As competition increases and companies look to newer plans to lure in customers we will get more free offers like this. According to a report in APC (News - Alert), Australian VoIP Company GoTalk has launched new “Aussie pack” for $14.95. With the new plan, the users can make unlimited calls to all landline numbers in Australia and to all Australian mobile phones.

 

It is interesting to see how GoTalk can provide such low call rates because Australian mobile networks charge high termination rates. Other VoIP providers charge anything between 22c–30c per minute for calls to mobiles because of these charges. Although GoTalk did not elaborate on how it can provide such low rates, it said a fair use policy applied to these plans. It means if you make more than 300 local calls or 300 national calls or 100 calls to mobiles or 1,000 minutes to mobiles, GoTalk will have the right to suspend your service. But the company says these needs are sufficient for most households and small businesses.

 

GoTalk is confident that it has got an unbeatable plan. In fact, GoTalk CEO Steve Picton has issued a challenge other VoIP providers, including market leader Skype (News - Alert), to better their plans. He said, “From today, GoTalk has the only VoIP plan in Australia from which you can make unlimited calls from your PC or VoIP phone to local, national and mobiles.”

 

Perhaps he has reason to be confident. Other VoIP providers like Optus Fusion do offer unlimited calls to mobiles but those calls are limited only to Optus Fusion mobiles. It’s very difficult for the user when he is calling a new number to know whether the mobile belongs to Optus Fusion network or not.

 

Naturally, the company expects its unlimited call plan to any mobile to bring a lot of business. But exactly how does it plan to avoid mobile network termination charges? Although the company hasn’t revealed its plans, experts believe that it has two ways to counter the network termination charges. First, the company may route calls outside of Australia and back into Australia again, which provides lower call rates than originating the call from within Australia. Second, it might be simply hoping that the number of total calls made will remain within manageable levels.

 

Anyway, GoTalk has made bold first steps. It will be interesting to see how the company manages to work out ways to fulfill its promises.