Comments on: AllFreeCalls Shut Down http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/ Startup and Tech News Sat, 17 May 2008 05:43:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: AllFreeCalls sucker punched :: Shiny Things http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1896109 AllFreeCalls sucker punched :: Shiny Things Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:58:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1896109 [...] Friday Techcrunch reported that AllFreeCalls had gone down, and as of today the service is still offline. Gigaom has more [...] […] Friday Techcrunch reported that AllFreeCalls had gone down, and as of today the service is still offline. Gigaom has more […]

]]> By: Yak4Ever Takes Second (and Final) Dip into Deadpool http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1764710 Yak4Ever Takes Second (and Final) Dip into Deadpool Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:25:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1764710 [...] that was fun while it lasted - for consumers at least. Yak4Ever has sunk back into the TechCrunch Deadpool after reemerging from it in May. This time it looks as though [...] […] that was fun while it lasted - for consumers at least. Yak4Ever has sunk back into the TechCrunch Deadpool after reemerging from it in May. This time it looks as though […]

]]> By: Clunky Flow » AllFreeCalls.net to win free Techcrunch tickets to Web2.0 Expo for Lazarus-like recovery. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1315107 Clunky Flow » AllFreeCalls.net to win free Techcrunch tickets to Web2.0 Expo for Lazarus-like recovery. Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:13:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1315107 [...] Pat Phelan should win the current Techcrunch prize for making allfreecalls.net the first company to ever make it back out of the Techcrunch Deadpool: [...] […] Pat Phelan should win the current Techcrunch prize for making allfreecalls.net the first company to ever make it back out of the Techcrunch Deadpool: […]

]]> By: Get ready to take us out of the deadpool Mike at Roam4free http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1314261 Get ready to take us out of the deadpool Mike at Roam4free Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:50:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1314261 [...] was installed today and I can’t wait to make the announcement. Has anyone resurfaced from the deadpool before? Technorati Tags: allfreecalls, allfreecalls. roam4free, deadpool, pat phelan, Techcrunch, [...] […] was installed today and I can’t wait to make the announcement. Has anyone resurfaced from the deadpool before? Technorati Tags: allfreecalls, allfreecalls. roam4free, deadpool, pat phelan, Techcrunch, […]

]]> By: Fonpods in DeadPool http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1271688 Fonpods in DeadPool Sat, 24 Mar 2007 01:23:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1271688 [...] AllFreeCalls, which shut down on February 16 and is yet to come back online (and it probably won’t), Fonpods is now offline [...] […] AllFreeCalls, which shut down on February 16 and is yet to come back online (and it probably won’t), Fonpods is now offline […]

]]> By: Fonpods in DeadPool http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1271689 Fonpods in DeadPool Sat, 24 Mar 2007 01:23:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1271689 [...] AllFreeCalls, which shut down on February 16 and is yet to come back online (and it probably won’t), Fonpods is now offline [...] […] AllFreeCalls, which shut down on February 16 and is yet to come back online (and it probably won’t), Fonpods is now offline […]

]]> By: How hard would it be to set up a business like freeconferencecall.com? - Personal Development for Smart People Forums http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1041998 How hard would it be to set up a business like freeconferencecall.com? - Personal Development for Smart People Forums Sat, 24 Feb 2007 23:20:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-1041998 [...] promotion for their paid services or they are using one of the FCC subsidies to rural areas (like this company was trying to do)...or both. And I like the idea of VOIP and Asterisk but would also like to make [...] […] promotion for their paid services or they are using one of the FCC subsidies to rural areas (like this company was trying to do)…or both. And I like the idea of VOIP and Asterisk but would also like to make […]

