When I found an even cheaper service, you will believe me when I say that I was sceptical… but after looking at this other service, so far the figures look good - in fact, the rates to all "my countries" are about 20% less than SkypeOut! This cheaper service even offers free* calls to any regular land-line in various popular destinations (see list below). But, even if your FreeDays run out and you are billed at the normal rates, these "normal rates" are less than SkypeOut's rates!
Now that I've done the numbers comparison, I will need to monitor the voice quality…
So, what is this new service?
It's called FreeCall
Go here to find out more: www.freecall.com
Go here to see the countries where calls to landlines are free and to read the small print on how the FreeCalls are limited: http://www.freecall.com/en/freetrial.html
How to use HTT's calculator to compare SkypeOut with FreeCall:
(Download from here: SkypeOut vs FreeCall Costs calculator )
Worksheet "SkypeCallCosts": lists SkypeOut's call costs in
Worksheet "FreeCallCosts": lists FreeCall's call costs in
Worksheet "Compare_SkypeVsFreeCall2009": compares SkypeOut and FreeCall costs
Worksheet "TelkomCostsTable2009": for information: Telkom costs
Worksheet "TelkomInternational": for information: Telkom costs for international calls
1) Using worksheet "Compare_SkypeVsFreeCall2009": Change cell B2 to the expected call duration in seconds
2) Column E will give the call cost using SkypeOut
3) Column J will give the call cost using FreeCall
4) Column K shows the saving in
Column D ("shortlist") can be used to show only your shortlist of countries: set cells in column D to 'Y' and then use the column filter to show only countries on your shortlist.
So, what's the catch?
* Free calls are limited to 60 seconds per call until you purchase some credit - this information was only evident to me in the welcome email received after registration
* Credit can be purchased in Euros (10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000) each denomination includes 90 freedays…. So, I'd go for the 10 Euro bundle each time!
* Bank transfer carries a 0.50 Euro fee
* Purchase of credit using a credit card is not possible on the FreeCall web site although some resellers (https://myaccount.voiparound.com/clx/resellers.php) do accept credit cards (e.g. http://www.hanstel.biz/za)
In investigating this article, I also discovered many more VOIP services that are also cheaper than SkypeOut. In fact they all seem to have a similar business model:
VoipBuster, VoipStunt, InternetCalls, VoipDiscount, FreeCall, VoipCheap, PoivY, SparVoip, NetAppel, SipDiscount, WebCallDirect, LowRateVoip, JustVoip, 12Voip Free, Nonoh, SmsDiscount, VoipWise, SmsListo, BudgetSip, VoipHit, DialNow, CallEasy, InterVoip
http://www.12voip.com even offers free calls to
FreeCall Free minutes - limited to 90 minutes
Max 300 minutes per week of free calls, measured over the last 7 days and per unique IP address. Unused free minutes cannot be taken to the following week(s). If limit is exceeded the normal rates apply. With your FREE DAYS you can call for free to all the destinations listed as free! when you have no FREE DAYS left the normal rates apply. You can get extra Freedays by buying credit
Free* calls with FreeCall
Not only can you call your online friends for free, FreeCall also offers free* calls to any regular land-line in various popular destinations
To counter misuse of our network we have limited these free* calls for our trial users. If you want to enjoy longer free* calls to these destinations, just top up your account by buying credit.
FreeCall Freedays
Buying credit entitles you to 90 Freedays. This means you can call all countries 
marked as "Free" in the rates list for a period of 90 days at no costs. When the 90 days are over, the normal rate will be charged for these destinations. You can get more Freedays by topping up your account with credit.
See here for more details on Free Destinations: http://www.freecall.com/en/freetrial.html
Getting started with FreeCall:
Download the FreeCall software from here: http://www.freecall.com/en/download.html
Install the FreeCall program and the login screen will guide you through the registration process (select "I am a new user")
SkypeOut:
Using SkypeOut means that I can call a “normal” phone over the Internet by using my PC (and mic and speakers). The phone rings in the normal way and is answered as "usual". I pay the SkypeOut rate which is 2 Euro cents per minute! (about 20 SA cents).
The registration process is simple and fast: you can purchase 10 or 25 Euros on a credit card. You credits then get activated within 15 minutes, then you dial the number on the Skype screen and then the phone rings on the other end of the world - wonderful!!!
Notes:
SkypeOut and FreeCall calls to mobile phones are more expensive (but usually cheaper than Telkom rates)
SkypeOut connection fee: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/prices/callrates/connectionfee/
All SkypeOut calls are subject to a connection fee. Connection fees only apply to calls made using Skype Credit. The connection fee is based on your currency, which you can change under your Account, and not on the country you are phoning to or from.
Calls made as part of the US & Canada Skype Unlimited Calling plans are exempt from connection fees.
To use SkypeOut you need to buy Skype Credit.
Some connection fee rates:
Excl. VAT Incl. VAT
Australian Dollar (AUD) 0.059 0.068
Canadian Dollar (CAD) 0.059 0.068
Euro (EUR) 0.039 0.045
British Pound (GBP) 0.029 0.033
US Dollar (USD) 0.039 0.045
Note: SkypeOut nor FreeCall does not and does not intend to support or carry emergency calls.
Posts
Free International Call
ReplyDeleteAre you tired of paying ridiculous prices for phoning family, friends or even coworkers abroad?
Cell C has come up with a solution for you. You are now able to phone your friends, family and overseas colleagues for the cost of a local cell phone call.
Sounds fantastic? It is! No more high telephone bills for you. No echo, no crackle in the call, no noise, just pure quality.
Why is it better? It is so frustrating having to wait for your third party you are calling to to be in front of their computer. Most often the person you are dialling is out of the office or out at friends, they certainly are not where you want them to be when you need them, and that is in front of their computer receiving your urgent call.
Thanks to Cell C you can now phone your people whenever you want without them having to be in front of their computers. You can either phone them directly through our 084 195 000 service to their landline or on their mobile phone. What a pleasure. you can either phone then from your cell phone or from your landline dial 084 195 0000
www.freeinternationalcall.co.za
Thanks Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteHere's HTT's previous analysis of similar CellC offerings:
Make
a CellC call and speak to over 60 international countries for no extra cost
Here are other related HTT postings:
Use
your cell phone's free minutes to make international calls
and
Make
a CellC call and speak to over 60 international countries for no extra cost
an even better deal that allows you to use your free minutes: http://www.mybottomline.co.za/