I was ecstatic to read Basheera Khan’s post over at The Guardian, and then afterwards finding its way to Techcrunch. The latter I (I’m sure there were others) would like to take some credit for after sending messages to @bash requesting that cross-posting happens.
Essentially both O2 (and BT which suprisingly avoided more condemnation) tried to prevent an app being allowed in the App Store. One which allowed iPhone users to avoid paying the exhorbitant costs of dialling 08* numbers in the UK from their cellphones by instead using an alternative. These numbers are mostly for businesses and more often than not are their sales or support lines.
It does this by replacing the 08* number, which does not come out of your paid-for monthly free minutes, with an equivalent 02* or 01* number which would only reduce free minutes with no additional charge. Essentially O2 did what they could to prevent its acceptance, as this would affect their bottom line as the majority of UK companies make use of these numbers. These calls are charged at a premium rate, an average of about 35p/minute.
In the UK, I have never understood the idea of charging your potential customer for the call they need to make to purchase your product or service. Or on the other hand to receive support for a service or product which they have purchased. I am therefore glad to see O2 being called out for trying to avoid this cost saving consumer app making it into the App Store.
Continue reading:
- Everything New Apple Just Announced (Septembe
- Apple Watch Pre-Order
- Apple Research Kit launches with 5 Apps
- Apple TV now only $69
TAGS: O2