]]> By: Mike http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-987389 Mike Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:03:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-987389 Further, we all pay for the universal phone service access we all enjoy, one way or another; through access fees and taxes. One way or another, the costs must be paid in order for us to pick up the phone and know that our calls to the mountains of Wyoming will be connected. The whole point of giving the rural companies a rate advantage is to help them support the rural environment which is, per capita, much more expensive to support. We will need to continue to support that infrastructure, either from fees the carriers pay, or from funds given to those rural companies by government subsidies. I don’t know about you, but I would much prefer to see the the market cover these than bureaucrats. In this case, the market will be more efficient, and the market will reward the rural innovators. We, the people, created AT&T. Now it is time for AT&T to stop inhibiting market creativity with bullying tactics. Further, we all pay for the universal phone service access we all enjoy, one way or another; through access fees and taxes. One way or another, the costs must be paid in order for us to pick up the phone and know that our calls to the mountains of Wyoming will be connected. The whole point of giving the rural companies a rate advantage is to help them support the rural environment which is, per capita, much more expensive to support. We will need to continue to support that infrastructure, either from fees the carriers pay, or from funds given to those rural companies by government subsidies. I don’t know about you, but I would much prefer to see the the market cover these than bureaucrats. In this case, the market will be more efficient, and the market will reward the rural innovators. We, the people, created AT&T. Now it is time for AT&T to stop inhibiting market creativity with bullying tactics.

]]> By: Mike http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-987380 Mike Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:03:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-987380 Don’t feel sorry for AT&T. There is a natural check and balance here that AT&T doesn’t discuss. As a rural LEC’s revenues increase (from ENTREPRENUERIAL effort), their state regulators will eventually lower their approved tarrifs and their portion of the universal fee. Let the free enterprise system work. Better rural LEC support themselves via entrepreneurial effort (like AT&T is attacking) rather than continued subsidies. How else will our rural phones be supported? Next time you travel in the countryside, count the number of telephone poles to some of those farms. Those didn’t magically sprout! Also, VoIP calls haven’t even begun to be regulated yet. AT&T is simply using its monopolistic muscle to kill competition. It is the nature of the beast. Don’t feel sorry for AT&T. There is a natural check and balance here that AT&T doesn’t discuss. As a rural LEC’s revenues increase (from ENTREPRENUERIAL effort), their state regulators will eventually lower their approved tarrifs and their portion of the universal fee.

Let the free enterprise system work. Better rural LEC support themselves via entrepreneurial effort (like AT&T is attacking) rather than continued subsidies. How else will our rural phones be supported? Next time you travel in the countryside, count the number of telephone poles to some of those farms. Those didn’t magically sprout!

Also, VoIP calls haven’t even begun to be regulated yet. AT&T is simply using its monopolistic muscle to kill competition. It is the nature of the beast.

]]> By: Al http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-986204 Al Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:16:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-986204 Re-origination of international calls is not new. I have heard of telcos doing it to change the tarrif from a high priced country like say outgoing from China to the lower priced incomming to China. I like the twist of having the "death star" pay a rural subsidy. The subsidies are to encourage the companies to build infrastructure into rural areas and until they do they owe the smaller telcos in those areas the subsidy to reward their work in connecting service to the places that they would like to by-pass. If you want DSL in places where the mortgages are low and the smog is thin then Kudos to the telcos that make the big boys pay to by pass Iowa. Re-origination of international calls is not new.

I have heard of telcos doing it to change the tarrif from a high priced country like say outgoing from China to the lower priced incomming to China.

I like the twist of having the “death star” pay a rural subsidy. The subsidies are to encourage the companies to build infrastructure into rural areas and until they do they owe the smaller telcos in those areas the subsidy to reward their work in connecting service to the places that they would like to by-pass.

If you want DSL in places where the mortgages are low and the smog is thin then Kudos to the telcos that make the big boys pay to by pass Iowa.

