The Problem:

Due to different cellular technologies in use in the United States, international roaming on the most common network type, GSM, is not supported by many carriers. Additionally, in cases where it is supported, roaming bills are causing expense and reporting headaches, costing you and your organization significantly more time and money than you would like. Goals

• Reduce international roaming costs.
• Reduce strain on IT management by pushing self-service capabilities out to end-users.
• Maintain and improve expense reporting functions.
• Minimize disruption to employees' work
• Minimize any need to learn new policies, behaviors, and tools

Solution

As a standards based GSM roaming solution, RangeRoamer provides employees with enhanced communication service that enables seamless global roaming, requires minimal modification to employee behavior, and enables all phone calls to be answered on one device while traveling. A sophisticated online web-portal delivers additional features and benefits directly to end users in an intuitive fashion. Two phone numbers, including a US toll-free forwarding number, are included with each account to ensure easy employee accessibility and reduce IT hassles, and a text messaging portal provides a new and unobtrusive method to disseminate information to traveling employees.

Implementation and Roll-Out

Individual or department-wide rollout can be accomplished through an employee self-service mechanism (a basic web-based self-service ordering and fulfillment process takes about 10 minutes.) Starter kits are sent directly via post to each end-user. Alternatively, the business may opt for a managed rollout, in which case it will supply a list of all users requiring roaming service, and RangeRoamer will provision all accounts, forwarding features, billing setup, and handset fulfillment and SIM installation (if needed.) End-users receive a pre-activated and immediately ready-for-use travel package.

Starter Kit packages contain: ($54.99 each)

• RangeRoamer Global SIM card
• Two phone numbers: a US toll free number as well as a European mobile number.
• Global Travel Adapter kit
• Pre-printed wallet size cards with account information
• Tri/Quad band unlocked GSM handset fulfillment is optional, and, depending on current handsets in use, this may or may not be required. Available handset models range from $99 to $349.

Billing and Expense Reporting

Expense reports are automatically generated by the online web-system and each employee has access to only their own roaming expenses. Corporate charge cards as well as standard credit cards are supported. Terms are available for qualified companies, and purchase orders are also accepted.

Call Forwarding:

All calls from employees' other phone lines (office/US cell/other) may be forwarded to the assigned toll-free number provided with the RangeRoamer SIM. Calls will automatically be directed to the roaming user worldwide. These calls are automatically logged in the RangeRoamer account management portal.

Voicemail:

Voicemail is available but is usually not enabled since it is typically in employees' interest to reduce, not increase, the number of voicemail boxes across their communication devices. Employees may call into their home voicemail system from their RangeRoamer phone.

Call Charges

The attached annex lists per minute inbound and outbound call charges for RangeRoamer plan users.

All accounts operate on a pay-as-you-go basis. An automatic top-up feature ensures uninterrupted availability of service. Employees can also manually increase their account balances or change their billing thresholds or rules at any time.

Pricing Highlights:

• Outbound calls charged at 69 cents per minute from most countries.
• Inbound calls received on the employee's European mobile number are free in 36 countries, including all of Western Europe. Outside of this area, inbound calls incur additional charges.
• Inbound calls received on the employee's assigned toll-free number are billed at 69 cents per minute, in addition to any additional inbound call charges depending on the roaming users location.