Long distance charges

[Wilbour]

Let me know if I have this correct

Student studies in another city within Canada so their cell # is for that town. Their # is long distance from home which is especially annoying when they are home for the summer. They may be sitting next to you at the table but you must call them on their "away" number. If they obtain a Dell Voice number in their "home town" that forwards to their "away" # then the home town people do not pay long distance. I am assuming the student pays for the long distance call when it is transferred from the local Dell # to their away cell #. But if the student is not charged for long distance due to their calling plan then no one get charged for long distance? In a nutshell, local people call a local number, it is transferred to a long-distance cell number, and the cell user does not get charged for the call (other than using their cell plan minutes). Does this make sense?

In fact, if this is true then this "local" number could be used any time someone from home calls as long as the student has the no charge long distance feature, correct?

To top it off, if there is free wifi on campus then the student gets to take the call using the Dell Voice app and does not use their minutes either? This is too cool!

[FONGO_mike]

Let me know if I have this correct

Student studies in another city within Canada so their cell # is for that town. Their # is long distance from home which is especially annoying when they are home for the summer. They may be sitting next to you at the table but you must call them on their "away" number. If they obtain a Dell Voice number in their "home town" that forwards to their "away" # then the home town people do not pay long distance. I am assuming the student pays for the long distance call when it is transferred from the local Dell # to their away cell #. But if the student is not charged for long distance due to their calling plan then no one get charged for long distance? In a nutshell, local people call a local number, it is transferred to a long-distance cell number, and the cell user does not get charged for the call (other than using their cell plan minutes). Does this make sense?

In fact, if this is true then this "local" number could be used any time someone from home calls as long as the student has the no charge long distance feature, correct?

To top it off, if there is free wifi on campus then the student gets to take the call using the Dell Voice app and does not use their minutes either? This is too cool!

In a nutshell, the answer is Yes, yes, yes and yes.

with the follow me settings, there local number would be forwarded to the cell at no cost to the caller. If they person receiving the call (using Dell Voice on their cell phone) is on wifi, then they would not need to worry about any minutes usage.

If the call is forwarded directly to their cell phone, with service being provided by their cell phone carrier, the any rates on minutes (either per minute or long distance charges/roaming) would be dependant entirely on their cell phone provider.

[TheHardy]

Mike nailed it with his detailed explanation. The "student", if they are not on an inclusive LD plan, would pay incoming-LD on fwd'ed calls that are ANSWERED on their regular cell (using airtime or included mins). If answering a DV app (using data) then no LD charges, but potential data charges. Need to find out from the cell carrier what is included and what is not ... all inclusive LD plans are helpful for the students ...

Surprised Mike did not come up with the answer that BOTH parties (or multiple ones) should ALL sign up for DV/Fongo accounts, as all calls between Fongo/DV accounts are free etc etc etc ... (sales pitch ...)

Not poking fun Mike, you DO sell .... which is a good thing!

[Wilbour]

Well that's good news. The student's phone is set for wifi only so there is never a worry about data charges. The cell plan has free LD within Canada so there are no charges. This makes a lot of cents

[FONGO_mike]

Mike nailed it with his detailed explanation. The "student", if they are not on an inclusive LD plan, would pay incoming-LD on fwd'ed calls that are ANSWERED on their regular cell (using airtime or included mins). If answering a DV app (using data) then no LD charges, but potential data charges. Need to find out from the cell carrier what is included and what is not ... all inclusive LD plans are helpful for the students ...

Surprised Mike did not come up with the answer that BOTH parties (or multiple ones) should ALL sign up for DV/Fongo accounts, as all calls between Fongo/DV accounts are free etc etc etc ... (sales pitch ...)

Not poking fun Mike, you DO sell .... which is a good thing!

And yes, everyone one would be better off if the student got all their friends and familly to sign up for free Dell voice service!

Then they could all call each other, all the time, without any of them having to pay long distance to call each other...EVER!

[TheHardy]

Well that's good news. The student's phone is set for wifi only so there is never a worry about data charges. The cell plan has free LD within Canada so there are no charges. This makes a lot of cents

Yer set then -- depending on the carrier, just be DILIGENT and double-check that it is not just "included/free" OUTGOING LD ... but also that it covers INCOMING calls ...

IE: Student has a Vancouver-based mobile # due to studying at say BCIT, but has family in Cornwall and returns home (so now in Cornwall). Receives incoming call on their Vancouver # while in Cornwall ... _may_ be charged "incoming" LD for the call "following" from Vancouver # to Cornwall (This is how it works on a non-inclusive LD plan, and SOME early "included" ones had this "flaw" which resulted in BILL SHOCK!).

Simple verification will save headache later!

[TheHardy]

Surprised Mike did not come up with the answer that BOTH parties (or multiple ones) should ALL sign up for DV/Fongo accounts, as all calls between Fongo/DV accounts are free etc etc etc ... (sales pitch ...)

Not poking fun Mike, you DO sell .... which is a good thing!

And yes, everyone one would be better off if the student got all their friends and familly to sign up for free Dell voice service!

Then they could all call each other, all the time, without any of them having to pay long distance to call each other...EVER!

Whew! Thanks Mike Thought you mighta had the flu or something when I re-read your post and saw the gaping absence!!