]]> By: Matt http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-985995 Matt Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:47:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-985995 RE: Mike While I'm certainly not a fan of ATT, I definitely wouldn't consider someone who uses another companies own infrastructure and gouges them via a loophole a true "competitor". Holding them up as some sort of normal small business being 'bullied' and put out of business by the 'big guy' who is out to shut down 'free enterprise' is taking a pretty extreme view. As an owner of a consulting company it would be like me paying off employees of my largest competitor to send me their sales....and then complaining when those people got fired and saying that the company was just bullying the little guy and stifling 'innovation'. Legal? Maybe. Morally ambiguous? Definitely. Bullying by a Monopoly? Pffftttt. Whether you are a big company or a small company, wouldn't you shut something down if someone was using your own infrastructure to take away your money? RE: Mike

While I’m certainly not a fan of ATT, I definitely wouldn’t consider someone who uses another companies own infrastructure and gouges them via a loophole a true “competitor”. Holding them up as some sort of normal small business being ‘bullied’ and put out of business by the ‘big guy’ who is out to shut down ‘free enterprise’ is taking a pretty extreme view.

As an owner of a consulting company it would be like me paying off employees of my largest competitor to send me their sales….and then complaining when those people got fired and saying that the company was just bullying the little guy and stifling ‘innovation’. Legal? Maybe. Morally ambiguous? Definitely. Bullying by a Monopoly? Pffftttt.

Whether you are a big company or a small company, wouldn’t you shut something down if someone was using your own infrastructure to take away your money?

]]> By: Mike http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-981284 Mike Mon, 19 Feb 2007 03:37:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-981284 I agree with Clem. The Michael's headline is irresponsible and illadvised. It would appear that some of you would rather have lived in the Soviet Union where monopolies ruled and there was no competition. God forbid. Free Enterprise is threatened whenever the little guys let the monopolies bully them with the kinds of legal tactics that AT&T has employed here. Remember folks, monopolies like AT&T NEVER like competition and are ALWAYS going to try and bully would-be competitors, especially the creative little guy. We should be cheering on AllFreeCalls for their creativity instead of berating for it. Regulatory environments are there as guidelines, not barriers to free enterprise. I agree with Clem. The Michael’s headline is irresponsible and illadvised. It would appear that some of you would rather have lived in the Soviet Union where monopolies ruled and there was no competition. God forbid. Free Enterprise is threatened whenever the little guys let the monopolies bully them with the kinds of legal tactics that AT&T has employed here.

Remember folks, monopolies like AT&T NEVER like competition and are ALWAYS going to try and bully would-be competitors, especially the creative little guy. We should be cheering on AllFreeCalls for their creativity instead of berating for it. Regulatory environments are there as guidelines, not barriers to free enterprise.

]]> By: Clem http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-976263 Clem Sun, 18 Feb 2007 16:03:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-976263 Maybe Chris up there should do his research before spouting off deragatory comments. None of the telco's involved recieved USF benefits. While AT&T has scared the telco's, don't be suprised if they don't get it slapped hard by the FCC. There was nothing illegal about any of these services. Maybe Chris up there should do his research before spouting off deragatory comments. None of the telco’s involved recieved USF benefits. While AT&T has scared the telco’s, don’t be suprised if they don’t get it slapped hard by the FCC. There was nothing illegal about any of these services.

]]> By: tony greene http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-975040 tony greene Sun, 18 Feb 2007 13:39:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-975040 Pretty amazing it took the the big blue globe that long to get rid of this operation. Pretty sure there are many more of them out there. Pretty amazing it took the the big blue globe that long to get rid of this operation. Pretty sure there are many more of them out there.

]]> By: kirk tutterrow http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-966601 kirk tutterrow Sat, 17 Feb 2007 21:06:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-966601 Chris, You are a jerk. regards, Kirk Chris,
You are a jerk.

regards,
Kirk

]]> By: Paul M. Watson http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-963368 Paul M. Watson Sat, 17 Feb 2007 14:30:54 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-963368 AllFreeCalls.ie seems to still be up, not quite deadpool? AllFreeCalls.ie seems to still be up, not quite deadpool?

]]> By: Erik http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-962789 Erik Sat, 17 Feb 2007 13:20:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-962789 Snapvine also uses an Iowa (641) area code. I wonder if they're also trying leverage the CLEC loophole. Snapvine also uses an Iowa (641) area code. I wonder if they’re also trying leverage the CLEC loophole.

