callfox - helping consumers take control of their phones
Added: (Wed Jun 20 2001)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
New web-centric phone company callfox has just launched a consumer telecoms advice site which it hopes will position it as an ‘honest-broker’ in the muddy waters of consumer telecoms. Its purpose is to support the launch of callfox 1460, an innovative new prepaid fixed-line phone service for people living in shared houses. With this service, users not only prepay for their fixed-line phone calls like a mobile phone, but can also have their own individual PIN controlled account to eliminate those unexpected phone bills and arguments about who owes what in a shared house.
The advice section is split into four areas, mobiles, internet, fixed line and IP telephony, and gives tips and hints about the best services to buy as well as ways to save money. For example, did you know that on some networks you could halve your roaming costs by manually selecting the cheapest network when you land in the country? It also suggests the best sites to send free SMSs and which ones give the quickest SMS updates etc.
Probably the best thing about its advice section, though, are the links. Rather than try and sell something at every opportunity, it simply gives links to those sites which offer the best value, most of which have been tried and tested by callfox. It reinforces its independence by not accepting advertising and declaring any referral commissions. Like the Carphone Warehouse, callfox acknowledge they can’t be completely independent if they are selling services as well, but their new prepaid fixed-line phone service is very innovative as well as good value.
The new callfox 1460 service is easier to use than a calling card because there are no long codes to remember as the system recognises the user’s phone number, and is less hassle than traditional indirect access services like OneTel and Quip because you don’t have to set up a Direct Debit or pay a monthly bill. It also allows users, who have registered a PIN to make calls from any UK phone (including payphones and mobiles) by using their home phone number as the account number.
To set-up and use immediately, the customer simply dials 0800 279 5251 from their home telephone, sets a 4 digit PIN if they want one and then keys in the amount they wish to spend (between £10 and £35), plus their credit or debit card number. System also accepts callfox vouchers which are available on the web site. To use, customer dials 1460 before each call (plus a four digit PIN in a shared house) and the system informs them of how much credit is left in their account; the customer then dials the number required as normal.
callfox is the brainchild of Duncan Llewelyn, formerly of Martin Dawes and BT Cellnet, who was responsible for developing and launching BT Cellnet’s online account management service last year. Commenting on the launch he said, “callfox is a genuine attempt to build a brand which people can trust in the long term. It’s not going to be easy, and when the rent’s due there will always be pressure to take the supplier’s pound, but if it was easy, everyone would be doing it”.
For more information on the 1460 telephone service, call 0800 634 4023.
END
Notes for editors re 1460 phone service
1. Customer continues to pay BT or cable company for line rental and can still make calls with them and use 1471, voicemail, call waiting etc services.
2. Cable customers use freephone (0800 279 5253) to access rather than 1460.
3. callfox have a no hidden extras policy – charged by the second from when phone is answered, 5p min charge (same as BT) and credit lasts 12 months. Calls using anywhere service cost additional 2p min (17p from BT Payphone).
4. Savings over BT standard rate (ie before Friends and Family discounts etc) on virtually all local, national, mobile and international calls, but not 0800, 0870 etc.
5. 1460 customer services number is 0800 634 4023 for more info etc.
Enquiries to: Duncan Llewelyn duncan@callfox.com
Callfox Limited
3-5 High Pavement
Nottingham
NG1 1HF 0115 989 7399
Logos, photos and press releases available for download at www.callfoxpress.co.uk . Product information available at www.callfox.com