Feb 1 Launch: Toll-Free Numbers, Online Faxing, Virtual Numbers

**VOIPoTim** · 01-14-2008 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Brian

Tim, with the fun fee increase from VT, I wanted to re-visit the question of fees being included with the monthly cost, and your thoughts on the "regulatory" fees a lot of the carriers charge. What are VOIPo's plans on this?

I'm working on a post with residential pricing and the way we're going to be handling some things like this, how our billing system works, etc.

We are basically working around the clock planning and coordinating resources in light of current events. Updates on that to come as well.

**usa2k** · 01-15-2008 07:39 AM

The kids are being mean to Brenden
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19800154-ViaTalk-Fee-Increase-Notification

Such as: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19801970-

**NY Tel Guy** · 01-15-2008 07:46 AM

Originally Posted by usa2k

The kids are being mean to Brenden
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19800154-ViaTalk-Fee-Increase-Notification

Such as: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19801970-

And quite funny at that.

**Nate425** · 01-15-2008 09:52 AM

It seems like people don't really care about the amount of money that it was increased, but rather how they did it. I'd bet you'd be pretty well off if you didn't get in to the "Unfees" business like that and just told people how it was.

And I even posted that I didn't care what VT did, but that was because I'm dumb and didn't pay attention to how they were doing it. When my contract is up with them in June, I'll probably be looking this way assuming everything still looks good then.

**NY Tel Guy** · 01-15-2008 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Nate425

It seems like people don't really care about the amount of money that it was increased, but rather how they did it. I'd bet you'd be pretty well off if you didn't get in to the "Unfees" business like that and just told people how it was.

And I even posted that I didn't care what VT did, but that was because I'm dumb and didn't pay attention to how they were doing it. When my contract is up with them in June, I'll probably be looking this way assuming everything still looks good then.

Exactly - I hate being nickel and dimed. Tell me up front with reasonable assurance what it is going to cost and I'll be fine with it. That coupled with the "seat of the pants, we don't need no stinkin documentation" mentality makes me lose all faith in that company's ability to survive and in their overall business integrity.

**dswartz** · 01-15-2008 10:28 AM

Agreed on all counts.

**fisamo** · 01-15-2008 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by NY Tel Guy

Exactly - I hate being nickel and dimed. Tell me up front with reasonable assurance what it is going to cost and I'll be fine with it. That coupled with the "seat of the pants, we don't need no stinkin documentation" mentality makes me lose all faith in that company's ability to survive and in their overall business integrity.

I guess I'm too late to 'second' those comments, but I agree completely. Whether the goings on of late have been actions in bad faith, desperation moves to keep the lights on, a combination of the two, or something completely different, there's no sense of self-accountability there. Also, as mentioned on DSLR, the timing couldn't be worse...

**Brian** · 01-17-2008 06:40 PM

Tim, how are we coming with the residential pricing post?

**VOIPoTim** · 01-17-2008 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Brian

Tim, how are we coming with the residential pricing post?

Well there's definitely a tradeoff in terms of marketing vs how pricing is structured. I'm trying to see if I can find some middle ground. The problem is that our costs to comply with various new initiatives that the government may be require are not factored into pricing if they don't exist today. So it's hard to "include" all of them without being able to tell what's going to happen in the future.

To qualify this, one thing I do not support is changing pricing to accommodate for required changes for customers who are in a prepaid term. I think that's a risk we as a service provider take on if we choose to accept a prepayment. I also feel that if we accept prepayment, we should accept it all at once so there are not additional charges until the term renews unless there are international calls or other usage based services. This is how our billing system has been designed to handle things already.

I have seen a lot of posts with people looking for bottom line pricing though and am trying to find some middle ground.

Any ideas?

**usa2k** · 01-18-2008 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by VOIPoTim

... I'm trying to see if I can find some middle ground. ...

I have seen a lot of posts with people looking for bottom line pricing though and am trying to find some middle ground.

Any ideas?

The acid test may be what DSLR says.
They are tough on you guys! Thus, I understand hesitation.

Right here and now we are your test group.
(I see this thread is in the beta area - not alpha)
Somewhere on this site we can be a sounding board.
(Hopefully people can comment here and not leak unpublished info!)

Your safe, all-you-can-eat -price is $25 (Packet8/Vonage)
$20 plus fees is competitive (Packet8 stayed there a loooooooong time when new.)

I can remember when Vonage was $40. But the Bells were higher too.
Two lines at $25 plus fees (same adapter) would be a great deal

You are in the best position to say what is right.

I would hold off public number filtering until it is polished.
Hopefully voicemail is rock solid with message indicators or that will get you heat.
Outgoing CID/CNAM will be a must for reputation.
CID/CNAM and Phone Book to CNAM will be something to earn praise.

Forward to sip as we've seen will also be praise worthy
(Vonage dropped FreeWorldDialup to Vonage calling for fear of fraud.)

Prepay is a double edged sword for penny pincers gamble and cry loud when they don't get all they imagined. I am not a prepay person. You may want to hold off.

Disconnect fees are a double edged sword so you may want to charge for the adapter and let them keep it. If you do this too cheaply, then you will see people getting the adapter and leaving for other pastures. Especially the rebate near nothing type marketing.

Money-back trial period is never long enough. 60 days is better than the 30 or 15 days that have been marketed. 500 minutes was another restriction that seems fair. Within 60 days but over 500 minutes should only require the difference at a set per minute rate, so people can get a good test drive (make it $0.039 per minute for over 500.)

I fear the admin concerning adapters for Money-back returns.