NEW! Free Calls to Europe

Posts: 83 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 2:42 pm Post subject:

It would seem that the countries included are those where virtual numbers are also available. So, it is places that Vonage has (their own or through agreement) equipment that connects to the PSTN.

That makes sense.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject:

True, and that probably also means that this was a low-to-no cost feature for them that was easy to implement.

Probably an easy and cheap way to encourage people on the "500 plan" to upgrade to an unlimited account. Not a bad idea, actually, both from a feature upgrade and a marketing point of view.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 26, 2006 Posts: 3

scerruti wrote:

The original announcement was Free Calls to Europe, the fine print said to a fraction of the European countries. Then we find out in the fine-fine print that it is only to the landlines in those countries.

The reason it is done only to the landline numbers is because cellular billing is done differently over there. In the US, both the caller and the receiver has minutes deducted from their cellular plan. In most of Europe, the caller pays the bill. The receiver is not charged anything for the call. Vonage would have to pass that cost on to you. It is beyond their control.

Personally, I hope Germany gets added soon, also.

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 16

I live in Texas and my brother and my sister live in Spain, so I am happy with this service. I also have a friend who is married to an Italian girl, they were not sure about getting Vonage, I am sure they will now...

Posts: 50 · Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 7:55 am Post subject:

My goodness, so much on this forum seems to turn into a tempest in a teapot!

For whatever reason Vonage did it and for whatever reason they chose the countries they did, I appreciate it, since I do call Italy, Spain, and England on a regular basis.

I'm truly sorry that this isn't a new "feature" that benefits all of us (hey, I'm STILL waiting on anonymous call rejection); but, that doesn't mean I can't be thankful for Vonage giving me something that is useful to me and select others.

So, Thank You, Vonage!

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: May 04, 2006 Posts: 1

I agree with the claims that this is not free calls to Europe, merely free calls to "Old" Europe.

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 21

Quote:

It would seem that the countries included are those where virtual numbers are also available. So, it is places that Vonage has (their own or through agreement) equipment that connects to the PSTN.

Quote:

True, and that probably also means that this was a low-to-no cost feature for them that was easy to implement.

Probably an easy and cheap way to encourage people on the "500 plan" to upgrade to an unlimited account. Not a bad idea, actually, both from a feature upgrade and a marketing point of view.

The only reason they would already have the equipment there is because they paid for it or negotiated for it. It's not like some Vonage tech flew to France, left an RTP300 with France Telecom and flew back. They have equipment that had to be installed and maintained, and relationships with the Euro telco's that have to be maintained as well. I don't see how it could be "low-to-no cost".

Also, about the premium numbeers: as someone previously pointed out, cell phone calls are billed differently in Europe. When I lived in France, I hated calling people with cells, because I was billed a lot more than for calling a landline. I'm sure it's not just that easy for Vonage to swallow that cost and include those numbers.

I agree with the people saying that everyone is too down on Vonage for adding a useful feature. It's not the feature that everyone was waiting for, and there are other important features that people want and need, but they did add something that is somewhat useful. For whatever reason, they were able to do that, and they haven't been able to resolve the other features.

For everyone saying that it's a ploy to get people to switch to the unlimited service... Vonage is a business, not a charity. People who pay more for service get more rewards. It may be that a minute of International calling time doesn't translate straight to one of the allotted 500 minutes on the $15 plan. With the unlimited plan, it doesn't matter if one international minute is worth 1, 2, or 10 domestic minutes, it's still unlimited. How much confusion would that add to the 500 minute plans? Also, about the ploy: as much as people complain about a lack of features, if those features are that important, then Vonage has lost customers over it. Adding those features would be as much of a "ploy" to get customers. As I said above, there are reasons why some features are added and some aren't, but of course they will do what they can do to get customers and upgrade customers.

I lived in France for 2 years, but now I don't know anyone over there I would ever call. Even so, thanks to Vonage!

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject:

knorman wrote:

The only reason they would already have the equipment there is because they paid for it or negotiated for it. It's not like some Vonage tech flew to France, left an RTP300 with France Telecom and flew back. They have equipment that had to be installed and maintained, and relationships with the Euro telco's that have to be maintained as well. I don't see how it could be "low-to-no cost".

Yes, but you miss my point. Vonage ALREADY HAD service in these areas. They ALREADY HAD the equipment there and are maintaining it. So all they are doing is waiving a few cents a minute charges to areas they already used the Internet to route to. So, very low cost.

Quote:

For everyone saying that it's a ploy to get people to switch to the unlimited service... Vonage is a business, not a charity. People who pay more for service get more rewards.

I don't think anyone used the word "ploy", and since you quoted me on it I want to say that I certainly would not use such a negative word. I think it is a good way to encourage people who call parts of Europe to upgrade, and is a brilliant plan, since they are offering a feature that costs them little, but keeping it in a higher tier of service to encourage people to buy that higher tier of service. Excellent business decision.

Posts: 476 · Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 7:59 pm Post subject:

I think it's neat, but I hope this is not a foreshadowing of the future of how new features will be offered by Vonage. That is, I hope that it is not going to become the norm that new features are only for "unlimited" customers. I signed up for the 500 minutes/month plan because we don't use our home phone for outgoing calls all that often. At the time, I was under the belief that the only difference between the 500 minutes/month plan and the unlimited plan was simply that - the minutes. I truly hope the difference doesn't become the feature set which is the way it looks to be heading.

Posts: 170 · Posted: Fri May 05, 2006 8:26 pm Post subject:

blakadher wrote:

I think it's neat, but I hope this is not a foreshadowing of the future of how new features will be offered by Vonage. That is, I hope that it is not going to become the norm that new features are only for "unlimited" customers. I signed up for the 500 minutes/month plan because we don't use our home phone for outgoing calls all that often. At the time, I was under the belief that the only difference between the 500 minutes/month plan and the unlimited plan was simply that - the minutes. I truly hope the difference doesn't become the feature set which is the way it looks to be heading.

I think most companies offer deals to their "premium" customer more often than not. I have the unlimited plan, but will probably switch to the 500 minute plan after a couple of months once I know how my calling pattern will be. If I get more stuff with the unlimited plan for things I need/want then I would look at the value as a whole. I don't call Europe, so this is not a big deal to me, but if I did and I had the 500 minute plan I'd have to look at what it would cost me to call on the plan as is vs paying an extra $10 every month.

I just hope Vonage starts adding features that their subscribers keep asking for... anonymous call blocking anyone?