Dont worry this is not a real kidnapping we were board so we made tis film (not real)
Duration : 0:0:26
One of our old ones. Originally done as part of a presentation by Rick when he worked at BT. Filmed and edited in a single weekend. Inspired by Run Lola Run.
Duration : 0:8:39
30
Sep
What is a Reverse Charge Call?
Author: admin // Category: reverse call, reverse calls, reverse charge, reverse charge call, reverse charges
“A collect call in the USA and Canada or reverse charge call in the UK and other countries (or calling collect) is a telephone call in which the calling party wants to place a call at the called party’s expense. In the past, collect calls were only possible as an operator-assisted call, but with the introduction of computer-based telephone dialing equipment, it is now possible to place a collect call without using an operator, which is called International Freephone Service (IFS) as opposed to Home Country Direct (HCD). Several companies offer services to place collect calls that compete with local service providers. When the operator’s number is globally unique, i.e. it does not depend on the caller’s country, it is called Universal International Freephone Number (UIFN).” Source Wikipedia
William Tys, CEO of 1800 PHONEHOME has a shorter definition. Tys says “… a reverse charge call is simply a call made at the recipient’s expense.”
People usually make reverse charge calls as a last resort call. The call is usually urgent and necessary. For example, a child may have missed the schoolbus or has been left standing at school because someone forgot the pick him or her up. Sometimes it’s adults who have a flat tyre and a flat battery on their mobile phone. In short the calls are usually made when the caller is in a degree of trouble and they need assistance.
The traditional reverse charge call is from a telephone box to a home landline. Plenty of industry dollars are still generated this way. However, telephone boxes are reducing in number and the mobile phone is taking over. No one goes too far these days without their mobile phone in their pocket or handbag. Hence many reverse charge calls are placed to mobile phones Also the mobile phone is becoming the home phone. Many new developments are not incorporating hardwiring for landlines because of wireless and mobile applications. The mobile phone is now becoming the home phone as well.
From a callers point of view a reverse charge call should be able to be made from any phone (fixed or mobile) to any phone (fixed or mobile). Some reverse charge call operators choose to only provide their service to say mobiles. For a full reverse charge call service surely a capable provider should facilitate reverse charge calls to both fixed and mobile phones.
1800 PHONEHOME provides the full service of calls to fixed and mobile phones combined with a very competitive price. Tys says ”…not only do people want some serious competition in the reverse charge call arena but also the full service of calls terminating on fixed and mobile phones…and that’s why 1800 PHONEHOME is here!”
William Tys
CEO
28
Sep
Reverse Charge Calls…and Zero Rating Prepaid Mobile Phones
Author: admin // Category: reverse charge callA prepaid mobile phone without credit cannot make a call nor send a text message. Zero rating prepaid mobile phones means that the carrier can allow that same mobile without credit to call a particular number.
Some reverse charge call operators are obtaining support and approval from certain carriers to allow zero rating. One can imagine if a person has no credit on their prepaid mobile that this would be the perfect instance to have a reverse charge call number zero rated. The person simple dials the number (remember no credit is available) and the call goes through to the reverse charge call service to facilitate the reverse charge call.
Some carriers are a bit shy to test the zero rating facility because they assume they may lose revenue. However, if the prepaid mobile is zero rated then the customer would make a call to a reverse charge call number which may generate premium sms revenue for the carrier (if the call terminates on a mobile) or carrier fees (if the call terminates on a landline). In each instance the carrier(s) would benefit from the revenue generated by the call being terminated on a mobile or fixed line. So in fact it is extra revenue because the customer in time will go and top up the credit on their prepaid mobile phone anyway.
If all the carriers would zero rate prepaid mobile phones all the market share proportions would stay the same…but the industry revenues would be larger because the prepaid mobile owner in the case where there is no credit would most likely make the zero rated call.
A big advantage for zero rating is the community benefit in that children would always be able to call a reverse charge call operator and get in touch with a parent or friend.
The three phonename reverse charge call operators all have zero rating to some degree. I would hope that carriers will soon acknowledge that there is no loss of revenue by zero rating prepaid mobiles, particularly to those operators that have a good reason to have the zero rating facility active…like reverse charge call operators.
William Tys
CEO
0800 Reverse…is it supposed to work?
28
Sep
Anyone know the procedure for calling reverse charge/collect from Italy to the UK?
Author: admin // Category: reverse charge call
I want to speak with my partner who speaks no Italian. When he goes to a phone box or whatever what number does he ring for the operator or whatever, and what does he say to get them to put the call through collect to me so I pay for it? Thanks
Right forget about what that man said about the text message and for you to phone the phone box…in italy it isn’t possible to ring phone boxes. The reverse the charge way its so expensive it can really lead to SCARY phone bills. Trust me its not worth it…the best solution is for your partner to go in a shop eg “giornalaio (news agent)” “tabaccaio(tobacco shop)” and ask for “carta telefonica internazionale (international phone card)” there is a huge selection of international phone cards available in italy. On this card your mate will find a “numero verde (toll free number)” all he has to do is to dial that number and follow the instructions wich in most cases are in english too!!! It is very cheap and he’ll get plenty of minutes. There is one called “New welcome Payphone” from 5 to 10 euros it last 60 days and is good value for money.
