f2s - introduction of freedom2talk

[richard_f2s]

Some of you may notice some changes on the f2s website today...

We're introducing freedom2talk which is a CPS (Carrier Pre-Select) telephony product. From today new customers will have the option of adding freedom2talk to their broadband packages at the point of order (there are two options we're providing, one which provides 500 minutes of FREE UK calls to 01 and 02 number ranges and a second which for £4.99 per month provides 3000 minutes of talk time to UK 01 and 02 number ranges).

From next week we will complete the launch of this new product and will provide the ability for existing freedom2surf ADSL subscribers to add one of the above packages to their subscription.

The sharper eyed amongst you will also note that the ability to reserve a freedom2phone 0845 VoIP number has been removed from the sign-up process. We will be winding down (over a period of three months) the f2s VoIP service and freedom2talk effectively replaces it.

Fuller details and official launch PR will be going out on Monday.

[kmount]

Interesting Looks promising.

I would advise the web developer to alter the text in the 3000 minutes option as it says "FREE 3000 minutes" which isn't accurate when compared with the free 500 package which is free!

Thats the pedant in me!

[Nick A J]

So is this the first sign of the VOIP bubble bursting?

[acidtechno]

I'll look forward to hearing more details because I'm confused at the moment how this works with a BT number. I suppose you dial a special number before you phone the number you are calling? so what, all F2S customers can enjoy 500 minutes of free calls a month to 01 and 02 ranges?

[kmount]

No, it says elsewhere you don't need to prefix.

[acidtechno]

Originally Posted by richard_f2s

CPS (Carrier Pre-Select) telephony product.

I thought pre-select indicates you would have to phone a prefix.

[richard_f2s]

No - there are two forms, the first does require predialling an access number. In this case you maintain a billing relationship with BT. The second, which freedom2talk uses does not require a pre-dial and your billing relationship with BT changes - you'll continue to pay BT line rental but all call billing is carried out by freedom2surf.

[thraxas]

Looks interesting, and cheaper than what I am using at the moment.

I do have a question about leaving the service. I am considering getting a MAC if tiscali take over as they are the worse company I have ever dealt with. How will migrating away from f2s affect this service. I note in the faq it says I would have to send a letter.

[acidtechno]

nice and clear, thanks rich.

[Justin]

Tiscali hasn't happened yet, we've all heard rumours but it could still fall through etc or may not even be as far along as some are saying.

[richard_f2s]

Originally Posted by thraxas

Looks interesting, and cheaper than what I am using at the moment.

I do have a question about leaving the service. I am considering getting a MAC if tiscali take over as they are the worse company I have ever dealt with. How will migrating away from f2s affect this service. I note in the faq it says I would have to send a letter.

Thraxas - to have freedom2talk you're required to have a f2s ADSL connection. However, it's easy enough to cancel freedom2talk either by contacting us or automatically if you migrate away. In both cases your phone line billing will revert to BT.

[elrandom3]

If we sign up to freedom2talk, can we get a cheaper way of phoning f2s sales/support etc? Pretty please?

[John]

Why are you ending the VOIP package, im just starting to use it more as its a very handy tool and i'm sure that many others will be annoyed such as those that have purchased the billion VOIP routers.

[Steve_East9]

Planet Talk CPS ('Primus Save Option 2') already provides UNLIMITED calls to 01/02 numbers local and national FREE for evenings and weekends with NO monthly or any other charge.

When combined with a free registration with www.1899.com - all weekday daytime calls via 1899 are ZERO p per minute per call anywhere in the UK 01/02 numbers for a 5p connection charge ONLY. They also charge 3ppm for any mobile calls at weekends and 6ppm any time 00.01 monday to 00.00 friday.

People wanting to find out all the cheapest ways to call should consult www.moneysavingexpert.com

I'm happy to have my F2s broadband (until/if TalkTalk get their act together) but they just cant compete on phone call costs.

NB: Who cares if f2s are ditching VOIP - Skype is free and all messengers (Yahoo/MSN etc) enable free VOIP pc-pc calls now anyway. Plus googling 'Voip' you can set up your own VOIP calling with open source (free) software.

[John]

Sheer convienience, its auto bills my account, and works and its a true SIP VOIP so i can use it with my Siemens telephone handsets that I have

[Steve_East9]

Originally Posted by acidtechno

I thought pre-select indicates you would have to phone a prefix.

'Carrier Pre Select' means that all directly dialled calls go through that pre-selected carrier but your line rental stays with your (usually BT) existing line supplier.

[Steve_East9]

Originally Posted by thraxas

Looks interesting, and cheaper than what I am using at the moment.

