Posted: August 30th, 2009
Morodo features in the September 2009 edition of Mobile Business Magazine. Full text of the article is published here.
Morodo has created the new Mobile Network Operator model. It was among the first companies in the World to offer mobile voice applications. The business was founded in 2006 and is run by Andrew Reid, CEO, his brother Peter Reid, Sales Director and James Barnes, Chief Technical Officer. Here, we take a look at where this company is going.
Having spent the previous ten years working in telecoms, the writing on the wall was pretty clear, according to Andrew; call origination was migrating to mobile, networks were moving to VoIP. “We saw a fantastic opportunity to offer consumers an alternative network for voice calls. In choosing to develop our own mobile applications we have been able to provide a virtual mobile network operators (VMNO) service that anyone can use, no matter what make or model of mobile they own,” he explains.
VoIP + mobile apps
“Essentially, the convergence of VoIP and mobile application development made it possible for us to create a global VMNO without the burden of costly infrastructure, licensing and operational expenditure associated with a traditional mobile network. MO-Call, our branded calling service was first to be developed,” Andrew comments. “Now working on over 1,620 handsets across Symbian, Windows Mobile, RIM, Android, and J2ME for JAVA supported handsets and in mobile VoIP on over 70 handsets, our software sits on over 450 mobile network operator networks. Customers in over 100 countries are using MO-Call every month.”
Barnes adds: “MO-Call is an application that works on just about every mobile phone in the market. Once installed and running, MO-Call routes calls to the Morodo network, offering a substantial cost saving over MNO tariffs. It doesn’t matter which mobile network operator the customer uses or where they are located in the world, because you can use a local access number, SMS Gateways and VoIP through WiFi, it’s simple to get a call connected. In fact, in most smartphones, the service is seamless and invisible to the consumer.”
The VMNO strategy is to provide united communication access to customers, small to medium sized enterprises and large corporates, notes Peter. To use, a call on MO-Call feels like it has been delivered through the mobile network operators’ services pipe, he says. “We have a model that doesn’t only allow us to grow fast in a country. We can roll it out, in any number of countries in parallel creating a substantial mobile customer and revenue base. This is a model that could be utilised by VMNOs, fixed line operators and ISP’s. Our solution can be rolled out anywhere in the world in either developed or developing markets.”
How it works
Barnes explains what this business does: “Morodo has created the new mobile network operator model. We were amongst the first companies in the world to offer mobile voice applications, and to the best of our knowledge, we still support more mobile devices than any other company bar none. We haven’t stopped innovating and we’ll be offering plenty of new and exciting unified communications features on our roadmap.”
Morodo’s licensing model offers operators the opportunity to grow customer bases outside traditional geographical boundaries, allowing the licensee to step beyond their traditional market and capture market segments and revenue otherwise lost to them.
Further, Morodo has extended the mobile channel to market segments not otherwise equipped to step into the mobile space. MO-Call gives the fixed line operator an inexpensive entry point into the mobile voice origination market. A fixed line operator with an immature mobile business can very quickly bring to market a national or international voice service through a flexible licensing partnership.
Andrew states: “The network operators are becoming bitpipes. In the mass market, customer loyalty and retention is about good customer care and good quality of service, aspects of service that the larger operators keep failing to deliver. Our customers like us because we offer value and for us that goes beyond pence per minute.”
Zero to 3,500
To prove a point, Morodo has gone from zero to 3,500 paying customers in just 15 months. Andrew comments on the challenges: “Over the last 15 months we’ve built a customer base spanning the four corners of the globe. The greatest single challenge has been finding a level of communication with the addressable audience. Simply put it’s getting the good word of MO-Call out there.”
Making sure that Morodo offers sensible and usable methods of payment for an online service has meant managing an ongoing project to localise methods of payment, says Peter. From over the counter EFTPOS payments in Hong Kong, to Polish online payment aggregators, the company believes it has a greater reach than many like minded companies. It can also support traditional distribution channels such as prepaid PIN, just like any other operator except with a much bigger footprint, claims Peter. Andrew agrees: “Our customer base is global and our customers tell us that they love our service. As the cost savings over the MNO tariffs are so large, up to 90%.”
