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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Hi Bret – OT in
that it’s not asterisk specific though the application is being delivered
on an Asterisk server.</span></font> <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold'>>>>>>></span></font></b>900
numbers arent portable. If a customer disputes the charges, its generally
on the service provider to goto collections, which can suck all the remaining
profit out. Carriers take a huge percentage of the per minute rate.
There are laws regarding the advertising of the number and the first minute of
the call, both FCC and FTC. Most mobile phones cant call premium numbers
as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>>>>>> </span></font></b><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'>I would estimate 95% of all calls will be delivered via mobiles
(if that makes a difference to the termination arbitrage charges) as the
'locations' will be in public spaces.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
</span></font><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>>>>>> </span></font></b>if
they are real people calling for a real service its not arbitrage.
Arbitrage is the act of buying and selling at the same time on the same item
for a profit. Its more common in the stock market community, where the
same thing (future, stock, etc) is sold on 2 different markets at the same time
and there is a price difference. Since phone minutes are effectively a
commodity it applies there too, but only if the same person buys and sells the
same minute at the same time (ie they call themselves). Arbitrage however
has a negative connotation now due to the lawsuits, even though in 2004 the FCC
ruled that its not illegal. Its generally frowned upon in the industry
since it angers people and generally causes problems. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>True it’s
not Arbitrage in the true sense of the word BUT when you consider most mobile
plans are flat rate (or near enough to it at 1000-2000 minutes a month) so not
costing the user anything extra a month but we as the application
provider can still get paid – this is a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold'>>>>>>>>>>
</span></font></b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Does anyone have some preferred vendors
they would recommend? My issue is that I'd like each 5 minute interaction to
top out at a fixed amount so people participating in the interactions on their
mobile don't get 'sticker' shock when they see the bill (which is why I was
hoping to fund it on arbitrage long distance calls alone with no premium rate
services).</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
</span></font><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>>>>>> </span></font></b>assuming
they have a mobile that can call premium numbers, some states mandate equal
access in that regard some dont comment on it, you could. Premium SMS
would be a way to fund it on a mobile since in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">america</st1:place></st1:country-region> most cant call premium
numbers. You could have a flat rate associated with it if you wanted,
either premium number or premium SMS. The SMS can be billed when you send
or the call can be per call not per minute. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
</span></font><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>>>>>> </span></font></b>Expect
the carriers to take more than their fair share of the revenue generated for
either premium numbers or SMS. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<b><font color=black><span style='color:black;font-weight:bold'>I’m very
familiar with premium SMS as I used to represent <a
href="http://www.tractionplatform.com/">www.TractionPlatform.com</a> here in
the USA but SMS is not suitable as we need real time DTMF interaction for a 1
to 5 minute period. </span></font><o:p></o:p></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Are
there any 900 service providers you would recommend? The fact they are not
transferable worries me as this would mean we need to choose carefully upfront
as not to get screwed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Any
ideas on revenue splits from the various rate plans they may offer?<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>Thanks in
advance for your help.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Cheers,<br>
Dean<font color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></b></p>
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