GSV13 0 Report post Posted January 10, 2007 BSNL proposes free voice calls in Kolkata KOLKATA: In a dramatic development, BSNL-Kolkata (Calcutta Telephones) proposes to make voice calls free for its upcoming wave of triple play subscribers by June. Its triple-play subscribers will typically enjoy broadband, IPTV (internet protocol television) and voice telephony options."Call charges for CalTel customers opting for broadband and IPTV may be waived completely. We are working on various possibilities," Mr S K Chakraborty, chief general manager at CalTel, told reporters on Thursday. "Voice calls that subscribers make from a telephone connection offering Triple Play facility will be through the internet protocol and we may waive data download/upload charge for such calls," he added. "Subscribers may be offered free voice calls provided they have opted for broadband and IPTV for at least three months. Talking on the total charge users may end up paying, Mr Chakraborty said, "The minimum charge one has to pay will include rentals for broadband the minimum for which is Rs 250, the rental for IPTV will be about Rs 200 per month, plus the rental charge for the telephone connection. Users will, however, have to pay additional charge for using internet beyond a certain limit." Though CalTel is yet to finalise the IPTV subscription package, it is looking to provide some 200 channels, including pay channels, to subscribers at a monthly rent of Rs 200. A host of value-added services will be bundled like video-conferencing, movies without any advertisement, sports highlight on demand, on-line training and games. IPTV is a system where digital television content is delivered using the internet protocol over a network infrastructure and delivered through a telephone connection to subscribers. It is technically advanced enough to deliver DVD quality picture and sound for regular TV programmes. CalTel's IPTV will be offered to subscribers who have landline connections and will require a special set-top-box (STB). CalTel is targeting a customer base of 2.25 lakh for IPTV and intends to do a soft-launch by February and commercially launch it across Kolkata by April. Voice for calls routed through the internet protocol (IP) are transformed into data packets and sent over the internet. It is termed 'Voice over IP (VoIP) by techies. "This apart, there will be movies on demand with a video player which will allow subscribers to rewind and fast forward. A subscriber will enjoy 30 movies free of cost per month. Thereafter, they will be required to pay Rs 5 per movie," said Mr Chakraborty. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/N...how/1128472.cms Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2007 i know. it would be a great move. but read carefully. they say they are going waive off the charges for the data uploaded / downloaded to make the voice calls. In effect what they are saying is that, we're going to charge you Rs.1.20 per 3 mins but the calls are now going to go through the IP network instead of the POTS network so there is going to be data downloaded/uploaded which we will waive off... Otherwise this is what the user will have to pay for each voice call he makes using VoIP i.e. call charge ( like Rs.1.20 per 3 mins for landline to landline ) + the data transfer the voice call consumes! Hehe...dont think they're going to give FREE calling all over Kolkata Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingofKalyan 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2007 i know. it would be a great move. but read carefully. they say they are going waive off the charges for the data uploaded / downloaded to make the voice calls. In effect what they are saying is that, we're going to charge you Rs.1.20 per 3 mins but the calls are now going to go through the IP network instead of the POTS network so there is going to be data downloaded/uploaded which we will waive off... Otherwise this is what the user will have to pay for each voice call he makes using VoIP i.e. call charge ( like Rs.1.20 per 3 mins for landline to landline ) + the data transfer the voice call consumes!Hehe...dont think they're going to give FREE calling all over Kolkata Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spdf 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2007 Never expect anything free from BSNL there will be a catch...Maybe they will put a limit on free calls....10 minutes every month... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anujit 0 Report post Posted January 11, 2007 I think they're going to make up for it in data charges.... IPTV @ Rs. 200 but we'll only stream you 200 MB of TV with that. After that its Rs.5/MB. And GSV whats prevalent in (some countries) in the west is free local calls. It's not linked to how much of IPTV or broadband you watch. Of course the VOIP providers offer all USA & Canada unlimited calling at a flat fee of around $50 a month. How they do that god knows! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2007 anujit, no need to drag God into all these things With IP networks with HUGE capacities, its pretty simple. Everyone can talk to everyone at the sametime with such networks. Its no rocket science! This is not possible with GSM / CDMA networks as they are circuit switched while IP networks are packet switched spdf, no yaar. that is not possible. The cable operators will win easily. With IPTV they can't put a limit on datatransfers. Infact there is no need to put any limits as IPTV is only onnet data transfer which is dirt cheap for them. With broadband they can do it as they are paying for the international bandwidth... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anujit 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2007 Yeah dude... but the IP phones are connecting to GSM/CDMA/Landlines... surely theres an operational cost and overheads there! Its not just IP to IP its IP to any phucking phone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GSV13 0 Report post Posted January 12, 2007 (edited) Well all those unlimited plans has normal residential limit ! Dunno of others but viatalk and likewise have limit of 5100 min. & it is calculated as ten times the avg calls made by a residential customer! Edited January 12, 2007 by GSV13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 Yeah dude... but the IP phones are connecting to GSM/CDMA/Landlines... surely theres an operational cost and overheads there! Its not just IP to IP its IP to any phucking phone. no man... its just gonna be in ONNET FREE calls. All providers will go bankrupt if they give free calls on all networks for a flat fee! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Puneet 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 MTNL offers Unlimited Local to All Networks for Rs 2000/- on its Garuda service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sanket55555 0 Report post Posted January 13, 2007 ^^^ very true, that too on fixed wireless and mobile as well plus theres nothing hidden/no catch at all, whatsoever. no restrictions at all as far as local calls are concerned. just 2000/- (plus taxes). absolutely nothing else Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anujit 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2007 Linux dude.... check out AT&T Callvantage or Vonage's site. Free calls. Unlimited. And unlimited means unlimited. To any landline or mobile in the USA AND CANADA. All at $50 a month. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted January 17, 2007 anujit...that is the USA and this is India Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sanay 0 Report post Posted January 18, 2007 In gujarat bsnl is already giving onnet calls free through out gujarat from landlines at an additional monthly charges of 111 since 1st jan. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