It's still more expensive than Planet Talk's Primus Saver Option 2, and their Saver Option 3 gives you literally unlimited 24/7 calls to any 01/02 number.

Martyn Lewis' www.moneysavingexpert.com is still far and away the best site to visit for a simple explanation of the cheapest phone costs, with or without broadband/tv/mobile etc and he highlights packages that are deliberately NOT advertised by their suppliers because they only promote their 'premium' services. Primus Saver Option 2 is a 'prime' example.
His is also the ONLY site that tells you which utility 'switcher' actually PAYS you money when you switch suppliers.

[Steve_East9]

Originally Posted by richard_f2s

No - there are two forms, the first does require predialling an access number. In this case you maintain a billing relationship with BT. The second, which freedom2talk uses does not require a pre-dial and your billing relationship with BT changes - you'll continue to pay BT line rental but all call billing is carried out by freedom2surf.

It's a pity your website says something completely DIFFERENT - ie that BOTH the packages will operate via Carrier PreSelect (CPS).

[aos101]

Originally Posted by Steve_East9

It's a pity your website says something completely DIFFERENT - ie that BOTH the packages will operate via Carrier PreSelect (CPS).

No Richard is right. Notice he says "The second, which freedom2talk uses does not require a pre-dial ".

[wfnuk]

It wouldn't take too many days to use up 3000 minutes in this household!

We use BT Together Option 3 which gives free calls (of up to 1 hour duration) 24/7 to fixed landline numbers. As BT reduced the price to £7.95 per month (+ line rental) from June 1st, this overall would work out a lot cheaper per month than the F2S 'offering' - at least in this house!

[Steve_East9]

Originally Posted by aos101

No Richard is right. Notice he says "The second, which freedom2talk uses does not require a pre-dial ".

I'm sorry but the ANNOUNCEMENT and the home page refer to CARRIER PRE-SELECT for both the 500 free minutes AND the 3000 (£4.99) minutes.

That means that they are BOTH Carrier Pre Select and CPS involves NO pre code dialing.

1. Top of this thread:

freedom2surf Staff

richard_f2s's Avatar

Join Date: May 2006

f2s - introduction of freedom2talk
Some of you may notice some changes on the f2s website today...

<u><strong>We're introducing freedom2talk which is a CPS (Carrier Pre-Select) telephony product.</strong></u> From today new customers will have the option of adding freedom2talk to their broadband packages at the point of order (there are two options we're providing, one which provides 500 minutes of FREE UK calls to 01 and 02 number ranges and a second which for £4.99 per month provides 3000 minutes of talk time to UK 01 and 02 number ranges).

2. Home Page of f2s in the 'How does it work':
Save a small fortune on phone calls. Here's how...

Phone anyone in the UK on a landline for up to two hours at a time and we won't charge you a penny for the call, provided you don't exceed your monthly free minutes entitlement.

<u><b>There's no prefix to dial </b></u>and you don't have to change phone number, install any equipment or change your line. In fact, after sign-up you don't have to do anything!

That means very simply BOTH packages are CPS and ALL calls made (without using any other provider's pre-dialler or dialling 1280 for a BT Line Rental customer to divert a call via BT) go through f2s over and above the 500 mins/3000mins packages.

[aos101]

Originally Posted by Steve_East9

I'm sorry but the ANNOUNCEMENT and the home page refer to CARRIER PRE-SELECT for both the 500 free minutes AND the 3000 (£4.99) minutes.

That means that they are BOTH Carrier Pre Select and CPS involves NO pre code dialing.

Isn't that what Richard said? Where did he say otherwise?

[Steve_East9]

Originally Posted by aos101

Isn't that what Richard said? Where did he say otherwise?

Well you must have difficulty reading what you wrote because you confirmed that one is pre-dial the other isnt.
This is what Richard said:

Originally Posted by richard_f2s
No - there are two forms, the first does require predialling an access number. In this case you maintain a billing relationship with BT. The second, which freedom2talk uses does not require a pre-dial and your billing relationship with BT changes - you'll continue to pay BT line rental but all call billing is carried out by freedom2surf.

So goodness knows what going on here because if you READ the announcement at the top of this thread and the f2s Home page (I don't need to copy n paste them AGAIN do i???) there is NO reference to pre-dialing an access code of any kind.

[aos101]

Richard was replying to this post where acidtecho thought Carrier Pre-Select meant you would need to dial a number first. Richard replied saying there are two ways of doing it - one where you have to dial a number, and one where you don't (which F2S use). By "forms" Richard wasn't referring to the F2S products, but different ways of making calls.

[nemesis]

On a lighter note...From my experience CPS is a good trouble free service. I am Technical Support for Virgin Media and I very rarely see any problems with the service.