Boxx Communications Ltd

Simplifying telecommunications for businesses large and small!

Voice

SIM Only Mobile Contracts – The benefits explained

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SIM Only Mobile Contracts - The benefits explained

These days a mobile phone is arguably as vital as a landline phone for businesses of all shapes and sizes – but that doesn’t mean you need to pay over the odds to have one…..

We find that many people and businesses are missing a trick and paying more than they need to for their mobile services, because they are not aware of SIM only contracts.

Despite their relatively low profile, SIM only mobile contracts have been around for a while and are actually very straightforward – you pay for just your SIM and the services you use, not a handset. It really does do exactly what is says on the tin! You can either use your existing handset, or buy a new one outright – but whichever option you take, the chances are that you will save ££££s a month!

While some people like the simplicity of a handset included contract, in reality you’re paying a heavy price for the convenience. A hefty part of each monthly contract payment goes straight to the handset supplier for giving you the phone in the first place. Take the handset out of the equation and you’ll be surprised how much data and minutes you get for little investment each month.

It is also worth considering that mobile contracts are increasingly for 18-24 months, effectively tying you to a higher monthly payment for longer – During which time at least one newer version of the phone that was ‘so cutting edge’ at the start of the contract, is likely to be released!

That’s not even mentioning how frustrating it is when you forget when your contract finishes and you realise that you could have upgraded or switched provider months ago but didn’t, throwing ££££s down the drain in the process. You may feel cheated as a consumer, but suppliers hope this will happen and are happy with the increased profits when it does – so why not choose an option that works best for you for a change…..?

Another beauty of the SIM only contract is that there is no tie-in period – you can simply give 30 days’ notice at any point and you’re free to go and take your number with you. It really is that simple. This flexible choice gives consumers the guarantee that if they see a better offer elsewhere they can simply leave, while at the same time incentivising suppliers to keep their prices as cheap as possible.

If you are happy to use your existing handset, or even if you are a gadget geek that ‘has to have’ the latest model as soon as it comes out so prefers to buy when they are released, you could switch to a SIM only deal where there is no long contract AND still pay much less each month.

If you need to get your mobile unlocked in order to switch to a new SIM, our recent blog will tell you how to do this, and don’t forget you can keep your existing number too.

Really, the only question that matters is what is stopping you switching right now….?

If you want to find out more, take a look at our website, or if you have any questions feel free to give us a call on 01908 350750 or contact us.

Changes to UK call rates

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Changes to UK call rates

From today Ofcom are changing the way that non-geographic numbers (NGNs) are charged in the UK…..

There’s lots of information available about the changes, but here’s a simple summary:

1) All 080x numbers will now be free to call from all UK destination, including mobiles.

2) If you own or operate an 0800 number, an additional charge will be generated for calls to that number to take into consideration that they are now free of charge from all platforms, including mobile operators.

3) To make the cost of calling 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers clearer, Ofcom have split the cost into two parts; a service charge and an access charge.

  • The service charge for numbers is set by the original range holder and remains the same regardless of where the call is made from.

  • The access charge is then applied by your telephony provider to deliver the call.

Your access charge from Boxx is 8p per minute.

4) Charging bands are no longer associated to the prefix. For example ‘0870’ is no longer associated with a national call rate.

All 084 and 087 numbers are now banded by their service charge ranging from 1-13p per minute.

  • 084 numbers are capped at 7p per minute

  • 087 numbers are capped at 13p per minute

The service charge for a number is dictated by the original range holder and has no bearing on the previous charge for the number i.e. a 5p per minute 0844 number may no longer be a 5p per minute service charge number under the new scheme.

5) Advertising rules have changed for 084, 087, 09 and 118 numbers, which must now advertised in the format,

Calls will cost you X pence per minute, plus your telephony company’s access charge.

To make it even easier to understand, Ofcom have produced the following video which is well worth a watch.

There is still a lot to digest though, so if you have any questions, you can either visit the UK Calling website or get in touch with us. We’ll be more than happy to talk you through it!