Dealer challenge
However, while a number of UK-based reseller have identified that the MO-Call end user proposition is incredibly strong, unfortunately, those old school resellers have also identified that at this time, they can make greater matgins from reselling MNO contracts. Peter states: “Regrettably we have a situation where the traditional comms reseller channel is part of the problem, not the solution. We wish the channel the best of luck as we can see some very real consolidation coming to the independent dealer sector. Accordingly, we have focused our efforts on internet affiliates. In this commission-based model, an online affiliate earns commission based upon a customer’s monthly MO-Call credit payments to Morodo.”
Yet it is still an interesting proposition, for value-add for the customer alone. On pricing, a call to Australia via Vodafone costs the end user £1.29 per minute, whereas MO-Call charges £0.018 per minute for that same call, with the same or better call quality, says Andrew. In addition to voice and SMS, the MO-Call VoIP application offers presence and instant messaging free of charge, something none of the big five mobile operators in the UK are currently offering, he notes.
Unfair advantage
Andrew says Morodo’s ‘unfair advantage’ in the market is its coverage of mobile handsets, currently 1,620 and growing every month. “No other like minded organisation comes close to that support level,” he states. “Other unique selling points would have to include Morodo’s low cost of operating structure and technology development. Having met the senior management of many competitors, the consensus is that we have done a very good job of keeping costs down.” He continues: “Operating within a declining sales price environment, such as telecoms, teaches you the value of keeping costs low. Of course, building the customer base and business is the biggest challenge now! I’d also add that while other like minded organisations have great applications and very competent people, the usability of our mobile voice applications are extremely compelling and the experience of our staff across the domains of telecoms, mobile handset and internet industries is very strong.”
Peter sums up: “I must add that our level of customer support gives MO-Call a distinct competitive advantage. Excellence in customer service is essential and the trickle down impact of our service culture is witnessed daily in our revenues.”
Posted: June 8th, 2009
LONDON – Morodo Limited is pleased to announce that it’s popular VoIP application, MO-Call, now supports Windows Vista. Morodo Managing Director, Andrew Reid, said. “Supporting Windows Vista and soon, Windows 7, helps us increase the availability of MO-Call to massive customer base. We continue to work towards supporting more operating systems ensuring that MO-Call customers can enjoy the benefits of low-cost and free VoIP calls on any device.”
James Barnes, Technical Director at Morodo, said. “Support for every Windows Operating System is a great foundation to catch market-share.” Mr. Barnes went on to say. “We will see many new internet-connected netbooks and Ultra Lightweight Personal Computers released in the near future. Many which run on Linux, and even Android, Operating Systems. Morodo will bring easy-to-use, clear quality VoIP to all of these devices. Support for Apple OS X is on the way.”
MO-Call enables low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. Offering seamless connection of low-cost calls, MO-Call provides savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs. The service works through a plug-in software application that can be downloaded, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com
Posted: June 1st, 2009
UK-Based Morodo Uses Internet to Provide Ultra-Low Cost International Calling To Mobile Customers; Service Succeeds Thanks to PortaSwitch’s Reliability and Scalability
COQUITLAM, BRITISH COLUMBIA – For legions of mobile phone users around the world, MO-Call isn’t just a service—it’s a lifeline. MO-Call, from UK-based Morodo Ltd., is a virtual mobile network that lets people make international calls from their mobile phone at a fraction of the cost charged by their mobile telephony provider. The secret: a software add-in, downloaded from the MO-Call Web site to the user’s mobile handset. The add-in shifts outgoing calls directly to Morodo’s VoIP network for completion; savings can be as much as 90% below existing mobile network international tariffs.
