🚀 go-pugleaf

Curt Sampson wrote:

> In that case he was quite irresponsible. The tariff for Microlink
> has stated for at least a year that there are limits on usage (17
> call centum seconds), and I was informed months ago by someone who
> works for BC Tel that they would likely start charging for excess
> usage on BRI lines this fall.
> 

  I guess he was irresponsible then, because this was never mentioned
in relation to Business Microlink. In fact I recall asking about this
specifically as I knew home service had a usage charge associated
with it and was told "no usage charges for Business service".

  I talked to BC Tel's manager of ISDN service (Ken Kobylanski) about
this yesterday and was told that the change won't affect us as long as
we don't originate calls. I was assured they will not be charging
the call receipient for time used on a BRI line and that "they have
no plans to implement such a charge in the future". Since our intended
use of the service is only to receive calls we're ok for now, but it
does leave one wondering what BC Tel will do next to squeeze more
revenue out of ISDN.
   
> PRI connections are not affected by this, since they are considered
> `trunk side' connections. If you decide to continue to offer ISDN
> service, might well find it worth switching to PRI, though of course
> not only will your costs increase significantly anyway (probably
> around double)

   I don't have the exact numbers handy, but I believe it was more like
4 times the cost ( Megalink is something like $700/month plus
$60/month per B channel used vs $80/month per BRI circuit with
Microlink ), ie approx $1200 vs $320 for 8 channels.

>, but you will have to pay a new install charge and
> possibly buy new equipment.
> 

   This was a major factor on the original decision.

   The cost of the box we bought for this (USR MP8/I) was 
around $4500 and supports 8 channels (4 BRIs) - the cheapest
PRI capable solution was something like $15,000. Of course
it could handle more channels, but even with that it would
be cheaper to buy 3 of the MP8/I boxes (to get a PRI's
worth of service ).  

  The only major drawback to the Multiple BRI approach ( other than
the threat the costs will be changed significantly ) is that
BC Tel won't support hunt groups on BRIs ( but I've been told they
are working on this and hope to have it in place later this year ) 

> cjs
> --
> Curt Sampson    cjs@portal.ca      Info at http://www.portal.ca/
> Internet Portal Services, Inc.     Through infinite myst, software reverberates
> Vancouver, BC  (604) 257-9400      In code possess'd of invisible folly.