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Trai’s suggestion to open up telephony to ISPs could lead to a 40-80% cut in calling rates
WHAT EXISTS
Net telephony
Only between PCs. Calls could be made to mobiles or landlines, but only overseas. Both parties needed computers or similar devices like PDAs or advanced mobile handsets
FUTURE CALLING
1. PC-to-Phone
The caller needs to connect his PC to a net connection. He can then call any mobile or landline in India or overseas
2. Using adaptors
An adaptor, which costs Rs 1,000 and is similar to a modem box, is installed between the user’s phone and broadband connection. This converts the regular landline to a net phone, enabling cheaper calls
3. Phone-to-phone Net telephony
A. Using IP network of your present phone service provider. Your ‘regular’ land/mobile service provider may already have established gateways allowing transmission of voice over a dedicated IP network. So, you may have been using hi-tech without even knowing it. This would have reduced your service provider’s costs, but the benefit didn’t get passed on to you. That will now change
B. Using carrier selection Different networks will have different prefix digits (to be allocated soon). Once that is done, you can choose your IP carrier by simply dialling the prefix digits before the destination number from your regular land/mobile phone
C. Using toll free number dialling Normal mobile/landline users can dial a toll free number from their phone. This will connect to an ISP selling Net telephony minutes through prepaid cards
D. Using a VOIP phone A regular VOIP phone costs Rs 1,500 to 2,000 and can be connected to any broadband connection. A video VOIP phone costs Rs 6,000 to 7,500 but prices are expected to crash to Rs 4,000 as volumes go up. This can also be connected to your TV, allowing Net browsing and telephony If you take this phone without the LCD and connect it to your TV or laptop, the cost will drop by another Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,500. Alternatively, another set-top box costing Rs 2,500 can convert your TV into a Net phone