As early as its pre-launch testing phase several years back, Morodo knew its service would be hugely popular. Morodo quickly realized its proprietary billing system and vendor call management software would not scale quickly enough to meet the heavy demand. “We began seeking a robust, feature-rich billing and call control platform,” said James Barnes, Chief Technical Officer for Morodo Ltd. “After evaluating products from several vendors, we found that only PortaSwitch had the combination of reliability, scalability, features, call management capability, and product support we needed.”
PortaSwitch, from communications infrastructure company PortaOne, Inc., is a software-based communication services and subscriber management solution that lets IP telephony service providers deliver a wide variety of business models quickly and flexibly. The comprehensive, Class 5 product consists of a softswitch and application servers, delivering billing and provisioning, SIP call control, unified messaging, IP Centrex and IP PBX, voice VPN, callback management, conferencing and more.
“PortaSwitch is flexible enough to support MO-Call’s multiple means of call set-up, call routing, billing—including multi-currency support—and multiple vendor management, plus other features such as Helpdesk ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) and IVR (Interactive Voice Response),” Barnes noted.
Morodo uses every product included in PortaSwitch: PortaBilling100, PortaSIP, and PortaUM (unified messaging platform), and PortaBridge, a conference server. Morodo’s pre-assessment of MO-Call’s popularity—and system stress—was evident as soon as PortaSwitch was installed in 2007.
Thankfully, according to Barnes, PortaOne’s technical team has performed when needed.
“Our R&D has demanded much of PortaOne, frequently requesting support for new and innovative features in support of the MO-Call One Account communication service,” he stated. “Because we originate the majority of calls from cell phones using the MO-Call application suite, we have stretched the capabilities of PortaSwitch and the PortaSwitch development team. But they have always delivered for us.”
Since its rollout, PortaSwitch has improved Morodo’s business by making it faster and easier to manage call traffic, as well as to develop call features and calling products. The company has since introduced additional services including Web callbacks for PCs, mobiles and iPhones; instant messaging; free PC-to-PC calls, and low-cost international PC-to-phone calling. Barnes said PortaSwitch has not only alleviated the risk that is inherent in growing a broadly-focused, global telecom business, but also helped it compete head-to-head against Skype and the large mobile telephony providers. “PortaSwitch’s billing just works. It’s the simplest thing—but the hardest to get right,” he said. “I have worked in the telecom industry for fifteen years for carriers on three continents, and have never used a billing platform with so few bugs or errors. It’s quite an achievement.”
For more about MO-Call, log on to www.mo-call.com. To learn more about PortaOne’s PortaSwitch platform, go to www.portaone.com.
Posted: February 13th, 2009
LONDON – Virtual International Mobile Network Operator, Morodo Limited is pleased to announce the release of its MO-Call PC service. Morodo Managing Director, Andrew Reid, said. “The release of MO-Call PC compliments our existing MO-Call mobile service offer; this is a significant milestone in Morodo’s roadmap and step closer to our stated aim of becoming a complete telecommunications service provider.”
Mr. Reid continued. “MO-Call has always been defined by convenience and usability, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, there is a MO-Call solution that will save you money.”
James Barnes, Technical Director at Morodo, states, “MO-Call PC allows consumers to make free international calls from MO-Call account to MO-Call account. It also provides our customers with access to low rate VoIP calls to landlines and mobiles. The extras include an Instant Messaging client enabling chat through MO-Call, MSN, Yahoo and ICQ.”
Mr. Barnes went on to say. ‘MO-Call P.C is simple and easy to download and even easier to use. We’ve taken the logical next-step of porting this application to mobile and you will see MO-Call VoIP for mobile on smartphones very soon indeed. We want our customers to be able to enjoy free and low-cost calls anytime, anywhere.”
MO-Call enables low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. Offering seamless connection of low-cost calls, MO-Call provides savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs. The service can be downloaded, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com
Morodo is exhibiting MO-Call at the GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from 16th – 19th February. Come and see Morodo in Hall 1-0 Stand ID70.
Posted: February 13th, 2009
LONDON – Morodo Ltd is pleased to announce that its popular low-cost calling service, MO-Call, now supports the T-Mobile Google G1 mobile.
