less static as well. Still, the price? eh.. can live with out it.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852505 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:16:47 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852373 BodyBumper : Maybe this is why AT&T jacked caller ID up to $9 a month for landlines.

The Message Center $8.95 per month
AT&T Unified Messaging(SM) $11.95 per month
Busy Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Delayed Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Select Call Forwarding $5.00 per month
Call Return $5.00 per month
Repeat Dialing $5.00 per month
Speed Calling 8 $5.00 per month
Anonymous Call Rejection (ACR) $4.00 per month
Call Screen $5.00 per month
Call Waiting $5.00 per month
Call Waiting ID $5.00 per month
Priority Ringing $5.00 per month
Privacy Manager® $7.00 per month
Caller ID $9.00 per month
Three Way Calling $5.00 per month

--
"Time does not actually exist beyond an artificial measure we create in our minds to separate events we experience into blocks that are easier to reference instead of as a whole single event that just happens and continues happening" - evolvedant]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852373 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:59:14 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852323 anon : That's $39.95/year, not $39.95/month]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852323 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:55:58 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852304 dr3yec : It has been many months since I have had any down time. It is in beta but I couldnt tell. For 8 months I been happy with this product. I am getting ready to get a second year for 19.95 for a year. So tells you I am more than satisfied with the product. Even if it doesnt last. Hey I have saved tons of money.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852304 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:49:45 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852249 wifi4milez :
said by dr3yec See Profile :

39.95 for a year*
I stand corrected! That is a good deal, how is the service?
--
с новым годом]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852249 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:43:14 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852168 banditws6 :
said by Camelot One See Profile :

I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service?
I don't get it either. I mean, I got rid of my POTS landline and went cellular only because that landline was costing me $40/mo. for something I rarely use. If it came down to choosing POTS or VoIP, if both were priced the same, I would either just stick with POTS or use neither. And in AT&T's case, $40 is the bundled rate.

What is AT&T's major malfunction?
--
"I'll follow the law until it's just stupid." -Ted Nugent]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852168 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:31:28 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852153 dr3yec : Magicjack]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852153 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:28:10 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852146 dr3yec : 39.95 for a year*]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852146 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:27:34 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852138 nixie21 :
said by dr3yec See Profile :

Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives.
what voip service do you have?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852138 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:26:51 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852136 dr3yec : 39.95 is correct. And my service has been superb with my voip. My wife lives on the thing. It is unlimited mins as well.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852136 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:26:43 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852131 en102 : Cable operators are charging $40/month for theirs... AT&T is assuming that it can charge just as much.
They probably _could_ get a lot more customers over to Uverse if they made it ... say $30/month for unlimited.
Oh.. wait they already have Call Vantage which is only $25/month for unlimited.
--
Canada = Hollywood North]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852131 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:25:45 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852110 Camelot One :
said by wifi4milez See Profile :

said by dr3yec See Profile :

Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives.
Unless I am missing something, they charge $40 per month and you are paying $39.95 per month. Without whipping out my calculator I cant be sure, but I would hazard a guess that its the same price? I dont think the $0.05 savings you mention is much to talk about.
He did say "$39.95 per year", though that almost seems like a typo for any decent, full featured service. VoIP is cheap, but the good ones are rarely THAT cheap.
--
Intel Quad Core QX6700 @3500Mhz/Asus P5N32-E SLI/4x 1024Mb Corsair/Seagate 750.10/PNY 7800GTs SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852110 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:23:03 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852095 Camelot One :
said by lew_jean See Profile :

My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls

Lew N4HRA
That was my point. Not only are there cheaper (and better) VoIP carriers, AT&T's own CallVantage VoIP service is cheaper!
But I guess they are just pricing off of the cable companies, their branded VoIP service seems to run the same price.
--
Intel Quad Core QX6700 @3500Mhz/Asus P5N32-E SLI/4x 1024Mb Corsair/Seagate 750.10/PNY 7800GTs SLI/Silverstone 850W/Custom water cooler]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852095 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:21:30 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852074 wifi4milez :
said by dr3yec See Profile :

Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives.
Unless I am missing something, they charge $40 per month and you are paying $39.95 per month. Without whipping out my calculator I cant be sure, but I would hazard a guess that its the same price? I dont think the $0.05 savings you mention is much to talk about.
--
с новым годом]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852074 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:19:08 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852063 lew_jean : My CallVantage is only 24.95 with all the taxes with unlimited calls

Lew N4HRA]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19852063 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:17:14 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851994 RockyBB :
said by Camelot One See Profile :

I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service?
Check any marketing text book: look under "market power." Those that have it either use it or waste it.
--
"Teleblend has an agreement with the Assignee to solicit and support former SunRocket customers."]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851994 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:07:22 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851991 dr3yec : Not sure either here. My voip is only 39.95 a year. Couldn't be more pleased with my product. People will pay anything, just to avoid doing a little research on other alternatives.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851991 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:05:57 EDT Re: What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851952 ftthz : not sure ... but my land line is cheaper ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851952 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:00:53 EDT What is the point? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851927 Camelot One : I don't get it, why would anyone pay $40 a month for VoIP service? ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,19851927 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:57:20 EDT