PBX: What is needed to run a Calling Card Business

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Requirements to set-up a Calling Card Company?

In the originating location you need local numbers to call otherwise known as DIDs. (VocalScape can provide DID’s for calling card companies on a per minute usage and affordable low flat fee in the US and Canada. Clients would need to locate DID providers within their own Countries. In cases where a DID is unavailable, utilizing the inbound telephone numbers of a Call Shop or Call Center is possible for achieving the same effect.)
A VoIP Management System, including Billing Server, Soft switch, and Web server for Interfaces, Calling Card System Licenses, Soft phone License, and Transaction Processing (Ecommerce)
Collocation of the servers or high speed internet access (t1/e1, or SDSL)
PRi line is only needed if you are connecting directly to the PSTN, if you are using a DID provider who converts the traffic from PSTN to IP for you, then it is not necessary to incur this expense. (ALL OF THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH AN ITSP AS WELL!)
Contracts with carriers and A-Z providers, VocalScape often supplies A-Z providers as part of the VoIP Management System purchase provided a prepaid deposit is made.
Technical Staff and Support is required to launch a VoIP Calling Card Business. VoIP Networks require the support and assistance of a Telecommunications Engineer. With the various CODECs, PROTOCALs, and TESTING that occurs in VoIP, it is an ongoing necessity. A technical staff member can also better communicate with the VocalScape support team to avoid incurring increased support costs.
Localization Costs are an additional cost for changing the Voice Response (IVR) Prompts within the calling card system to accommodate other languages for running a truly global calling card business. Localization would include translation, recording, and in some cases currency conversion, but most firms either work on a USD, Pound Sterling or EURO currency conversion.

VocalScape is capable of organizing and deploying all 7 aspects for a Calling Card Business.

How the System Works For the End User

1. The customer signs-up online to receive a virtual calling card PIN or purchases a Calling card from an agent or Vendor partner

2. The customer dials a local number (DID) or toll-free access number posted online or shown on the calling card.

3. The call is converted from the telephone network to the Internet via the gateway or soft switch connect to the number dialed, Voice Prompts request a PIN, inform of the balance, and send the call through the VoIP Management System

4. The process of Authenticating the PIN is complete, the call is authorized and the number is dialed. The call is connected to the A-Z termination provider and sent from the internet and converted to the telephone network at the termination end. (Or sent to an IP Phone or Soft phone.)

5. The call duration is logged real time for the billing server and accounting. The end user will be able to log-in online and view their account balance, calls made, and recharge. Upon approaching the prepaid amount, both Voice Prompts and Email notices are used to notify the end user.

FOR A QUOTE ON A CALLING CARD SYSTEM CONTACT GIBSON@VOCALSCAPE.COM

There are many successful companies globally profiting from calling card systems. The majority of them use old telco switch technology that is much more costly than a VoIP solution.

For your own interest, here is a list of all of the companies who have launched Calling Card Companies in North America and make up the majority of the Communications market over the last 5 years.

1. The Calling Card Business I suggest when looking to launch the calling card business you know the following: 1. What channels will you be distributing through? 2. How many calling cards do you think you will sell and the number of concurrent calls? 3. What type of activation fee will be required? 4. Will you create custom calling plans (sell preset number of minutes per region for one flat value) 5. Are the calling cards for just specific regions or A-Z? (A-Z means every Country in the world from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe etc) 6. Are you going to have local numbers, 800 numbers, etc for them to call? 7. What interval will you be billing in? Per minute, per 2 minutes, etc. 8. Will you prematurely disconnect calls, give notice of disconnection, not allow calls at a certain minimum value in the card? 9. Will you require special billing for phone-shops or phone booths? 10. Will you require certain taxes being added to the call? 11. Will you require expiration dates for minutes purchased? 3 months, 6 months, 12 months? 12. Will you require fraud triggers for refilling the account? (Demanding written signatures from clients to be faxed in before refilling to avoid fraud.) Once again, rate plans need to be put together. The majority of calling cards are based on ethnic focuses, such as the Latin America Calling Card, Eastern Europe Calling Card, etc.

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PBX

August 2006

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VOIP

November 16, 2005

What is needed to run a Calling Card Business

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