In the contemporary era of global business, the ability to pick up a phone and dial anywhere in the world is a must for the modern executive. Whether it's calling Dubai to ensure that a bank transaction went through, hobnobbing with lobbyists in Washington or discussing corporate strategy with the head office in London, international communication is indispensable to the operation of modern business.
But the cost of international calls can add up quickly. Thankfully, options exist that can reduce the size of the bite these calls take out of your budget. Business Monthly reviews some of the most popular ones.
International calling subscription
International calling is available for both landlines and mobiles. While it might not be the cheapest way to make international calls, subscribing to international service on your landline or mobile guarantees you the ability to touch base with your contacts abroad at any time.
For now, at least, Telecom Egypt (TE) is the country's sole provider of international calling on fixed-line phones. It is available on any landline, though you must first sign up for the service, which can be done by visiting (or sending your delegated representative to) one of TE's central exchanges. Bring your identification (either a personal ID card, passport or army ID), documents proving your ownership of or residency in the property to which the phone line is registered, and the one-time subscription fee of LE 100. Once hooked up, which usually takes about a week, you will be able to make international calls - though you pay the full price.
All three of Egypt's mobile operators offer international calling. You do not need to subscribe to the service to make an international call if you use a pre-paid service. You will, however, need to make a deposit up to LE 1,000 if you are a post-paid user. In all cases, you pay the operator's rate of the international call, in addition to whatever they charge you per minute according to your subscription package.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony
The recent introduction of VoIP telephony in Egypt allows users to benefit from the cost-saving technology. Telecom Egypt offers VoIP through its 101 service, allowing users to make international calls on both their landlines and mobiles for a fraction of the cost. The catch is it only applies to the US, Canada and Europe, and only during specific times of the day, from 11pm to 7am.
Using a landline with an international calling service, simply replace the traditional 00 dialed to make an international call with 101, followed by the country code and telephone number. The 101 service can be used to contact both landlines and mobiles in the US and Canada, but only landlines in Europe.
The cost for this service is LE 0.90 per minute for the first minute and LE 0.15 for every additional 10 seconds. If subscribing for international service at home makes you nervous about someone running up unauthorized bills, TE offers pin-code protection.
If using the 101 service to make international calls off your mobile, the cost is LE 0.90 per minute plus the per-minute rate charged by your mobile provider.
International calling cards
Telecom Egypt offers prepaid calling cards, Marhaba and Marhaba Plus, which allow users to make international calls without subscribing to the international calling service. To use this service you dial the number on the back of the card and then follow the instructions. The cards - which come in denominations of LE 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100 - also help users to control how much they spend on international calling.
While both cards provide competitive rates, the Marhaba Plus card offers slightly cheaper rates, has better security features, and has the added convenience of compatibility with VoIP. By using the Marhaba Plus card to access 101 service, callers can call the US, Canada and Europe, between 11pm and 7am, for just LE 1.35 per minute. The reason why TE offers both Marhaba and Marhaba Plus cards for the same price is hard to fathom, as the latter would seem to offer far better value. You can only use these cards from a landline.
Another calling card option is the Super Card, a privately-operated service that can only be used from a landline. While the standard rates are higher than those offered by TE's Marhaba Plus Card, their VoIP service using 101 is cheaper. Using Super Card to the same destinations as above between 11pm and 7am will cost you 10 piastres less, coming in at LE 1.25 per minute. They also have a special rate for calling Arab countries, with special peak and off-peak minute rates.
Internet calls
Another alternative for making cost-effective international calls is through the Internet. Services such as Skype, MSN and Yahoo Messenger allow registered users to speak to one another over the Internet for free. Registration is free. All you need is a fast Internet connection and a microphone - an ADSL connection and a headset with a mic works best.
All of these VoIP services provide free internet voice and video calls from one user to another. But if you want to call a landline or a mobile from your PC, you'll need to buy credit. In most cases, a debit or credit card, or bank transfer can be used to purchase credit from the company's website.
The rates of these internet services are far cheaper than those offered by anyone in the Egyptian market. Skype, for instance, offers absurdly cheap calls from your computer in Egypt to a landline London, for just $0.02 (LE 0.15) per minute, plus a nominal connection fee.
Business owners interested in cutting down on their overhead can have their employees use Skype or a similar service to make international calls. New software tools make this easier. Skype's Business Control Panel is a free product that allows you to allocate calling credit among your employees and monitor your company's overall spending on calls. But other IT firms are attempting to penetrate the business market, so if you are considering using VoIP in your business, take time to explore the large variety of other available options.
There are, however, downsides to internet calling. In addition to frequent static on the line, there can also be an annoying lag in the conversation. With a faster internet connection comes better service.
Staying in touch with contacts abroad is a necessity of business today. While e-mail plays a large role in facilitating international business transactions, there is something comforting about being able to hear the voices of those you are dealing with. With several options available, often the one people choose depends on what they value most. International calling subscriptions offer the most convenience, while internet services such as Skype that offer video calling are ideal for those who like to speak face to face with their friends, family, colleagues and clients.
By Louis Wasser
© Business Monthly 2008
