Is it fair to call it 'Flat Rate'?

drjolt

Originally posted by bk
He is right, any telco engineer (including ones who are friendly to our cause) will tell you that the PSTN network simply isn't designed for this sort of usage.

PSTN is a circut switched network which means when you connect to the netweork you get a dedicated connection to a port. Since there are limited number of ports and if people are connected to the ports for a long length of time, then you will eventually run out of ports and people are going to get engaged tones.

It's not that it's wrong thinking, just limited thinking. After all, there are a fixed number of ports on a DSLAM too.

MDR

So bealtine, tell us all how you are going to help IOFFL achieve its goals?

Very little I should imagine, its far more fun to bitch and moan, about corrupt politicians and the evil Eircom.

bealtine

quote:
What do you mean by we have? Unless your a reincarnation, you've only been on boards since June and posted a measly few times.

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By "we" I meant the people around here.

And fwiw I've been a member of IOFL since its inception.
So in many ways yes I am a reincarnation:-)

If you feel that correcting misconceptions about FRIACO is whining then fair enough, I however feel it proper to correct those
misconceptions and maybe I am flogging a dead horse but I dont know until I guage the temperature.


quote:

1) FRIACO
2) Cheaper DSL
3) Some great USO submissions and presentations to the Government.
4) Increased awareness of IOFFL and the issues amongst the government and public.

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I agree these things have been achieved mostly through the hard work of IOFL but while dsl is the plaything of the few we are
dangerously close to creating a "digital divide". This is something
imho that needs to be avoided at all costs.

The attitude of the wireless companies is rather shortsighted at this time. A small corner of South Dublin doesnt really equate to
nationwide coverage...
So the "culchees" have to wait and in the meantime they pay through the nose...


I've read the IOFL response to the USO and agree with it.

quote:

BB isn't just going to appear over the country overnight, it just isn't going to happen.

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exactly it will probably never happen. Therefore there may be some mileage in flogging the dead FRIACO horse?

quote:

So bealtine, tell us all how you are going to help IOFFL achieve its goals?

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What do you suggest ? I'm certainly willing to help in any way I can.

gombín

quote:

_________________________________________
There are 10,000 exchanges or so in the country.

Eh.... Bealtaine? There are nothing near 10,000 exchanges in the country. The figure is 1,100 approx.

bealtine

quote:


There are 10,000 exchanges or so in the country.

Eh.... Bealtaine? There are nothing near 10,000 exchanges in the country. The figure is 1,100 approx.

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Good point :-)
I slipped an extra zero in there by accident...

Capt'n Midnight

From this I take it UTV should refer to thier product as "Partly Flat Rate" - but are they getting unmetered internet from Eircom ?

Internet offers should have a proper price notifications - not a terms and conditions catch all - since these are new products you can't resonably expect customers to be aware of the terms and conditions - especially since they do not adhere to the UK / EU / interntional norms (where Flat rate means no hidden charges..)
eg:
From €99 per month or
€99 per month * extra charges may apply

SOME Definitions FROM http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/internet/internet_brief/broad0603.htm

13.2 FRIACO (Flat Rate Internet Access Call Origination)

FRIACO is an unmetered wholesale product that allows other network operators to offer their own unmetered Internet access products in competition with BT. The UK was the first European country to introduce FRIACO, following a direction by Oftel in May 2000, and it has led to some of the cheapest prices for Internet access in the world. Around six and a half million UK homes now use unmetered Internet access.


11. Current narrowband products

There are a number of dial-up Internet access packages available to both residential and business consumers. These include:

Metered ('pay-as-you-go') Subscription + cost of calls or No subscription - cost of calls only

Partly unmetered Subscription + free usage at certain times/for a certain amount of time + call costs at other times

Fully unmetered Subscription + unlimited free usage + no call costs

ps. bealtine if you are only 30km from city centre check out www.irishwan.org/board & www.dublinwan.org

sceptre

FYI, I've updated what is now the "Partly unmetered 56k/ISDN" sticky with the details of the new products (thought I'd post in here - it hardly warrants a new thread).

Those complaining about the new title may read Capn' Midnight's last post with the definitions and mine on the first page of this thread in relation to pizza.

Feel free to carry on discussion in this thread - I'm not changing the title of the sticky back to include the term "Flat Rate" though. Especially not while the ASAI concurs with my position that any product that can incur further charges over the quoted price under any circumstances cannot be advertised or classified as a flat rate product.