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O2 offers local international calls
TELECOM OPERATOR O2 will start to offer its customers voice over IP (VoIP) international calling.
The VoIP technology will allow O2 customers to call international numbers by dialing a local number. Initially the roll-out will be limited to O2's German customers but the firm has confirmed that it plans to roll out a similar service in other European countries.
O2's parent, Telefonica shelled out for VoIP firm Jahah earlier this year and is the first telecoms operator to actively encourage users to utilise VoIP. The technology has traditionally been viewed by "voice" firms as the enemy. VoIP represents the best way for its customers to save great wads of cash by using existing IP networks that are location agnostic.
The VoIP service isn't quite a free for all with Telefonica's European CEO Matthew Key saying, "O2 customers can choose five friends who are abroad and O2 Global Friends will give them a local number for each of them, which they can call anytime." Nevertheless, this is the first step on the long road to accepting that operators such as O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile cannot stick to traditional billing models to stay competitive.
Key also confirmed that other European nations will be gaining access to Telefonica's VoIP service, though he didn't say what its Global Friends add-on will cost. µ
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"the first telecoms operator to actively encourage users to utilise VoIP"
Surely not? 3 in the UK have been doing this for years, offering VoIP via SKype to any destination worldwide for free.
Saying that I have never used it though. And given that they now offer in network unlimited minutes and texts.
I think O2 is just a late convert to the new mobile pricing model, which seems to be along the lines of "give us X per month and do what you want within reason". For example, on 3 they now have a "One" tariff which allows you thousands of minutes, thousands of texts but with a Broadband type Fair Usage Policy.
I think all networks will go this way (O2 being the latest convert) and the way operators will distinguish themselves is via feature set (i.e. social notworking, apps, use of phone features).
Sounds rather similar to the Skype service that's been available on 3 for years.
Free Skype calls to any Skype user, and local rate international calls if you use "Skype out"