Morodo’s Managing Director, Andrew Reid, stated, “We’re very pleased to offer a completely seamless alternative calling solution for the G1. Android’s ability to run an application in the background makes it a perfect fit for the MO-Call plug-in. Once MO-Call is installed, all international calls are directed to the Morodo Network. It’s a great money-saving solution for consumers. This is yet another step towards our goal of becoming a global Virtual International Mobile Network Operator.”
James Barnes, Technical Director at Morodo, stated, “Manufacturers around the world are working on Android mobiles for release in 2009. MO-Call is the perfect complimentary application for this disruptive and groundbreaking Operating System. Once the application is switched on, just dial and save. Forget about paying traditional Mobile Operator call charges”
Mr. Barnes went on to say that he was “Particularly happy with this achievement as it represents a good example of porting an existing application to yet another technology platform.”
Morodo’s Research and Development team in Beijing, China is now hard at work on a VoIP application for smartphones that will offer free calls between MO-Call accounts and cheap calls to fixed and mobile networks. Applications for the Symbian and Windows Mobile Operating Systems are scheduled to be launched this spring.
MO-Call enables low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. Offering seamless connection of low-cost calls, MO-Call provides savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs. The service works through a plug-in software application that can be downloaded, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com
Morodo is exhibiting MO-Call at the GSM Mobile World Congress in Barcelona from 16th – 19th February. Come and see Morodo in Hall 1-0 Stand ID70. www.mobileworldcongress.com
Posted: November 17th, 2008
MACAU – Virtual International Mobile Network Operator, Morodo has announced the launch of an Affiliate and Reseller program, enabling everyone to share in the success of the popular MO-Call mobile international calling service.
Speaking at GSMA Asia Macau, where Morodo are exhibiting, Morodo Group Managing Director, Andrew Reid, said, “We had not planned on launching an Affiliate and Reseller program so soon but we were inundated with requests from around the world. It’s a great means of letting everyone share in the success of MO-Call.”
The MO-Call Affiliate program has been created to reward website owners for referring and creating new customers; Affiliates earn uncapped commission, in perpetuity, based on customer spending. The MO-Call Reseller program offers discount on volume airtime purchases. To join either program, simply visit www.mo-call.com
“Everyone wants to save money on international calls made from a mobile, MO-Call let’s you do just that.” Said Mr. Reid. “In the present economic climate, we believe the Affiliate and Reseller program will be a welcome source of extra income for members of the MO-Call global community.”
MO-Call enables low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. Offering seamless connection of low-cost calls, MO-Call provides savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs. The service works through a plug-in software application that can be downloaded, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com
Morodo is exhibiting MO-Call at the GSMA Asia event in Macau from 18th – 20th November. Come and see Morodo in Hall D Stand B42. www.mobileasiacongress.com
Posted: August 19th, 2008
LONDON – Virtual International Mobile Network Operator, Morodo (Hong Kong) Limited has teamed up with Circle K, providing electronic point-of-sale payment to customers of the popular MO-Call service.
Morodo Group Managing Director, Andrew Reid, said, “You can now buy MO-Call credit over-the-counter at more than 250 Circle K stores in Hong Kong. The Circle K brand is synonymous with convenience quality and value for money, together we make ideal partners as we share the same commitment to service excellence.”
MO-Call enables low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. Offering seamless connection of low-cost calls from a mobile phone, MO-Call provides savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs. The service works through a plug-in software application that can be installed on most mobile phones. Customers can download the plug-in, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.hk
Morodo is giving customers a free MO-Call account top-up card that can be used at any Circle K store in Hong Kong, anyone with a MO-Call account can request a card at the MO-Call website: www.mo-call.hk. For a limited time, Morodo is also offering a free MO-Call credit bonus of HK$25 with each new MO-Call account top-up card.
James Barnes, Technical Director at Morodo, restated his belief in continually improving MO-Call, saying, “Not everyone has, or wants to have, a credit card; topping up your MO-Call account at Circle K is easy, simply hand the cashier your payment and your top-up card and we’ll take care of the rest.”
