IP phones avail free long-distance calls
22/8/2003 15:05
Shanghai-based Pacific Life Insurance has installed 700-plus Internet
Protocol phones in its headquarters and 11 branches nationwide, a phoning system
that is gaining popularity with corporate users, today's Shanghai Morning Post
reported.
The popularity becomes from its cheap cost, as the system has saved
Pacific Life, for example, about 40,000 yuan (US$4,840) each month for
long-distance calls within the company, according to an official surnamed Kong
with company's IT department.
The company is paying these long-distance calls
at the in-city call rates, because the Internet-based phoning system only
charges the Internet accessing service.
Unlike the traditional long-distance
calls, which go through phone cables, the IP system carries the voice through
the broadband network and is exempted from extra telecom fees.
As a new
product in China, there's no rule governing IP phones, especially in the
functions availing cheaper services than the traditional landline telecom
business.
In that case, the new system is not illegal, according to officials
with Shanghai Telecom Co., only operator of the local landline phoning
services.
In challenge by the IP telecom technology, the company seems like
on the hot pot but has found no way out.
Currently, all IP phones on China's
market are supplied by US-based Sisco Systems Inc or China's telecom equipment
giant Huawei Technologies Co.
Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news
|
