Well, the Viber iPhone application has gain tremendeous popularity in Singapore recently. Go http://www.viber.com/ to find out more. You have to pay for the 3G data plan on your iPhone to use Viber to call.
So the question of the day: How Cheap is using Viber to call from the Internet than using Singtel or Starhub contracts?
Answer: So cheap that you can make 20 to 100 times longer calls with the same budget depending on your contract with Singtel/Starhub/M1. Unbelievable.
Calculation:
Assuming you already have an iPhone by signing a contract with either Singtel or Starhub or M1. Then, you will have a 12GB data plan. Viber actually helps people who already save money on their contract to save more.The key in deciding whether you should use Viber or the normal Singtel/Starhub/M1 call is to compare which call is more expansive per minute. Since Viber calls consume data in bytes, we shall assume that for one minute a Viber call uses 1.2MB. This estimation is base on Skype’s benchmark for calls. Here, we assume all your friends are already using Viber and you decide to use your all the bandwidth for your data plan to call people only. In reality, you might use the bundled contract to SMS, go online on your phone, download games…etc. The last assumption is that you will not exceed your data plan usage or minutes alocated to call for your bundle package.
Assumptions:
Viber call uses 1.2MB/minute (Base on Skype voice calls)
* If you have a more accurate estimate, do comment.
**Foudn at http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=43&topicid=32434
You have not exceed your limit for your contract to call or use the Intenet.
Then,
Cost per minute using Viber = ( Monthly Cost of Contract / Bandwidth in MB) * 1.2 MB / Minute
Cost per minute for each iPhone plan = ( Monthly Cost of Contract / Minutes alocated to plan )
How many times cheaper = Cost per minute for each iPhone plan / Cost per minute using Viber
You will get the following:
Singtel iFlexi Lite iFlexi Value iFlexi Plus
Monthly Cost $39 $56 $95
Minutes to call 100 200 500
Data allocated 12GB 12GB 12GB
Cost per Minute
Normal Call 0.39 0.28 0.19
Viber 0.0039 0.0056 0.0095
Times Cheaper 100 50 20
Win: Viber
Starhub iPhone 100 iPhone 300 iPhone 700
Monthly Cost $38 $58 $98
Minutes to call 100 300 700
Data allocated 12GB 12GB 12GB
Cost per Minute
Normal Call 0.38 0.38 0.014
Viber 0.0031 0.0048 0.008166
Times Cheaper 122 79 17.5
Win: Viber
M1 iPhone Value iPhone Lite
Monthly Cost $36 $56
Minutes to call 100 300
Data allocated 12GB 12GB
Cost Per Minute
Normal Call 0.36 0.18
Viber 0.0038 0.0056
Times Cheaper 95 32
Win: Viber
Potentially, you can use viber to call for more minutes than your contract plan.
Total call time = 12GB/(1.2MB per minute) = 10 000 minutes.
Viber Win hands down. The age of Viber has come. Spread this article.
By LittleDino
I write daily articles about fun things to do in Singapore
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