Call-through telecom

Call through a method referred to in the telecommunications, in which telephone conversations mediated by a service provider who is not the operator of the subscriber port that is used for the call.

Connection

The caller first dials the phone number for call-through provider and is welcomed by Audiotex system with an automatic announcement that prompts him to identify himself by entering a PIN using the phone keypad; alternatively, this is possible with some providers even with voice commands. The PIN entry is required at fixed stored number of customers in the system call through the provider. With an open call through (see below) to enter the PIN is also dispensed with. Then, the caller is asked to enter the number of the subscriber that he wants to achieve. This can be done in the same way as with the PIN. The call-through provider builds then on a second line to connect to the desired participant and switches together both participants. Thus the connection is established and both can receive calls as normal.

Mobile

Alternatively, for some mobile phones have now become software from various vendors available that automates the call through call handling, so that only the phone number of the called party must be entered using the telephone keypad. In addition to software vendors, there are also an increasing number of providers offer such services to varying degrees with different billing and comfort modules.

Purpose of use

Call Through allows the caller - similar to the call-by -call - to save call charges. In contrast to call-by -call, which is available in Germany only for landlines of Deutsche Telekom, but it can be used from any phone in principle. By call through the mobile phone users can make calls at the rates of call-through provider.

Open Call Through

Open Call Through, in Germany from any telephone connection - used - even from mobile phones and payphones. The caller first dials a ( paid ) access number that connects it to the respective service providers. Then he hears a dial tone again, whereupon he enters the actual destination number.

Advantages: The caller can - as in the call-by -call - in addition to use its terminal operators without notice or contract other providers. The calls are billed via the normal telephone bill.

Disadvantage: connection costs are usually on after dialing the access number, even if the remote party is unavailable ( for example, because this does not pick up ).

In Germany this is usually the fixed priced ("Online Billing " ) 0180 - and 0700 - number ranges used. The fees for the attendant by the Call -through service providers are already covered by the uniform connection fee to these special numbers. Caution should be exercised when making calls from mobile phones, as calls are priced to special numbers here usually significantly higher than calls from the fixed network.

Technical

It always come about two compounds. Over the first to the caller dials into the system of call-through provider, via the second connection from the call-through provider is prepared to the desired participant. For both compounds has a cost.

Classification

The dial into the call-through system often passes through a toll-free for the caller freephone number ( 0800 or 00800er number). The provider must for this connection, however charges paid to the carrier and forwards them to its customers. Therefore, due to the Call Through users in addition to the fees for the connection to the desired participants generally premiums that depend on it, is called by which network from. They are for dialing from mobile phones and payphones depending on the provider between 20 ct / min and 40 ct / min. The cost of the dial- out from landlines are usually already included in the price conversation ( connection to the desired participants). The provider has made the design of its rates always that it is the problem before entering the PIN will not be able to allocate the costs incurred dial a specific customer. One possibility is, allocating costs through higher tariffs to all customers. Often the conversation clocks are also extended so that the costs are outweighed by the incomplete utilization of the clocks.

Due to the increasingly emerging flat-rate tariffs for calls to national landlines now are often geographic landline numbers used instead of Freephone numbers as dial numbers, and the connection from the caller to the call through platform is free of charge.

Methods of payment

The talks can be paid either in advance (prepaid) as well as ex ( postpaid ). If a customer wants to pay in advance, he acquires a so-called calling card on which the dial-in number and PIN are printed. Alternatively, a customer may also enter into a contract. He then gets this access and also obtained for all uses of the same monthly bill.