Open Architecture Computer Telephony Servers and Tools

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MAKING MONEY OPERATING A PREMIUM RATE LINE SERVICE

What Is a Premium Rate Line?

Until a few years ago, the cost of making a call was born by the person initiating the contact - unless a reverse charge agreement had been made with the operator. The cost of the call was based on the distance, which in general meant the longer the distance the higher the cost. Today this is no longer the case as both the cost, and who pays, is subject to a multiplicity of options. 0800 numbers were some of the earliest options, where the receiver of the call automatically accepted the charge for the call. Later the 03XX numbers were introduced which enabled the receiver of the call to set the (higher) rate for the call. These are the so called, Premium Rate services.

The Premium Rate Line is a telephone number which, if anyone calls they will be charged at a fixed rate per minute chosen by the recipient of the call - the Information Service Provider. In the UK typical numbers begin with 0336, 0374 etc. The rates vary depending on the service and typical values are 50p, £1, and £1.50 per minute. The telephone company subtracts the standard rate cost of the call, and the rest of the money is paid to you. A Premium rate line is the same as a normal telephone line, which means that your telephone supplier does not have to install special connections to your home/office. Standard telephone sockets are used.

The Information Service Provider can either collect information from a caller - or provide information to the caller - but remember, it is always the caller who pays for the call! The Service can be based on, automated voice or real voice; it can be FAX on demand, or simply the caller ringing up to record a message, such as the answer to a quiz or the position of a rare bird! (If you run a club this is a great way of generating funds).

A Telephone Response System is required at the Information Service Provider's end to operate the service. This is simply an IBM PC Compatible with the relevant software and hardware to enable it to communicate with the caller over the telephone system. (This is NOT rocket science!) .

The sort of things it can do are:

Answer calls with a synthesised voice and record messages from callers
Answer calls with synthesised voice and using the callers telephone key pad to select messages, or documents to be downloaded
Fax-back specific documents from specific numbers called.

The applications are endless - even a hobby can be turned into a money spinner. A few are examples listed below. The opportunities are endless.

Application Examples

FAX BACK

Joke Lines Fax-back
Weather Fax on Demand
Auction Lists
Repossession Lists
Maps
Astrology
Sporting Results
Last Minute Holiday Offers
Back Issues - linked to magazines
Directories
Component Catalogues
Reports
Travel Information

VOICE RESPONSE

BIRD Spotting Line (two way)
Quiz Line
TV or Radio Programme Response Line
Chat Lines
Tarot

How do I get started?

Your telephone company will supply you with some normal telephone lines. You will need to open a business account with them. (The number of lines you need depends on how many calls you want to accept without someone getting an engaged tone…. more on this later) So this gives you your physical telephone connection between your operational centre and the telephone company. The telephone company will then provide you with a service called 'Call Delivery to Number', which basically means they assign to you a telephone number. Now whenever anyone calls your telephone number, it will ring on one of your telephone lines. The difference is that when someone calls that number, they get charged at the rate of 50p, £1, or £1.50 per minute. All you need to do is provide the computer system attached to the line to answer the call. For example the Chelston CallHandler System will provide a fax-back service where you can customise documents that are faxed to the caller.

Who supplies Premium Rate Lines

In the UK British Telecom supply Premium Rate Lines, as do a significant number of independent Network providers (See the Oftel Site for Further information on the Independents). BT have a division called 'Value Call' which deals solely with Premium Rate telephone numbers. Their telephone number is 0808 100 1293. Decide how many lines you want to run and ask them for a quotation.

How many Lines do I need?

This all depends on the amount of telephone traffic you expect. In a normal 10 hour day, a single line can handle 60 x 5 minute calls comfortably – this allows for spacing of calls. So, four lines can handle 240 calls per day. Typical systems range from one line to many, many thousand! If you need more lines don't worry, telephone companies, such as BT, have an infinite supply of lines, the limitation is the number of lines your Telephone Response System (PC) can cope with.