VOIP for Long Distance Call Centers

[Gordon Gekko]

Hi,

I am interested in opening a Long Distance Call Center. A friend of mine did some research and found that in order to operate such center, you have to do it through one of the Telcos (Verizon, Tricom or Centennial) and basically award them most of your revenue and solely keep some spare change in the hopes of making some money through sheer volume. I found this a little outlandish in the sense that this would represent a very close oligopoly and would prevent me from flexing my entrepreneurial muscles in a way that no open economy would permit (DR has an open economy, right?). Is it feasible to establish and operate such call center using VOIP, namely Vonage or Packet8, as oposed to the Telcos? Many years ago, I saw some call centers using Net2phone, which is esentially the same technology, but I have been out of the country for several years and much has changed since. I would very much appreciate your time and any type of advice that you can expend me regarding this matter.

 

[Eddy]

Hi,

I am interested in opening a Long Distance Call Center. A friend of mine did some research and found that in order to operate such center, you have to do it through one of the Telcos (Verizon, Tricom or Centennial) and basically award them most of your revenue and solely keep some spare change in the hopes of making some money through sheer volume. I found this a little outlandish in the sense that this would represent a very close oligopoly and would prevent me from flexing my entrepreneurial muscles in a way that no open economy would permit (DR has an open economy, right?). Is it feasible to establish and operate such call center using VOIP, namely Vonage or Packet8, as oposed to the Telcos? Many years ago, I saw some call centers using Net2phone, which is esentially the same technology, but I have been out of the country for several years and much has changed since. I would very much appreciate your time and any type of advice that you can expend me regarding this matter.

Do a search(es) on DR-1 and you will find a lot of info. There are several call centers using the companies you mentioned. (Probably 10 or more in Sosua alone). I have used Net2Phone for personal calls for the past 10+ years and still use it on occasions. Recently I've been using Skype which appears to bit a little better.

 

[Chris]

Is it feasible to establish and operate such call center using VOIP, namely Vonage or Packet8, as oposed to the Telcos? Many years ago, I saw some call centers using Net2phone, which is esentially the same technology, but I have been out of the country for several years and much has changed since. I would very much appreciate your time and any type of advice that you can expend me regarding this matter.

You still need some kind of connection, either from the telcos or satellite. Then you can use any of the current technologies, Sip, Packet8, Vonage, Skype etc. There is specialized software for call centers that manage the calls, but, you do need a 'line' to basically connect your technology to.

 

[MrMike]

The reason that most long distance call centers do it the way it was described to you is because the phone company will then put up most of the money to get you started. (I think having good connections is required)

 

[CyaBye3015]

A single call using VOIP from a DSL line is one thing, a hundred calls at the same time is a whole different can of worms!

 

[mido]

In order to sell telephone calls or lines to the public you need to be a legally licensed telecommunication company.
Licensing is done by Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones).

There are two companies operating legally here in Bavaro Punta Cana and they do not use Verizon or another big telco for there connection but there own satellite links.

 

[Gordon Gekko]

A matter of choice?

In order to sell telephone calls or lines to the public you need to be a legally licensed telecommunication company.
Licensing is done by Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones).

There are two companies operating legally here in Bavaro Punta Cana and they do not use Verizon or another big telco for there connection but there own satellite links.

Ahhh, thanks Mido. It makes sense now. I have done some research on this forum about the topic, but every thread connected with my question relate to Telemarketing (or the like) call centers, which structurally and operationally are a different kind of monster altogether, though the technology is practically very similar. I believe that the whole thing revolves around new regulations imposed by Indotel whereby you have to be a licensed telecommunications company in order to sell tel calls to the public. Being that this would require an enormous outline of capital; the overwhelming majority of entrepreneurs choose to become franchisees of the big telcos. However, this doesn't mean that if you so choose; you can't get licensed for the sole purpose of being a long distance calls center, although your license rights would cover attributions well beyond what you execute. Is my train of thought even close? Has anyone any experience in this industry? If so, should I pursue becoming a franchisee of the tacos in this venture? My repeated inquiries stem from the fact that the person who is presenting me with this proposal is showing some very rosy numbers.

Again, thanks for your input.

 

[Chris]

In order to sell telephone calls or lines to the public you need to be a legally licensed telecommunication company.
Licensing is done by Indotel (Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones).

There are two companies operating legally here in Bavaro Punta Cana and they do not use Verizon or another big telco for there connection but there own satellite links.

Just to be clear, even if you have your own satellite uplinks - you still need an Indotel registration.

 

[mido]

I see these guys almost everyday, next time I will just ask them how difficult the licensing was and what the requirements are.

 

[Chris]

Like everything in the DR, it depends on who you know. So, if you have contacts, it should be easy. If you buy a satellite earth station, your provider needs to be registered as they will be providing the bandwidth.