To cool off in the summer heat this August, Circle K and Morodo are also giving all customers purchasing HK$100 or more of MO-Call credit a free can of 7UP Bite.
Posted: August 4th, 2008
LONDON – Virtual International Mobile Network Operator, Morodo Ltd, continues to expand the device footprint of its popular MO-Call low-cost calling service. Customers can now use MO-Call in any one of more than 1,000 different mobiles, from over 30 different mobile manufacturers.
MO-Call offers low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. Used when traveling overseas, MO-Call also helps avoid roaming charges. Providing seamless connection of a low-cost call from a mobile phone, MO-Call offers savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs
Morodo Ltd. Managing Director, Andrew Reid, said, “It’s yet another great leap forward for MO-Call. Expanding the device footprint is essential when addressing a global market. We have MO-Call customers in over 150 countries, using a wonderful mix of mobiles, some old, some new. We configure MO-Call for every new device and we’re working back into the legacy mobiles as well”
The MO-Call application was developed at Morodo’s Research and Development Centre in Beijing, China. Morodo Group Technical Director, James Barnes, said, “The Morodo team is intent on providing software applications for every popular mobile device group, operating system and manufacturer. From a €5,000 Gresso to a $25 Nokia, MO-Call just works. For those few mobiles that remain unsupported, we offer customers low-cost calling, direct from a device at our mobile website: http://mo-call.mobi.
MO-Call works through a plug-in software application that can be installed on most mobile phones. Customers can download the plug-in, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com.
Posted: July 28th, 2008
LONDON – Morodo Ltd is pleased to announce that its popular MO-Call Home service now covers 39 countries around the world. MO-Call Home provides low-cost international calling direct from a mobile phone, without the need to change mobile number, SIM or network. MO-Call Home offers savings of up to 90% over existing Mobile Network International Tariffs.
MO-Call Home is available in Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA.
Morodo Technical Director, James Barnes, said, “Together with a local SIM card from any of these countries, MO-Call Home will dramatically reduce international calling costs for consumers. What’s more, MO-Call World can also help customers avoid roaming charges when they are traveling.”
Morodo Managing Director, Andrew Reid, went on to say, “Our global service is growing, I’m delighted. Our MO-Call Home footprint is substantially increased, reinforcing our objective to become a Virtual International Mobile Network Operator without the capital costs or licensing burdens that encumber traditional Mobile Network Operators.”
MO-Call works through a plug-in software application that can be installed on most mobile phones. Customers can download the plug-in, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com. A Special Offer of GBP 2.50, Euro 3.50 or USD 5.00 trial credit is available, for a limited time, to allow new customers to experience the benefits of MO-Call.
Posted: July 23rd, 2008
LONDON – “The days of the Mobile Network Operators charging whatever they feel like for roaming calls are well and truly over.” says Morodo Group’s Managing Director, Andrew Reid, “You can now travel overseas for your summer break, call home as often as you like, and you don’t have to worry about paying an outrageous mobile bill when you get home – just use MO-Call.”
MO-Call works through a plug-in software application that can be installed on most mobile phones. Customers can download the plug-in, free of charge, from the MO-Call website www.mo-call.com. It’s always a comfort to take your mobile phone with you travel overseas; MO-Call makes it an affordable convenience to keep in touch whilst you are holiday.
Andrew Reid explains, “Everyone can use MO-Call World. This clever value-add to the MO-Call service works by interrupting the international call and sending an SMS to the Morodo Gateway, which can then connect an international call. You receive a call back at the number you nominate, when you answer we put your call through to your desired destination. When you set up the call we recommend that you receive the call back at a local landline or mobile number. This ensures that no roaming costs are incurred, beyond the cost of the SMS.”
MO-Call’s international calling rates for MO-Call World are published at the MO-Call website: www.mo-call.com. The MO-Call Team is available 24/7 via a Live Chat Service. They can also be reached via e-mail at support@mo-call.com and are ready to answer your questions.
