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Adraco · 05-19-2011, 07:10 AM

Could it be some sillyness with 1kb really being 1024 bytes and some error in their programming, causing it to round numbers in their own favour everytime?

I know many European mobile phone companies which will charge you the full minute price per started minute. So if your call is 61 seconds long, you will be charged the full price of two minutes. Also note that most European plans do not come with a set of free airtime or minutes, like the regular american plan does. Instead you pay by the minute. More often than not, it comes down to billing practices and it's extremely difficult for phone companies to keep up with all their different pricing plans, roaming fees, and so on and so forth. They have simply lost control over their own billing and are just trying to work out something feasible which works without too much headaches. Three years ago I saw one of the largest consultancy firms in the world fail to be able to develop and implement a billing system for one of Europe's largest carriers. So it's not easy.

That, on the other hand, does not in any one way warrant any errors or overcharges. Being incompetent to bill for your own services, is not an excuse for not doing what's right.

05-19-2011, 07:10 AM
Adraco Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2009 Location: Onboard an airplane around the globe Posts: 3,741	Could it be some sillyness with 1kb really being 1024 bytes and some error in their programming, causing it to round numbers in their own favour everytime? I know many European mobile phone companies which will charge you the full minute price per started minute. So if your call is 61 seconds long, you will be charged the full price of two minutes. Also note that most European plans do not come with a set of free airtime or minutes, like the regular american plan does. Instead you pay by the minute. More often than not, it comes down to billing practices and it's extremely difficult for phone companies to keep up with all their different pricing plans, roaming fees, and so on and so forth. They have simply lost control over their own billing and are just trying to work out something feasible which works without too much headaches. Three years ago I saw one of the largest consultancy firms in the world fail to be able to develop and implement a billing system for one of Europe's largest carriers. So it's not easy. That, on the other hand, does not in any one way warrant any errors or overcharges. Being incompetent to bill for your own services, is not an excuse for not doing what's right. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The truth is not affected by the beliefs, or doubts, of the majority.