The Ministry of Communications today published a directive on 1-800 and 1-801, extending the toll-free service to calls made from mobile telephones. The directive will come into effect on March 28. Currently, calls are only free when made from a landline.
Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Co. Ltd. (TASE: BEZQ) and other inland telephony operators provide the toll-free service. In an effort to boost competition in the sector, the Ministry of Communications is allowing all landline and mobile operators to provide toll-free service.
Currently, a call to a toll-free number from a mobile telephone isn't free: it costs up to NIS 0.22 per minute, plus VAT.
1-800 numbers predate mobile telephones, and applying only to landline networks, but many consumers mistakenly believe that calls to 1-800 and 1-801 numbers are also free. This fact leads to a lack of transparency for customers calling from mobile phones.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 25, 2009
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