Truphone Has New Plans

i really find the new 'TruUnlimited' to be the most interesting new pricing plan in a long time. $17/month gets free calls to mobiles in 9 countries including most of west europe. the FUP is 3000 minuites per month. even more amazing is the $40 plan that gives free calling to 69 countries including mobiles. looks like mobile calling may finally be on the 'race to the bottom'


when will someone offer this type of plan for SIP usage? that would take thing to a whole new level.

edit: nothing in west europe is included for the $17; sorry for the mistake

It can only go one way from here. That's why I'm not a fan of the business model behind chasing cheap minutes - it's going to end in tears ultimately.

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when will someone offer this type of plan for sip usage?

Can you explain ?

dean :

It can only go one way from here. That's why I'm not a fan of the business model behind chasing cheap minutes - it's going to end in tears ultimately. Quote: when will someone offer this type of plan for sip usage? Can you explain ?

thereare a lot of people(myself being one) who will be signing up for this plan and using a mobile handset with a proprietary client for calling when they would much prefer to simply add an additional 'SIP trunk' to their current LCR calling platform. i actually do not expect anyone to offer a sip plan like this; but if they did it would heat compettion up to a whole new level.

whether or not this ends in tears consumers will end up benefiting greatly. truphone tends to get enough publicity that this may sway the mobile operators to offer lower rates themselves.

OK, got you - so SIP trunks for PBX's. I think it's a space that we'll see a lot move into (many already are now). Speak to Skype if you have an Asterisk PBX. SIP trunking is their current baby.

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whether or not this ends in tears consumers will end up benefiting greatly.

Agreed. The consumer will always win in the event of comoditisation of a product or service.

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truphone tends to get enough publicity that this may sway the mobile operators to offer lower rates themselves.

Not enough publicity to do that. Truphone and other nomadic WiFi based services are still, in the words of Jeff Pulver, "just noise". The encumbents still rule the roost at the moment and will do for some time. They're not threatened.

Skype perhaps has the authority position to be able to do some swaying, but it really does take 400m+ subscribers to achieve that in the absence of owning infastructure and spectrum.

My gut feeling is we will see the mobile operators moving over to data only plans to enable the types of services that you envisage, and enable those providers to build a real business out of it. And, as you say, whatever happens the consumer is in for a good ride in any event.

after talking about this new plan with a few friends who are heavy international callers i am wondering if this new plan is too expensive to attract any but the heavist users(who would not be profitable - or would maximize truphone termination bills) i have gotten a bit of feedback along the lines of 'why don't several of us pitch in toghether for one wifi phone with this plan that we share and get the most for our $40.00? i am wondering if a price point closer to $25.00 would not get 2 to 3 times as many subscribers but a similar number of total minutes terminated since it would attract more users with a 'moderate amount of monthly calling' instead onlky the heaviest callers; and users would be less likely to make calls for the sole purpose of 'getting their monies worth'

perhaps it would even make sense for truphone to halve both the montly price and the FUP allocation. 1500 minutes shuld be enough for most people; and the lower cost would attract many more subscribers.