Tier 1 Carriers

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Tier 1 Carriers

At Boxx we use only Tier 1 carriers for our telephone services because that is simply the most reliable way of guaranteeing quality!

Chances are, anyone outside our industry has no idea what this means or why their use is so important, so we thought we’d write a handy explainer that makes this clear. Also, of course, it illustrates our company policy of working with only the best, which reaps constant benefits for all of our customers every minute of every day.

Tier 1 carriers own and operate their own telecoms network, meaning they don’t need to buy in or borrow key services such as network access from other operators as they are the top level. Owning their own network, they can host their own number ranges, as well as deliver their own voice and data services. BT is arguably the most well-known example of a Tier 1 carrier in the UK.

And, naturally, if Tier 1 carriers own their own networks, they are not relying on SLAs with other companies to run their services. Not only does this mean there are fewer middle-men between the Tier 1 source and you, the ultimate customer, it also means that they stake their reputation on doing what they do extremely well and without service interruption.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 carriers also exist, but by their very nature of not being the top level operator in any network, they are reliant for cost and reliability etc on a Tier 1 carrier, either by purchasing network access from them or by piggybacking on their services. This is why we choose to only deal with Tier 1 operators.

Reliability and quality of service aside, using a Tier 1 carrier has many benefits for our customers, including quick set up and package delivery times as they are in control of all the numbers hosted on their network. They are also regulated, and control the porting of their own numbers.

Being covered by Ofcom means that if a Tier 1 carrier went out of business for any reason, ownership of any numbers belonging to it would pass to the regulator with no loss of service – an important guarantee when telephone and internet lines are so critical to so many businesses.

They also commonly have large enough networks that they can re-route a call if a problem occurs in one area, and large and efficient customer service operations that deal with any queries quickly and promptly, with minimal delay

Put simply, Boxx uses Tier 1 carriers because they are the best, the premier option of telecoms networks, and we demand only the best for our customers!

UK Calling:

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UK Calling:

The biggest changes to calls in more than a decade will come into being later this year.

Calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers will become free from landlines and mobiles this summer, while clearer pricing for 08, 09 and 118 calls will also be put in place.

Landline and mobile phone companies are working with Ofcom on a six-month campaign, which launched this month (JAN) under the banner UK Calling, to explain the new changes to customers and consumers.

It is targeting landlines and mobile customers through paper and online bills, as well as text messages, customers magazines, social media updates and through adverts in high street stores. There will also be a prominent advertising campaign covering national newspapers, radio stations and online outlets.

Ofcom, the communications regulator, is co-ordinating the campaign, which is supported by the UK’s largest telephone providers BT, EE, O2, Sky, TalkTalk, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone. KC, the major operator in Kingston upon Hull, is also involved in the campaign about the changes, which will apply to all consumer mobile and landline phones in the UK.

Ed Richards, Chief Executive of Ofcom, said:

“For a long time there has been a lack of transparency in the cost of calling 08, 09 and 118 numbers. The existing rules are no longer serving the interests of consumers, or indeed phone companies. These changes will be very significant for UK telephone customers, and are designed to help build consumers’ confidence in using the full range of phone services. From next summer, service numbers will be advertised much more clearly, and phone bills will look a little different. We want telephone users to be comfortable with the changes, so we’ll be working closely with phone companies and consumer groups to get the message across as clearly as possible.”

There are two strands to the changes. Ofcom research has shown previously that consumers are confused about how much service numbers cost, and so the clearer call rates for numbers starting 084, 087, 09 or 118 are designed to improve confidence in using them.

Virtually every consumer in the country uses these so-called service numbers in some way, either to find out information or contacting businesses, government departments, or directory enquiry services. But callers to these numbers are not generally told how much they are being charged.

Under the new rules, which were designed by Ofcom, consumers using these numbers will see the cost split into an access charge going to their phone company, plus a service charge set by the company or organisation they are calling.

Phone companies will be responsible for setting their access charge, making it clear to consumers on their bills and informing new customers of the charge when they sign up to a contract.