Ok we keep getting these spam reverse charge calls. You can never hear the name properly, and seeing as family members use the service sometimes, we always have to accept it just in case. It’s always kids messing around. We’ve had around five calls tonight alone, the last few we obviously didn’t accept. My mum is worried that whoever has found our number got it in the phone book, and could have our address too. Plus these calls are expensive. Like i said we can’t block the service entirely as we sometimes use it ourselves; anyway we can get the number that’s ringing us from it blocked? also when we do get a reverse charge call (either fake or legit) the number is 0800 853 000 instead of the 0800 7383773 we use to call it, so what’s going on with this service?
well it's not the operator who says the name, the caller says it and it's repeated, so they can say what they want, and it's muffled so you can never be certain. They obviously do it on purpose
STOP USING 0800 Reverse, it’s THE most expensive way of paying for a call!
If having change is available get charge cards (NOT credit cards, these are crazily expensive for making calls as well). If you’re with BT they have one and the calls made on it are charged to your bill. If you’re concerned about children using them excessively, it’s possible to have a “calling home card” which is the same, but only connects to the home number. Calls are still about 20p/minute, which is a lot, but WAY cheaper than 0800 Reverse.
Another option is the prepaid cards that are sold in newsagents. For the cost of about one 0800 Reverse call, you can buy a card that will last over two hours!
The 0800 number you see on your screen when these calls come in is a customer services type number to ring in case of any query, not to place a reverse charge call.
Since you’re being plagued by these calls, it’s worth asking for your number to be changed. There shouldn’t be a charge if it’s due to nuisance calls (which these are). Ask for the new number to be ex-directory - but you can still list it with Directory Enquiries so that people who know you can ask for it.
Phonenames are here to stay! It has taken a while (about three years since Smartnumbers commenced auctions) but more and more appear everyday. The yanks have been using them for yonks! William Tys, CEO from 1800 PHONEHOME says “…if you don’t have a phonename, you are not serious about your business!”
Tys cites an example of a futon business that he also owns and operates. “We have this telephone number which we used to plug on the airways…what a waste of money that was. Even if we said it three times in the radio ad the response was minimal. Then we started using 1800 FUTONS…and bang… the sales took off!”
Consider the reverse charge call industry where the two big telcos use regular telephone numbers. No one can remember them when you come up against three other reverse charge call operators all using phonenames. 1800Reverse, 1800Mumdad and more recently 1800PHONEHOME.
Let’s look at these three names. Reverse has spent millions on branding and is well established in the market place. Mumdad has done some branding and has a reasonable following. Both these names are what Tys calls second level because it is not that clear what the phonename is all about. Reverse what? Mumdad who? Obviously with millions of dollars one can brand any name and relate it to a product or service. But a phonename which is the name of the business, and is also a strong indication of the service or product… and then add a call to action…like 1800 PHONEHOME…now that’s a phonename. Also with the ET phenomenon added to 1800 PHONEHOME…with very little advertising Tys says the reverse charge call volume is strong and growing.
William Tys
CEO
27
Sep
How to Save Money on Reverse Charge Calls in Australia
Author: admin // Category: reverse charge calls
As at 13 September, 2008 there are five service providers with the capacity to deliver reverse charge call facilities to the general public. Telstra Corp is the original provider with 1800 Reverse entering the market in the year 2000. 1800 Mumdad and Optus also entered the arena in the last few years.
A new entrant, 1800 PHONEHOME with the catchy warcry “Save a Buck or Two!” is set to challenge the incumbents. 1800 PHONEHOME can deliver and bill reverse charge calls to fixed lines and mobile phones. The CEO of 1800 PHONEHOME, William Tys, insists that the name of his service, although not as strongly branded as 1800 Reverse, will dominate the industry in time to come. The words “phone home” are indelibly imprinted onto the minds of the populace with the original and continuing production of Gold Edition “ET” movies and videos.
Both Telstra and Optus, who only have a telephone number for customers to call to make a reverse charge call, are losing ground to the operators with phone names, like 1800 PHONEHOME, Reverse and Mumdad.
With the advent of mobile phones (21 million units in Australia), bundled deals and phone cards, people insist that the reverse charge call market is in decline. Visit the annual report of Reverse Corp. via the ASX website and it is obvious this is not the case. With the advent of zero rating to prepaid mobiles the industry dollars are set to triple.
William Tys
CEO
www.1800PhoneHome.com.au