Thanks to the Internet, calls rates to US drop drastically >From Frederick Noronha / fred at bytesforall dot org
PANJIM, June 29: Three-rupee-a-minute calls that connect you to the US have already landed in Goa. But, it seems, not enough people in this expat-oriented and tourism-influenced state have woken up to the possibilities that these offer. These ultra-low-cost calls became possible for this country of a thousand million only in April this year, when the Central government belatedly legalised the use of VoIP or telephony using the Internet. Of course, there are hints that the line might sometimes be noisy or scratchy. But, given the price, who cares? "Buyers are very much satisfied with the quality. Specially when they compare the price," says Sanjay Bhaiya, the Alto Porvorim-based entrepreneur wholesaling the 'pre-paid cards' that allow you to make these low-cost calls via the Internet. To use this facility, you need a computer and Internet connection. Or, you could go to a cyber-cafe that allows you to use one. The good thing about this service is that the person you're calling, at the other end, doesn't also require a computer-and-Internet link to receive your call. Just a normal telephone. It works like this: you buy a 'pre-paid' card for Rs 100, 500 or 1000. You get a password on the card. Then, using the Internet, you dial to caltigern2p.com and download the 'dialer'. Using this, you dial your foreign number, but not before keying in your secret password. Once your call gets through, you're billed at a rate of Rs 3 per minute, a special introductory offer which will soon go up to Rs 5 per minute ... still rather realistic compared to the ultra-heavy national and international phone rates Indians have had to pay all these years. To use this service, you need a computer, Internet connection, and headphone-cum-mike. "If you don't have a computer, you can easily go to any cyber-cafe," suggests Bhaiya of Railton Electronics <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. The pre-paid cards are valid for three months from the first call made (six months in the case of the Rs 1000 cards). This is a service put out by the Kolkata-headquartered Caltiger -- a firm run by Cris and Joe Silva, that made it to the news a few years ago due to its 'free Internet' service which is not however offered in Goa. US-based Net telephony company Net2Phone is the international technology collaborator. "The beauty is that the receiving party does not need to have an Internet connection. Otherwise, you can make PC-to-PC (computer-to-computer) calls without charges (apart from the Internet time costs) via the MSN or Yahoo networks," says Bhaiya. OTHER COUNTRIES: Unfortunately, not all calls to foreign countries are as cheap as those made to the US. Calls to Europe cost Rs 5 per minute. Those to the Middle East -- a region Goa would have a lot of interest in, due to emigration there -- make you poorer by Rs 17 per minute. Bhaiya claims the service has been doing "very well" in Goa, though clearly not all those who could benefit from such services have logged in. Many cyber-cafes in the state are also yet to take advantage. "In April we sold a lot to foreigners. In the Baga-Calangute belt (the Mecca of charter tourists in the state) there were people coming for new thousand-rupee cards every week," says Bhaiya. As he displays a telephone instrument that connects to your computer, he says this could be particularly useful to companies which have regular dealings abroad. Anyway, he points out, it is hardly three months since long-distance Internet telephony got legalised; the impact is yet to be fully felt. Using this, you can call into any land-line phone. Calls to mobile phones cost extra. This card can be used from any place in India, and 're-chargeable' cards are expected to be on offer soon. Incidentally, the cost of international calls was brought down recently, even as far-cheaper Internet telephony was allowed from April 1, 2002. But even then, it would normally cost you between Rs 35 to 50 per minute, says Bhaiya. Bhaiya, contactable on phone 414724 and 416066, says other companies too are likely to offer such low cost Internet telephony services. He names e-phone and Satyam, but, being commercial rivals, is naturally not keen to talk about their strong points. (ENDS) -- Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 / 409783 GOAPIX in.photos.yahoo.com/fredericknoronha * GOANEWS www.goacom.com/news/ Please visit http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
