It seems that the tide "of free incoming calls" almost has reached Russia. Banal phrase "less than a half a year" in this case is misplaced - the time passed much more, and how long will it take until concrete progress is known only to the President and his deputy - the Grand Commander of telecommunications licenses. However, to speak on this vital topic for quite nobody forbids. To start a quote (Prime-Tass): MOSCOW, February 20. RF Ministry of Communications and Rostelecom "(RTKM) consider it appropriate that all incoming calls were free for cellular subscribers. This was stated at the ongoing conference in Moscow, Investment and mobile communications in Russia, "Deputy Minister of Communications Boris Antoniuk and Deputy General Director - Commercial Director of Rostelecom's Gulnara Khasyanova.
Troubling words "... for cellular subscribers. Usually such statements are thoroughly check before scoring in the media and read them to be extremely carefully, not trusting the first clear impression. And here immediately raises many interesting questions.
- The first question - important: as expected tariff calls to mobile and cellular phones in urban wired networks? As well as the networks of other commercial operators not covered by the definition of "cell"?
- The second question - funny: Does this mean the statement that the Ministry of Communications and Rostelecom was still "quietly" decision to equate the rights "of cellular fixed and mobile operators?
- The third question - interesting: Will Russia on behalf of the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation to implement half-hearted version of the reform for incoming calls and what it can threaten to subscribers? Or is it meant free incoming for subscribers of all networks?
The second question - rather a reminder of the quiet smoldering conflicts mobile / fixed / mobile. In particular, concerning the operators know-what-the CDMA 800. On the example of Moscow's Sonnet, we already know that in our country of miracles, even through the courts can not find the exact meaning of a term in the operator's license, and if the "fixed" and "mobile" add "mobile" in all possible manifestations - lawyers accurate load with money. Or the term "cellular" decided to combine all the operators in relation to the scheme for incoming calls? However, it is likely from the cell curiosities.
The first question (about pricing) is the most difficult. Here, once there is a tangle of issues, including social ones. If outgoing calls to mobiles from a wired network would be "highly paid, pensioners and other low-yielding groups of citizens would be better far away from the block to buy wholesale and eight pigeons. The question of charging for calls to mobile phones with city numbers have settled in neighboring Ukraine - you can just learn from the experience. There successfully used a loophole in the law: tariff can not be included, but charge a fee for service "call forwarding" the law does not prohibit. That and "diverted" for incoming calls directly to a separate federal number, magically transformed by the move from free incoming call in a legally-paid service. Few zamorochno, but effective. In such a scheme in the presence of the federal "double" Direct number (most direct numbers Beeline Moscow) ringing the city will be able to choose a method of recruitment of the two people who pay for the call. Himself the owner of a direct number before pressing the green button on the handset will scrutinize the display: the icon forward - we must speak briefly and in the case.
A separate dimension - virtual monopoly Rostelecom, and the prospects are not rosy. Feb. 19 at a press conference the deputy. Minister of Communications Mr. Antoniuk put quite clearly: the Ministry are quite satisfied with the monopoly of Rostelecom for international communication and for the next five years, it would be good to keep. That is, if Rostelecom will be farmed out billing issues calls to cell phones and the distribution of the revenue, then rely on cheap outgoing calls are not necessary. In simple terms, between the cash register mobile operator and the subscriber paying for the call will rise monopolist intermediary, which will be to decide what proportion of revenue to keep themselves, and what - to give to the operator. Cellular companies - is not the Soros Foundation and the reduction of the proceeds will be forced to react to rising prices outgoing connection.
In general, needs to happen for a redistribution of the costs of communication: the mobile is likely a bit cheaper, but some of the money in cash mobile operators will bring the subscribers phone numbers. The bad news is that some of the money on the road inevitably settles in the pockets of middlemen, well - that the tariff gap between fixed and mobile communications to fall slightly, stimulating the growth of subscriber base. Incidentally, under this case can finally enter the per-minute billed in residential phones MGTS convenient excuse just does not come up with excuses and the Moscow government did not have to. Separate interesting topic - the fate rather popular "semi-anlim" tariffs with free incoming, there will be something to smash his head marketing departments of operators. In general, ahead of a lot of interesting events, will talk about. The main thing is that the issue of free incoming still moves forward. Despite all the hardships and sorrows of the transition period to move to such a scheme would still be - must pay the one who calls the tune.