silly folks want $5.00 to read this article. well try tomorrow when its free

http://www.telecom.paper.nl/news/article.aspx?id=136252


BTL to launch lower international voice call charges
Published: Thursday 27 July 2006 | 03:13 PM CET
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BTL offers new rates to call the world.
Save as much as 86% when making International calls
http://www.btl.net/New-International-Rates/

From August 1st 2006, BTL is implementing the latest in a series of increasing discounts against its International Call Rates.

The new resulting rates more accurately reflect the cost of providing international voice services and they offer customers significant savings when calling different countries, at different times of the day, using different calling patterns, and for longer call durations. In addition, these rates apply for a call made from any BTL phone, no matter where the caller is in Belize.

First of all, let’s mention two changes to the structure of the rates.

Calls to each Country now have a different rate – No more Zones

BTL’s international calls have in the past been billed using a different rate for four specific call zones, incorporating a number of countries in each zone. With these new tariffs, each Country has its own rate with customers being billed at a different rate for each country they call, and for some countries at a different rate depending on whether they are calling a mobile or fixed line phone. In that way, a caller can exercise control to get the best rate available for each country.

Gone is 60 Seconds - No more per minute billing

Secondly, all International calls will now be billed in 15 second increments and the past system of rounding up each call to the nearest minute will no longer apply. This means that you could pay 75% less for a call. For example, if you call your friend in El Salvador and use only 12 seconds because you got her voicemail, rather than paying for the entire minute at $1.16, you will now only pay for 15 seconds at a cost of $0.29, saving almost $0.90.

Great Savings arising from Big Rate Discounts

Finally, we have the new discounted rates, and customers throughout the country will be able to benefit from significant savings. For example, an off-peak IDD call to China and the UK has been reduced from $2.09 per minute to only $0.74 per minute. Imagine calling China for 5 minutes and paying only $3.70 rather than $10.45; that’s a 65% savings!


What really stands out with these new international rates is BTL’s new approach called “Step Pricing” – All international rates step down after the call exceeds 5 minutes. If that call to China continues over 5 minutes, the rate would automatically drop to $0.33 per minute from the $2.09.
Furthermore, this rate would reduced considerably to only
$0.21 per minute after the first five minutes, using 10-10-199.

You can also enjoy these great savings when calling many more countries like the USA, Jamaica, Canada, India and Mexico!

Enjoy even cheaper rates when you talk longer.

Different Calling Options, Different savings

With these new international rates, you can choose the option that provides the biggest savings for you. Use IDD and save. Use 10-10-199 and save even more, and remember that you can also use BTL’s prepaid connect cards. All these options also offer reduced rates for off-peak periods which extend from 6pm to 6am daily and all weekend long. In addition, postpaid customers will immediately gain the additional benefits from the lower rates after 5 minutes on a call, with prepaid customers also benefiting from these rates in October.

Summary

So, from August 1st, 2006 BTL’s new International call rates will offer customers

1. big discounts on BTL’s list prices;
2. as much as 86% savings per minute when making international calls;
3. a different rate charged to call each country;
4. even lower bills with the new 15 seconds billing and no more per-minute billing;
5. Increased levels of savings from Direct dialed calls, 10-10-199, prepaid connect cards and even greater savings from 6pm to 6am daily and all weekend long;
6. Immediately greater savings to postpaid customers for calls that exceed five minutes. Prepaid customers will enjoy this benefit in October.

WebTalk

Later in August BTL will also introduce its new Internet Phone Service – WebTalk. Look out for more details and much cheaper call rates.

Closing

For more information on BTL’s new International Call Rates, kindly contact us at
0-800-CALL-BTL, visit www.btl.net or any BTL Customer Services Centre for full details.

thanks short!

I hope Skype is working when we get back, but if not at least it sounds like the rates will be better if I have to use a land line to call the US. Need to call several times a week.

indygal,
I'm with you on that......I have to call back to the US about 4 times a day because of my business. Skype was fine when we were there in June.