FDI Telecom

I thought it might be useful to share my experiences regarding FDI's telecom offering from GI Connect.

Let me start by posting a link to their telecom presentation.

http://www.scribd.com/full/19895388?access_key=key-1jes51b6iqdhex0nakfi

FDI offers a number of products which give access to their VOIP network.

They have a normal VOIP adapters which permit a home user with internet access to connect phones to their network directly through their internet connection.

Their premium home VOIP product, the Tri-Net is kind of a PBX system in a box. Like a normal VOIP adapter, you connect the box to a home internet connection and the box gives phones access to FDI/GI Connect's network. The Tri-Net has many features and capabilities to permit the user to set up extensions, block numbers and a whole range of PBX like features. It is geared towards small business users and can be very effective in that role. The Tri-Net also accepts a SIM card (not required) which permits the device to act as a mobile device as well. The benefit behind this is that for cell phone users who want to keep their existing phones and carriers but want to benefit from VOIP pricing, the mobile number for the Tri-Net's SIM card can be added to your "Friends and Family" or "Inner Circle" block of numbers, making the call free from your cell phone. Then, once connected to the Tri-Net and therefore the GI Connect network, you may dial any number and take advantage of VOIP rates. It adds one more step to the process but is a means of providing VOIP service to mobile users without forcing them to change their equipment. They could, of course, lower their plans minutes to reduce their mobile expense.

FDI/GI Connect also offers a device called a Widget which can plug into the line of any phone and automatically connect that phone into the GI Connect network accessing VOIP rates and incurring only a local call on the phone.

Another device offered is a USB phone which works in conjunction with a soft-phone installed on a laptop.

On the mobile side, FDI/GI Connect offers two phones currently.

One phone is called the GI Cell ( I haven't been able to determine the manufacturer but it is obviously made in China). This phone is a Tri-mode phone meaning it can make calls via GSM (normal cell), GPRS (cell provider data network) or WiFi network. I can't say I'm thrilled with the format of the phone. Let's just say it won't induce anyone to give up their smartphone. I received the phone about a month ago and have had no difficulty in making calls on the phone via GSM or WiFi. However, to date, I have not been able to connect to a GPRS network. That's probably the biggest catch with the phone, in order to use the phone in anything other than a WiFi hotspot, you must get a SIM card from a carrier (AT&T and TMobile are the two GSM carriers supported). I am told that TMobile is easier to configure and I believe that (I borrowed a TMobile Sim card at one point and got closer to connecting to their GPRS network than I ever have with AT&T). After a full month of trying, I still have never succeeded in connecting the phone to AT&T's GPRS network. This exposes what I think is the biggest hole in FDI/GI Connects strategy with this phone. The fact that I must get a SIM card from a third party introduces unneeded complexity and opens the door for finger pointing between the SIM provider and FDI/GI Connect. I have to say that AT&T has been very good about trying to help me connect this phone to their network. However, the phone is obscure enough that its identifying IMEI number is not even known on their system. I have received attempts at assistance from a number of FDI reps and they have done their best but are not qualified to diagnose technical issues. I find it disappointing that my calls to the support lines for GI Connect go unanswered and unreturned. This makes me very worried about selling this phone to customers. If there is no tech support, that means by default they would come to me and I obviously haven't been trained well enough to troubleshoot problems with these phones. An interesting side note about this phone is that the charger that it ships with is fitted with a plug for European power outlets. Not a positive. All in all a very frustrating experience.

The second mobile option provided is essentially just a smartphone from HTC. This phone does have videophone capabilities, however you must still get your SIM card and service from AT&T, TMobile, etc. So, the only way to make use of VOIP with this phone is to use it in conjunction with the Tri-Net as described earlier or to use one of FDI/GI Connect's access numbers to dial into their system and then dial the number you would like to call.

In short, I think FDI/GI Connect has put together some interesting technologies for telecom but I fear that it may be too complicated for many customers to deal with.