Separately, the service provider- aka the party being contacted – will specify its service charge wherever it advertises its phone number.

This will make the overall cost easier to calculate, as well as enabling consumers to be able to compare the prices of different service providers more easily, and also choose a provider with a competitive access charge when signing up to a new landline or mobile deal.

At the same time, Freephone numbers which begin 0800 or 0808 will become free for consumers to call from mobile phones, just as they generally are from landlines.

The exact date that the changes come in has not yet been announced by Ofcom, but we will keep you posted!

Telephone Fraud: 6 Top Tips to Prevent It

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Telephone Fraud: 6 Top Tips to Prevent It

Security in the office and in businesses has traditionally centred around securing the physical building and internet connections, but phones too are an important consideration.

While a burglar can’t break in through your phone, or hackers download a virus that will paralyse your business, anyone breaking into your systems could also find personal or confidential information that could be used against you. They can also hijack your system to make a huge number of international or long distance calls, the cost of which you will have to bear.

Telephone fraud remains a significant crime that can harm your business’s finances and operations as well as damage your reputation. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it is a thing of the past overtaken by cyber crime – the National Fraud Authority had almost 500 reports in the year to July 2014, which had cost businesses more than £6m.

With this is mind, we have compiled a list of the best ways to make sure your telephone system is as secure as possible, to give you the best chance of avoiding being a victim of telephone fraud.

Securing your system is key, as this will be your strongest defence, as well as giving you confidence that calls are not being rerouted over a weekend, for example, when the office is not in use. So what practical measures can you take…?

  • Change default passwords or codes for system logins. Make them personal and not obvious (e.g. not 12345), and include letters and capitals if the system allows.

  • Change all passwords, on hardware and remote systems, several times a year.

  • Change the passwords of any staff who leave, so only current personnel and managers can access the system.

  • Talk to other businesses in your networks. If they’ve been a victim of fraud – and the National Fraud Authority estimates that one in four businesses were (of one type or another) in 2013 – what have they done to stop further occurrences and can you learn anything from them?

  • Consider using call blocking settings that limit long distance and international calling.

  • If you use internet-based calls such as Skype for video conferencing, for example, ensure your firewall and anti-virus software is up to date.

As with any type of fraud, being alert to the dangers and taking preventative measures is one of the best ways of minimising the chances of fraud happening to you or your company.

So take sensible measures and stay alert.

Here at Boxx we offer Fraud Aware protection to our customers as standard, for additional peace of mind. To find out more get in touch.

VoIP: An Introduction to Voice Over Internet Protocol

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VoIP: An Introduction to Voice Over Internet Protocol

Voice over Internet Protocol, more commonly known as VoIP, has revolutionised communication by allowing person-to-person calls over the internet, at a lower than usual price.

Communication is carried out through a VoIP specific handset, sometimes known as a SIP (Session Initiated Protcol) phone, which is connected to the internet. What makes VoIP so attractive is that it can be used exactly like as standard telephone line, or you can harness the power of the additional features to improve your call handling & monitoring.

VoIP is cheaper because it doesn’t make use of traditional telephone wires that are costly to lay and maintain.  It works by translating speech into data packets for transmitting across the internet (like any other file) and transforming it back to its usual form upon arrival.

We always recommend an assured broadband service with voice traffic prioritisation, to ensure calls are of the highest digital quality. This means that the voice signals travelling over the data connection will not be interrupted by other data travelling along the same data connection, thus affecting the quality of the call.

Using VoIP as a communications solution is very reliable and becoming a mainstay of office life. Statista, the website that draws references from hundreds of different sources, estimated VoIP use worldwide at more than 158 million mid 2013, with all predictions being that it will remain a fast-growing market (see findings here)

Boxx make integrating VoIP into your business really easy:

1) Choose a handset (wide range available)

2) Allow us to pre-configure the set-up so it fits your requirements

3) Plug into your broadband & you’re ready to go, it’s as simple as that!

If you are interested in finding out more about VOIP and how you could introduce the service into your business, simply contact us – a Brain Boxx will be happy to help!

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