| When you are evaluating different SIP termination | | | | Some of the most important surcharges to watch out |
| providers you need to make sure that you are | | | | for are: |
| comparing apples to apples. Because the rates the | | | | - Surcharge for not meeting the average desired |
| differentSIP termination providers are quoting you may | | | | minimum ACD/ALOC. ACD stands for Average Call |
| not be the real rates - what you will pay may actually | | | | Duration and ALOC means Average Length Of Call. |
| differ once you start adding special surcharges, fees | | | | These are both synonyms for the same thing. If your |
| and penalties. They may give you a great rate deck, | | | | calls are too short they will cost you more. Many SIP |
| but be sure to check the fine print so that you are | | | | termination providers require a minimum average |
| comparing real rates and not fake rates. | | | | duration of 30 seconds. |
| So what are some things you should look out for? | | | | - Surcharge if you have too many calls that not |
| First of all you really need to know the statistics for | | | | connect. The ASR is the percentage of calls that do |
| the traffic you have. If your business is using a PBX or | | | | not complete. This is not an issue for most people |
| an automated telemarketing solution chances are high | | | | unless you are using a automated dialer that dials |
| that you are able to pull a so called CDR file from your | | | | sequential ranges of telephone numbers. |
| equipment which often summarizes the most important | | | | - Unfavorable traffic blend: some areas are more |
| statistics. | | | | expensive to terminate calls to than others. Be sure |
| Many SIP providers do not like short calls and calls that | | | | that there are no restrictions as to having to send a |
| do not complete like dialing non existing numbers. | | | | certain percentage of calls to low cost areas. |
| These types of calls cost them the same resources | | | | As with everything when selecting a SIP provider you |
| as long calls to set up, yet they do not yield to much | | | | need to make sure that you read the fine print and |
| revenue. In order to make these calls profitable they | | | | make sure that you are comparing the real rates |
| often charge additional fees if the percentage of calls | | | | including all surcharges rather than just the rate sheet |
| that fall into the undesired categories. | | | | that they sent you. |