[ILUG] Subscription ISDN ISPs

[Niall O Broin]

On Wed, Jan 23, 2002 at 12:53:09PM +0000, Liam Bedford wrote:

> > > Doesn't that 50% saving only apply to peak rate?  The only other reason you
> > > might want to go subscription is because most ISPs do not allow dual channel
> > > on a non-subscription (Unison is the only one I know which does)
> > 
> > AFAIK it applies to peak and off-peak rate (saving may be slightly less
> > off-peak) and anyway most of my usage is during peak rate - I work from home
> I've had this argument with lots of people... AFAIK, ringing
> 1891 makes peak units 7.5 mins, and off-peak units 15 mins. Or at least
> that's the way it used to work until they brought in their wacky by the
> second call charges...
> 
> So off-peak it makes no difference, and on peak it drops the price a lot
> (7.5 mins as opposed to 3, or using 2 units in 15 mins as opposed to 5).


O.K. straight from the horse's arse, so to speak (this is an extract from a
document I got from Eircom's web site)

     	      	       	       	   Customer Dialled Calls

                                       Part 2.1

                                     Call Charges

                              Pence Per   Minimum    Price per    Price per
                              Second      Fee (1)    minute (2)   minute (2)

                              (cents per             (Ex. VAT)    (incl. VAT
                              second) (1)                         at 20%)

     Local

     Daytime                  0.0550      4.13p      3.30p        3.96p

                              (0.0698)    (5.24c)    (4.19c)      (5.03c)

     Evening                  0.0137      4.13p      0.83p        0.99p

                              (0.0174)    (5.24c)    (1.05c)      (1.26c)

     Weekend                  0.0137      4.13p      0.83p        0.99p

                              (0.0174)    (5.24c)    (1.05c)      (1.26c)

     Internet 1891

     Daytime                  0.0211      4.13p      1.27p        1.52p

                              (0.0268)    (5.24c)    (1.61c)      (1.93c)


     Evening                  0.0105      4.13p      0.63p        0.76p

                              (0.0133)    (5.24c)    (0.80c)      (0.97c)


     Weekend                  0.0105      4.13p      0.63p        0.76p

                              (0.0133)    (5.24c)    (0.80c)      (0.97c)


As you can see, during peak time 1891 numbers are > 50% cheaper than local
calls (AFAIK 1890 numbers are charged at local call rates - they're just a
means of giving ISPs one access number for everywhere) and off peak they're
< 25% cheaper but still cheaper. Minimum charge for either is 6.288c incl.
VAT so diald / ISDN setups for auto off should be different for 1891 numbers
than for local - once you make a 1891 call you've paid for 195 seconds
(peak) but for a local/1890 call you've only paid for 75 seconds.

Perhaps this can kill this particular discussion, at least until Eircon
change their rates AGAIN.



Niall