UTV Talk - too good to be true?

[Kaiser2000]

Hi folks,

Dunno if you've seen this yet: http://u.tv/talk/talk.asp?loc=ie

Basically.... (quoting from the site):

Simply call any local or national number throughout Ireland or UK during the evening or at the weekend and providing your call lasts no longer than one hour you will be charged absolutely nothing - FREE!.

and they even list the workaround to being charged after the hour:

Want to make a longer call? Simply hang up before the hour's up and call back!!!

What I've also discovered:

- No setup fee
- Existing UTV (ClickSilver) customers will be sent an email in the next few days offering a migration path.
- 12 month contract - but this is seperate to your Clicksilver contract (ie: it won't be extended by availing of this offer).
- No eircom line rental - you now pay UTV (is this full LLU??)

Mods, feel free to move if in the wrong place, but I thought I'd let people know and get some feedback - IS this too good to be true?

[full forward]

for the FAQ...
Is there a minimum call charge?
Yes, the minimum call change is 5.7c (inc VAT), a saving of 10% off the standard Eircom charge of 6.26c.

Still sounds good though.

[Kaiser2000]

Originally Posted by full forward

for the FAQ...
Is there a minimum call charge?
Yes, the minimum call change is 5.7c (inc VAT), a saving of 10% off the standard Eircom charge of 6.26c.

Still sounds good though.

yea thats what I was thinking... probably should have been clearer, I meant setup fee as in migration fee

Will know more when the email arrives tho I hope

[Cuauhtemoc]

Basically what it is then is for €24.18 per month you get your line rental and unlimited off peak calls as long as you redial after each hour of talking.

There is no minimum call setup charge for this. That only applies to peak rates according to the website.

[jwt]

Does this include internet numbers? i.e. not the 1890 ones but the local pop number?

John

[Blaster99]

Their other rates are fairly uncompetitive so that's where they're hoping to make money presumably. But if 1890 numbers are free as well you can combine this with Telestunt and get free calls to lots of destinations and if 0818 numbers are free you get free calls to Irish mobiles as well...

[Blaster99]

Not very likely, looks like they charge the same as Eircom for "nongeographic" calls.

[govinda]

Originally Posted by Blaster99

Their other rates are fairly uncompetitive so that's where they're hoping to make money presumably. But if 1890 numbers are free as well you can combine this with Telestunt and get free calls to lots of destinations and if 0818 numbers are free you get free calls to Irish mobiles as well...

http://u.tv/talk/pricing.asp?loc=ie

All calls to Non Geographic,Internet, Premium Rate, International Mobiles: Same as eircom

[Mr_Man]

Does anyone know if the issue about Eircom removing the phone book entry of people who use LLU, been resolved ?

M.

[To_be_confirmed]

Excuse me, but could anyone explain to the idiots i.e. me what LLU is?

[Moriarty]

This isn't LLU (Local Loop Unbundling), it's WLR (Wholesale Line Rental). The other telcos rent each phone line off eircom for a monthly fee. All traffic is still carried completely over eircom's network. WLR is, more or less, a marketing gimmick so that any telco can charge you line rental aswell as any calls you make instead of eircom. Eircom no longer send you any bills.

[Moriarty]

Oh, and moving this over to the nets/comms forum too.

[Tom Dunne]

Originally Posted by To_be_confirmed

Excuse me, but could anyone explain to the idiots i.e. me what LLU is?

Don't listen to the voices in your head, you are not an idiot.

LLU is short for Local Loop Unbundling. The local loop, sometimes called the last mile, is the length of wire between your house and the telephone exchange. Unbundling in this case means that companies other than Eircon can in theory own the last mile and charge you line rental on it. In reality, Eircon own the wire and other companies just pass the cost along to you.

It is intended to stimulate competition in the telecoms marketplace.

[To_be_confirmed]

Oh rite! I didnt make the connection between Local Loop unbundling and LLU
I'm familiar with Local Loop unbundling but I can't imagine it working as engineers from different companies will be maintaining the same equipment, e.g poles, large cables which would carry the lines of many companies.
The "Irish" solution is of course to allow €ircom "manage" the lines.

[Paddy20]

As a disabled/housebound person my line rental is paid for by the state to EirCon.

UTV are now working on enabling the disabled EirCoN "Free line rental" individuals/customers in the Republic, to be able to sign up for this brilliant new telecoms innovation

So, it looks as though at last. I will be able to finally kick EirCoN's arse right out of my home ?.. HeeeHee, If I was allowed to drink I would get pissed out of my brain.