Popular VoIP cloud-based communications company magicJack VocalTec has launched a new service offering in Mexico called “Call U.S.” with Movistar, Telefonica’s (News - Alert) mobile operator brand in the country. Call U.S. is to be made available to Movistar’s over 20 million mobile customers, enabling them to purchase a U.S. phone number, allowing them to receive unlimited inbound calls from friends, relatives or business contacts based in the U.S.
At launch, the service was being price-tested at 30 Mexican pesos per week, which is about $2 (US) per week. Payment is made easy as Call U.S. is integrated with Telefonica/Movistar’s systems, allowing customers to pay through the same channels they use to pay for their wireless service. Telefonica and Movistar are working with magicJack to determine if unlimited outbound calling can be added to the service.
Last year, magicJack rolled out another new service dubbed magicJackEXPRESS, a low-cost, pay as you go service. More recently, the company appointed Keith Reed as its general manager senior vice president of Enterprise Sales.
“We are pleased to be testing this new service offering with Telefonica and Movistar in Mexico,” said Gerald Vento, president and CEO of magicJack VocalTec (News - Alert). “While there are a number of unlimited outbound calling options for mobile customers in Mexico, we are eager to test the market’s interest in having a U.S. phone number linked to a non-smartphone, enabling Movistar mobile customers to receive unlimited inbound calling from friends, relatives and business contacts located anywhere in the U.S.”
Under the terms of the agreement between magicJack and Telefonica/Movistar, which was signed in the final quarter of 2015, magicJack “shares meaningfully in any net revenue generated by the service.” Although Call U.S. is being made available to all Movistar’s mobile customers, the service is in fact primarily aimed at non-smartphone users. After all, such users don’t have the option of downloading a free mobile calling app and make up an estimated 85 percent of Movistar’s customer base in Mexico.