MaxSim.co.uk launches web-enabled conference calling

MaxSim.co.uk‘s service looks good. Their main service is providing pre-paid phone services

Ostensibly the news today is that:

MaxSIM.co.uk, a leading provider of prepaid roaming mobile phone services, today announces the launch of its first-to-market web-enabled and conference calling facilities, becoming the only prepaid SIM provider to offer such a service. This leading edge service allows business users to not only make cheap calls, but also to set up conference calls whilst abroad at no additional fee for the conference facility, via any phone, anywhere.

MaxSIM.co.uk’s service is web-enabled, meaning calls are set up and connected via the internet, as opposed to a traditional mobile phone network. Therefore a businessperson travelling in Japan can set up a conference call with colleagues in Madrid, London, New York and Sydney and only pay for the cost of the calls rather than the conference service.

However if you haven’t taken a look at them before — and you do a lot, or a little international travel, check out this quick overview of their service:

• our maxSIMâ„¢ allows you to redirect calls to any landline or mobile anywhere in the world, so you can receive calls in a house or hotel room.
• You can set up your account to top up automatically. Great for when you’re on the beach or the ski slope without a credit card!
• Alternatively, you can divert calls from your UK mobile to your maxSIMâ„¢ number.
• To divert all calls to your maxSIMª phone enter the following codes in your UK handset before removing your own SIM card: **21*your maxSIMâ„¢ number#[SEND]. Any calls to your UK phone will now ring on your maxSIMâ„¢ phone.
• You will be charged for the diverted part of your calls, which will cost the same as a cross-network call. For example, if you are travelling to Turkey, most UK mobile networks charge between 90p-£1.39 per minute to receive a call from the UK. By diverting calls to a maxSIM phone you will pay between 25-30p per minute for diverted calls, making a substantial saving. You will pay nothing to receive a call.

That makes a lot of sense to me.  A lot.   I particularly like it that there are 65 countries where it’s free to receive calls with your MaxSim — France is one of them. I could have used this service when I was abroad recently. 

A SIM costs £29.99 and includes £5 credit.  I think £29 is quite steep because I’m used to paying nothing or a few pounds for a SIM card.  However they’ve gotta make their cash too though.   The rates appear pretty reasonable for mobile:  If I was using the MaxSim service from France, I’d be paying $0.55 a minute — £0.29 a minute to call London. 

More at www.maxsim.co.uk.