pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| How Bad Is VOIP Loss
I think potential losses due to VOIP are overstated.
Consider the following. Most consumer phone plans have so many minutes these days that overages are not as big a problem as they used to be. Secondly, using VOIP on a wifi-enabled cell phone requires someone to be in the same general area so that they can persist a network connection. Third, someone who is crazy enough to use VOIP over a cell phone data connection usually ends up paying more for the call by way of data usage than they would if they used minutes.
As for open networks, AT&T and T-Mobile have offered customers the ability to use any number of GSM-based phones for years, so I don't see what the fuss is.
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"At the moment of conception." |
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | VOIP on a data contract or a normal calls on a voice contract, they will still make money hand over fist.
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[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| said by Kearnstd  :VOIP on a data contract or a normal calls on a voice contract, they will still make money hand over fist. I still don't see how someone who owns a cell phone that works at home actually saves any money by using VOIP... unless they make a lot of international calls... but it seems that even using cheap calling cards can give you a good deal on those.
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"At the moment of conception." |
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jvanbrecht
join:2007-01-08
Bowie, MD
| reply to pnh102
I guess it depends on the plans that people have. My wife and I for example have 500 shared min on our family plan (the rollover crap plan), we rarely use that much, and I have 1000's of rollover min so its not a big deal, we do however use alot of data (why bother with sms anymore when we just use email).
ATT does however make a crapton of money based on the unlimited data plans we both have, but I could in theory drop down to the absolute minimal voice contract with unlimited data, and use voip applications (that permit calls to landline and cell phones) and completely bypass use the carriers network.
One can take that a step further and use voip applications that support end to end encryption between users using the same application (I work in a gov sector and I am a security specialist.... )...
Lets tke it even further, at this point I am wearing my tinfoil hat, all carrier data seems to be sold and or provided freely to various 3 letter agencies to snoop on you. With voip applications (via carrier data using 3g or better networks, or wifi) that support encryption, hell even if they don't do encryption, it makes it more difficult (only slightly more difficult really) for random 3 letter agencies to get that information.
Then there is international calling, but no explanation is needed for that. |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·DSL EXTREME
| reply to pnh102
Exactly... Internation calling is a HUGE deal.
Also, with unlimited plans (ie Skype or Vonage), people could easily drop their POTS/house line for $25 unlimited package.
I work at home, and use Skpeout a LOT (+3000 minutes/month) for $3/month.
Calling cards are relatively inexpensive, but inconvenient as well.
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Canada = Hollywood North |
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KoolMoe
Aw Man
Premium
join:2001-02-14
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Speakeasy
| reply to pnh102
Guess it depends if you use the Cellphone Data Plan to do the VOIP or a different net connection. I never even really thought about using a cell phone's data plan to do VOIP. That's...weird... but can see why it would be attractive if someone has lesser minutes and unlimited data.
I'd assume that 'mobile voip' means cellphone handsets that can send out calls over open hotspots. That surely sounds 'cheap' to me!
KM |
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