Russians to get Free Incoming Mobile Calls

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2006Jan/bpd20060307035146.htm

"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."

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.

[Mike Temporale]

http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2006Jan/bpd20060307035146.htm

"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."

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]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

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]

Originally Posted by Janak Parekh

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).

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

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]

Originally Posted by Darius Wey

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]

Originally Posted by Mike Temporale

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. 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]

Originally Posted by SnozBerries

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: