
Business models used in Internet
An important issue regarding the use of Internet telephony is the billing for the use of services and the way in which the user obtains the equipment with which the user uses Internet connections.
As far as billing for telephone calls and services are concerned, two models can be distinguished:
pre-paid,
post-paid.
Pre-paid is a prepayment – the customer pays any amount to the service provider and can use the services, solutions and telephone calls made available to him/her. In this model, the fees for telephone calls are charged on an ongoing basis, while the fees for services are usually charged once a month.
Post-paid, i.e. payment after the end of the month – the customer receives an invoice after the end of a given settlement period for the services he has used, including telephone calls and added services.
The second important element from the point of view of the user is the way of obtaining equipment used for using Internet telephony solutions. In this respect, we can also distinguish two models:
investment model,
the operating model.
The investment model is nothing more than a purchase of equipment on the free market or with an operator whose services the customer wants to use. In this model, the customer owns the equipment and is fully responsible for the equipment, including maintenance.
The operating model is based on the rental of equipment that is provided by the Internet telephony operator, always after the signing of an appropriate contract (usually on time). In this model, the customer is charged a monthly fee for providing the equipment. In this model, on the side of the VoIP service provider, there is maintenance and service of devices, because the customer is not the owner of them.
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