The UK telecoms giant BT seems to have adopted the selling of capped calls as part of its call plans - are ‘capped calls’ really offering good value to the customer as call plans usually carry long tie-ins & other obligations?

Call rates are unusually tricky to find on websites, BT’s own website proved awkward to say the least with over 50 long lists to look through I wouldn’t be surprised if many new customers give up the search - or maybe thats the intention? Calling telecoms companies proved a bit more fruitfull athough overwhelming with the variety of products that seemed to offer good rates on one hand and take away with long contract obligations with the other.

The next task was to establish UK’s average call length. Telecost performed a study in 2002 of 100 UK businesses ranging from high users such as call centres to small enterprises at variuos locations. Over 2 million calls were analysed with results as shown below:

Average length of call to mobile (07 numbers) - 110 seconds.

Average length of landline call (01 numbers) - 112 seconds.

Average length of landline call (02 numbers) - 121 seconds.

Assuming that an average UK call length is 2 minutes then:

2 minute mobile call using BT Standard Rate to is 45p and to landline call is 15p including setup charge.

A 2 minute mobile call using BT’s ‘Business Plan’ is 25p (capped) and a 2 minute landline call is 8p on a 1 year contract.

A 2 Minute call through BT’s Oneplan to mobile would cost 20p (capped) and to landline would cost 5p (capped) on a 2 year contract with 2 additional services as a requirement.

A 2 minute call through Westlake to mobile would cost 18p and to landline would cost 2.5p on a one year contract.

A 2 minute call using Midland LCR to mobile is 16p and 1.8p to landline on a 1 year contract with minimum spend requirement.

A 2 minute mobile call using Gradwell VOIP would cost 20p and a 2 minute landline call would be free (on all inclusive tarif) with 3 month contract.

Based on the above information above being correct the conclusion therefore is:- if your business makes average length calls then LCR or VOIP providers offer you the best overall call savings. If your bunsiness makes long phone calls on a regular basis then BT will be the better choice, but then…

To benefit from maximum call savings customers should consider using smart phone systems such as Asterisk which will can be programmed to take the most efficient route. For example: - you can route all national calls through VOIP hence take advantage of free calls and unlimited outbound trunks hence make instant savings on your line rentals, route mobile calls through GSM - hence achieve free calls to staff mobiles & mobile tarifs of 4.5p & use BT Oneplan to route long calls.

This article is merely a guide to help UK businesses make up their own minds - the call rates were obtained in Sept 08 hence may or may not be accurate at the time of reading.