International calls sometimes half the Telkom rate Ray Smuts TELECOMMUNICATIONS and internet service provider Storm is out to capture a larger slice of South Africa’s freight, shipping and logistics business by offering a host of benefits. Five years old and backed by an investment in this country of some R40 million, one of Storm’s major advantages for businesses is a substantial cost saving over Telkom rates on international calls, says MD Tim Wyatt-Gunning. With a client base of 4 000 companies (among them MSC, Safbulk and Rennies Logistics), Wyatt-Gunning is confident his nationwide team of 30 account managers will grow the business considerably by servicing special market needs, like the freight, shipping and logistics industries. Around 50 such companies already subscribe to Storm services and the client base includes 30 on the Johannesburg Security Exchange’s Top 100 companies. Storm essentially offers three main voice and data services: Service One: Storm International’s calls abroad come in at between 20% and 50% below Telkom rates, a subscription proviso being that international calls should exceed R1 500 per month. Service Two: Storm Cellular saves companies up to 40% on calls from PABX to cellular phones. This is done by converting a landline to a cell call into a cell phone to cell phone call by means of a router installed on the back of the PABX. Service 3: Storm Access provides internet access services at very competitive rates to South African businesses, including leased line and dial-up internet access and web and server hosting. Storm is ‘paperless’ in the sense that all billing is done by e-mail and no matter whether one or all services are subscribed to there is only one monthly statement. Clients are able to check the status of their account at any time through Storm’s customer zone on the internet. Wyatt-Gunning says Storm, backed by UK venture capitalist Sir Peter Michael, has its own switch network in Britain which allows for effective quality control of international calls anywhere in the world, including Inmarsat (satellite phones on ships). Its range of voice and data services positions Storm to become the major telecommunications provider for the ever growing needs of smaller and larger corporates, says Wyatt-Gunning. It will be able to provide its clients with fully converged voice and data services once deregulation occurs
