| reply to Wildbill1978
Re: Caps Kill This Idea For Me I don't know that I could use this device, because I have no idea of how much data it would use to make a call, etc GSM calls are 4Kbits/sec (I think this is the half-rate codec including all non-circuit setup signaling). A uncompressed wireline voice call is 56Kbits/sec of voice data normally bloated to 64Kbits/sec with signaling data. Higher quality cell calls are more like 8Kbits/sec.
There is no reason a "phone quality" voice transmission should take more then 64Kbits/sec, and it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect more like 8Kbit/sec to 16Kbit/sec.
Assuming the worst case of 64Kbit/sec, and assuming your cable company means "bits" not "bytes" when they say "40GB cap" you can talk for a bit over 182 HOURS (or 7+ straight DAYS) before you hit the cap (assuming no other internet use). This ignores call set up and tear down, but they send less data per second then the actual calls. If your data cap is really in bytes then you can talk for over 1450 hours (or 60 DAYS).
So voice traffic is relatively small compared to a 40GB cap. If these "cell to VOIP bridges" only bridge calls from accounts you authorize it is unlikely to be much of a problem for you. If they handle ANY AT&T customer in range and you live in an apartment or something, there could be more of an issue for you.
(personally I figure it would be fair for the VOIP minutes to be free, or at a radically reduced cost, say 90% discount; and the VOIP box to be "at cost"...if you get to set what accounts get to use it, if AT&T sets it, then I'm not sure I would even pay "nothing" to buy one, but I'm sure some people would...then again maybe if my phone reception were worse at my house I would be willing to pay full airtime AND the box cost AND let others use it). |
