Quote:


But call18866 could easily handle 5 million customers tomorrow without overloading the call centre or the email response times since they already don't provide any form of voice or email customer support.

All they would need is some more telephone bandwidth and a bigger customer billing computer to handle the additional automated bill emails.

But if they are freeriding on the back of another bigger and more serious business telecoms company their growth in customer numbers beyond a certain level will simply be unsustainable.

Quote:


But lately call18866 have been refusing to take on new customers which seems to confirm my point about there being a limit to the number of daily telephone calls that their current business model (almost certainly involving another more conventional business telecoms call carrier as well) is able to sustain.

Also offering a CPS service probably requires your telecoms business to be legally based in the UK, which call18866 almost certainly is not.

But as the old saying goes "never look a gift horse in the mouth".

Does anyone know why 18866 has a 5 digit access code where as all other suppliers (that I know of) only have a 4 digit access code? Is there a cost associated with it and is it cheaper?

Quote:

If you've got the time, try:

http://www.ukphoneinfo.com/search/Phones/oftel_cl_s10_code-3.html

There is a combined listing for Connect Telecom and Call18866 here:-

www.magsys.co.uk/telecom/opnotes.htm

This lists an 0844 contact number that in fact only has the same effect as entering 18866 on your own 18866 registered BT line and waiting 10 seconds.  That is you reach the 18866 automated account holder system.  The only difference is you pay 5p for dialling the 0844 number.

Onetel Directory Enquiries list two companies on a nationwide number search that more or less match the description Connect Telecom:-

These are:-

Connect Communications - Setford

01366 728658

They were constantaly engaged when I called

and

Connect International - Cambridge

01223 353469

They answered but claimed that the company was closing down its business and about to relocate to France.  Could this I wonder be them?  Should I perhaps have asked to speak to Darren Thomas.

The plot thickens.

18866 certainly doesn't seem to want their customers to track them down.

Looking up Connect Telecom UK Ltd on the Companies House Website gives:

CONNECT TELECOM UK LIMITED
12 SHEET STREET
WINDSOR
BERKSHIRE SL4 1BG
Company No. 04198443
Date of Incorporation: 11/04/2001
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
15/05/2001 WEB.COMS LIMITED


You can get more information if you are prepared to pay.

I've tried directory enquiries and no listing

Lets not get carried away here.  When 18866 first came out they were charging 1 p connection fee.  I now realise that they are charging a 2 p connection fee.  That is a 100% jump in charges.  Therefore it seems evident that this was a loss leader.

Given that it is now possible for those citizens with an existing domestic BT analogue landline to get a combined line rental and unlimited UK standard land line calls (any number beginning 01 or 02) for £19.50 per month (see www.lowerhomebills.co.uk) it makes 18866 a less attractive offer.

If you make more than 475 calls per month, which is about 15 calls per day, 18866 will be more expensive. 

So you pays your money and takes your choice 

I think the other point is that call18866 probably don't want to get many more new customers for now as there is clearly a finite capacity to the cheap calls pipe that they are riding on the back of.   If this wasn't true they would clearly advertise their service in a meaningful way and try to obtain as many new customers as they possibly could.

So having captured all the customers they want for the time being they might as well squeeze a little more profit out of them.  And they know that most of them will find 2p rather than 1p a call something that they have to live with.