Russians to get Free Incoming Mobile Calls

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2006Jan/bpd20060307035146.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2006Jan/bpd20060307035146.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"If you're Russian and a cellphone user, then you'll be happy to hear about a new law signed by President Vladimir Putin. The new law will reportedly prohibit mobile users from being charged for incoming calls. The new law, known as the Calling Party Pays (CPP) principle, will begin to be enforced on July 1 of this year. Though some wireless carriers in Russia offer free incoming calls as part of their contract with customers, the new law will make incoming calls free for all wireless subscribers. There are limitations to the law, which include collect calls and calls received outside of a subscriber's home area."</i><br /><br />This is a good idea, but I can see a couple major issues. The biggest one is finding a charge on my home phone bill for calling someone who is on a cell phone. Imagine how many times you've dialed the phone and not known if you are calling an office or a mobile phone. Those charges could add up pretty quick and you wouldn't even know it until the next phone bill arrives. :? Ultimately, I would like to see mobile phones treated like home phones - unlimited for all local calls.

[Stinger]

This is a good idea, but I can see a couple major issues. The biggest one is finding a charge on my home phone bill for calling someone who is on a cell phone.

In the UK all mobile numbers start with 07, whilst all regular landline numbers start with 01. There's no chance of getting a mobile and a landline number mixed up. :)

I assume Russia will adopt a similar scheme, if it hasn't already.

[SteinE]

"If you're Russian and a cellphone user"

So if a Russian travels to the UK or France he/she still get free incoming calls? lol

[Janak Parekh]

The biggest one is finding a charge on my home phone bill for calling someone who is on a cell phone.
Mike, this is already how much of Europe (minus Russia) works -- calling party pays for both mobile and landline destinations. ;) We do it differently here in North America...

--janak

[Darius Wey]

Mike, this is already how much of Europe (minus Russia) works -- calling party pays for both mobile and landline destinations. ;)

Australia works like this too. The caller pays for all SMS/MMS and mobile/landline calls (except where a reverse call is placed).

The biggest one is finding a charge on my home phone bill for calling someone who is on a cell phone. Imagine how many times you've dialed the phone and not known if you are calling an office or a mobile phone.

Excluding the country code, mobile numbers in Australia commence with 4, while all other landline numbers commence with the city code - that is, any of the other digits.

[Mike Temporale]

Mike, this is already how much of Europe (minus Russia) works -- calling party pays for both mobile and landline destinations. ;)

Australia works like this too. The caller pays for all SMS/MMS and mobile/landline calls (except where a reverse call is placed).

Hello North America carriers - What are you waiting for? ;)

So it's free incoming calls, but it's not like a regular landline. At least not yet. That's still my ultimate dream. :mrgreen:

[Jorge Galindo]

Incoming calls on cell phones are also free in Bolivia. This has made cell phones more popular than land lines.


Where is Bolivia? In the middle of South America.

[SnozBerries]

Hello North America carriers - What are you waiting for? ;)


Currently in the US telemarketers cannot call cell phones because it incurs a cost to the recipient of the phone call. I like this because it helps protect me from telemarketers interupting my dinner. How much of that has gone away with the whole Do-Not-Call registry, I don't know, but I like that double-peice of mid that I won't be bothered by them.

Now if the US adopted this new change, would we still be protected from telemarketers? I kind of doubt that as the reason for the current law no longer applies. I budget the minutes in my plan appropriately, so any changes wouldn't benefit me.

[NorburyNewlywed]

currently here in the UK no telemarketers can call me because I've signed up to the Telephone Preference Service (http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/). They have to consult this by law, and if you do receive a call the question 'Do you know I'm with the telephone preference service?' usually gets the phone put down pretty quickly. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

Currently in the US telemarketers cannot call cell phones

Telemarketers is an issue, but I'm willing to live with and work through the growing pains of this in order to get flat rate local calls. Imagine paying $25-$30 a month for all you can eat incoming and outgoing local calls - like your home phone. :mrgreen:

[thenikjones2]

The biggest one is finding a charge on my home phone bill for calling someone who is on a cell phone.
Mike, this is already how much of Europe (minus Russia) works -- calling party pays for both mobile and landline destinations. ;) We do it differently here in North America...

--janak

Although if you are "Roaming" - e.g. I have a mobile phone contract in the UK but am spending time in Holland - then I will be charged for both making and receiving calls on my mobile.

[Darius Wey]

Imagine paying $25-$30 a month for all you can eat incoming and outgoing local calls - like your home phone. :mrgreen:

We have capped mobile plans similar to this. For example, pay $49/month and get $350 worth of calls. Or if you're a super-spender, pay $149/month and get $1300 worth of calls.

Not really all-you-can-eat, but you'd have to be part of a pretty small minority to be making that many dollars worth of calls. :P

[abf]

Mike, this is already how much of Europe (minus Russia) works -- calling party pays for both mobile and landline destinations. ;)

Australia works like this too. The caller pays for all SMS/MMS and mobile/landline calls (except where a reverse call is placed).
With the exception of calls diverted to voice mail. In this case recipient pays to recieve, as well as to dial in and hear the message. It always strikes me as odd, considering there is no usual charge to accept calls. Is this the same elsewhere?

[Janak Parekh]

Hello North America carriers - What are you waiting for? ;)
North America is the home of powerful landline lobbies, who have fought against this, as it would herald an even quicker demise of landlines.

The one "upside" is that both minute and data plans generally are cheaper here, at least in the US, than much of Europe or Australia. Heck, I have unlimited true 3G for less than $50USD per month, and that's super-hard to get most everywhere else without spending $$$. (Sprint is even cheaper: the $15 plan works as long as you don't tether. 8O) Not sure if Canada is quite as cheap, though. Maybe you guys just have the worst of both worlds. :P

With the exception of calls diverted to voice mail. In this case recipient pays to recieve, as well as to dial in and hear the message. It always strikes me as odd, considering there is no usual charge to accept calls. Is this the same elsewhere?
Here, it's simple: every airtime minute counts against your plan, whether receiving, making, or voicemail-checking. (Well, except for all the free minutes or night+weekend promotions one gets here.)

--janak