]]> By: Shoaib Patel http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-962258 Shoaib Patel Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:11:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-962258 From UK O2 mobile call 0844 570 5743 same priciple as above for UK based customers From UK O2 mobile call 0844 570 5743 same priciple as above for UK based customers

]]> By: Hasan Jafri http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-960362 Hasan Jafri Sat, 17 Feb 2007 07:11:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-960362 @David Mackey...I doubt this idea is going to fly with the big guys. I agree with you, but there might be a place for it in the economic development community. Right now, Africa is the fastest growing mobile phone market in the world; countries left behind by the communications revolution are playing catch up. Institutions like the World Bank emphasize private sector development, but almost everyone agrees that taxes and subsidies will have a role to play. Allfree's business model evolved in Iowa but it's a natural for, say, sub-Saharan Africa. Consumers could truly benefit from free calls, and subsidies would spur investment by service providers. @David Mackey…I doubt this idea is going to fly with the big guys.

I agree with you, but there might be a place for it in the economic development community. Right now, Africa is the fastest growing mobile phone market in the world; countries left behind by the communications revolution are playing catch up. Institutions like the World Bank emphasize private sector development, but almost everyone agrees that taxes and subsidies will have a role to play. Allfree’s business model evolved in Iowa but it’s a natural for, say, sub-Saharan Africa. Consumers could truly benefit from free calls, and subsidies would spur investment by service providers.

]]> By: David Mackey http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-959680 David Mackey Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:30:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-959680 Mmmm...I doubt this idea is ever going to fly with the big guys. It costs them a lot and gives them no advantage. Who wants their business to be used so widely without any returns? Its an impossible business model. Mmmm…I doubt this idea is ever going to fly with the big guys. It costs them a lot and gives them no advantage. Who wants their business to be used so widely without any returns? Its an impossible business model.

]]> By: fede req http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-959071 fede req Sat, 17 Feb 2007 03:52:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-959071 germain based. germain based.

]]> By: fede req http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-959050 fede req Sat, 17 Feb 2007 03:49:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-959050 hey michael, what about http://internetcalls.net ? do you know how it works? they offer free calls, but the call finish after two, tree minutes every time if you dont have money in the site but it is always free. i have paid ten dollars and now i make international calls for free computer to landphone with out problems with out limit of time. did you know this company? i think they are uk based. hey michael, what about http://internetcalls.net ?
do you know how it works?
they offer free calls, but the call finish after two, tree minutes every time if you dont have money in the site but it is always free. i have paid ten dollars and now i make international calls for free computer to landphone with out problems with out limit of time.

did you know this company? i think they are uk based.

]]> By: Bob http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-958850 Bob Sat, 17 Feb 2007 03:20:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-958850 Doesn't hurt to try. Props to innovation. ATT has been screwing the pooch for years. Serves them right! Doesn’t hurt to try. Props to innovation. ATT has been screwing the pooch for years. Serves them right!

]]> By: manfmnantucket http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-958129 manfmnantucket Sat, 17 Feb 2007 01:10:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-958129 Here's more info (hopefully not duplicate) re FuturePhone call termination arbitrage and AT&T http://gigaom.com/2007/02/07/atts-free-call-bill-2-million/ Here’s more info (hopefully not duplicate) re FuturePhone call termination arbitrage and AT&T

http://gigaom.com/2007/02/07/a.....2-million/

]]> By: Michael Arrington http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-958031 Michael Arrington Sat, 17 Feb 2007 00:55:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/02/16/allfreecalls-shut-down/#comment-958031 worked for me - I clarified that sentence to try to make it clear that those payments included other services similar to allfreecalls. I'm jetlagged and slow today. Apologies. worked for me - I clarified that sentence to try to make it clear that those payments included other services similar to allfreecalls. I’m jetlagged and slow today. Apologies.

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