Engin revs up VoIP competition: 600 minutes for $29.95 per month

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 13 October 2009 07:15

IT Industry - Strategy

VoIP service provider Engin (ASX: ENG) has upped the ante in the increasingly competitive VoIP market with a new plan for residential customers offering 600 minutes of calls to Australian local, national and mobile numbers and to more than 100 international destinations (including some international mobile destinations) for$29.95 per month.

The rates after the 600 minutes are used up are 15c for local and national calls; 27c per minute for mobile calls; and international rates from 1.9c per minute.

Greg Crameri, residential marketing manager for Engin, said: "We believe this is the best offer on the market...And heavy users who go over the 600 minutes a month are still entitled to our extra low normal rates."

To use the Engin service customers people need a broadband Internet connection (cable modem, ADSL); a router or switch; an Engin analogue phone adaptor or an Engin Internet phone. However, unlike some competing offerings they do not need to be a broadband customer of Engin.

The offer compares well with that from rival MyNetFone (ASX: MNF) whose GlobalSaver Premium plan offers 100 untimed local/national/global calls for $24.95 per month (whether mobile numbers overseas are included did no appear to be specified). Local mobile numbers are not, these are charged at 20 cents per minute.

Another aggressive player in the local VIP market, Gotalk, does not have an exactly comparable plan but does have the goVoIP Aussie & World Pack for $24.90 per month. It includes 600 local/national calls, 100 calls or 500 minutes to Australian mobiles and 100 calls or 3000 minutes of calls to 36 nations at no charge. $34.90 gets you the goVoIP Aussie Plus & World plan with the same volume of international calls but 1000 local/national calls and 200 calls or 700 minutes of calls to Australian mobiles However those who are not Gotalk broadband customers pay an additional $5 per month.