Why should I consider using FCTs?

To save money, it is the only reason unless you also need SMS text to mobiles from your office PC's.

Why haven't I heard of FCTs before?

It is not in the interests of the main operators to point out these cost savings devices. All the operators already use them for their own services!

Who makes the FCTs?

We usually use hardware from Nokia, Ericsson, Burnside, Hypermedia and Eurotech, acknowledged as major and long term suppliers in this market

What's involved in choosing an FCT system?

We need to have an indication from you of the number of minutes per month which are made from your office landlines to mobiles. If you have a group worker or a mobex/VPN system installed, then we also need to determine the number of calls not using the system, which is known as off-net call volume. From this we can indicate savings to be made and the number of FCT channels needed.

How many channels do I need?

The number of GSM channels varies depending upon the amount of minutes of calls to mobiles each month, the type of equipment, and the individual business requirement for the number of simultaneous calls to mobiles required.

Is the call quality inferior?

It appears that your calls are passing via two mobile calls and therefore call voice quality might be impaired. In reality, the FCT is set up with a static aerial which is optimised for position and can be augmented by an external aerial. Our engineers will not install if we are not satisfied that a high level signal is available to the FCT.

What happens when a SIM in the FCT exceeds its inclusive minutes?

Do I pay a mobile to mobile call costs? No, some FCT's can be set to switch off each SIM as it reaches its limit. The worst that can happen if there is excessive or unpredicted outgoing call volume is that you revert back to your current landline costs, no worse than to prior to FCT installation. We can monitor the FCTs and will suggest changes as your usage changes.

Is the FCT intelligent enough to share the load so that all my inclusive minutes are used?

Yes. Some of our FCT's are able to load balance so that full utilisation of inclusive minutes is achieved.

What happens if all my FCTs fail for whatever reason?

In such an unlikely event, the worst case is that you pay for outgoing calls just what you paid prior to the FCTs being installed.

Authorisation of Use?

All FCTs are registered in the client's name and all new installations are checked for capacity and approved by the relevant air time provider..

Can the FCT detect ported numbers?

If a PC is attached to the FCTs, a database of ported numbers can used for cross reference purposes. In reality, we seldom install this feature as we route all calls regardless of network that are passed down the ISDN lines.

When a user has a mobex/VPN system installed by their primary network operator, then there may need to be some filtering of calls required but usually this occurs before a call reaches the FCTs.

Do I have to re-program my PABX? Do I need my PABX engineer to change the
PABX ?

Our FCTs use a new feature - DialThru - which means that they simply plug in between the PABX and the ISDN lines. Only the small analogue systems require spare ports on an analogue PABX. We have pass-through options for them as well so usually all that is required is that a system is plugged in.