Introducing PrisonConnect Cloud
PrisonConnect Cloud is a fixed termination service that sends your call to an app rather than your mobile number. This means there are no forwarded calls or redirections so it’s compliant with rules prohibiting call forwarding or redirection services.
If you have an existing PrisonConnect service, you can switch it to Cloud so you don’t have to get a new number.
PrisonConnect Cloud vs PrisonConnect Mobile
As with anything new, there are Good-Things and Less-Good-Things.
The Good Things
Price
PrisonConnect Cloud doesn’t forward calls over the mobile phone network so we don’t have to pay the telcos for the calls. That makes it up to 70% cheaper than our current PrisonConnect service (now referred to as PrisonConnect Mobile). The app is free as well.
Simple Operation
The app works like part of your phone. Your phone rings the same as it does now; you’re just using an app to pick up the call.
Flexibility
You have the potential to install the app on any device with internet access, While most people will install it on their phone you can also use an iPad or Android tablet if you prefer.
Extended Reach
You’ll be able to receive calls wherever you have internet access including potentially overseas. We say “potentially” because the internet can be a wild place and some countries and ISPs block certain services, so it’s not guaranteed.
The Less-Good-Things
Set up
Set up is a little more complicated because you need to install an app from your phone’s app store, but it’s still a pretty simple process. We provide you with step-by step instructions to get it installed in minutes. You can use a QR code that automatically sets up your app. No account names or passwords to mess with!
Internet Required
The app requires an internet connection to receive calls. If you’re offline, you won’t get any calls.
Variable Call Quality
While its relatively expensive, forwarding calls over the telephone and mobile networks offers reliably good call quality. The telco networks are designed from the ground up to carry voice traffic and they’re very good at it
Voice calls over the internet are way cheaper, but are much less reliable in terms of quality, and can change rapidly. If you have good reliable internet you’ll have a great experience, but patchy internet may result in frustration.
Real-time communication is especially vulnerable to network conditions that other services can paper over. If you’re watching a Netflix movie and your internet drops a few chunks, Netflix just re-downloads the bits that went missing without you even noticing. If that happens on a voice call though, you’ve lost that little bit of audio forever and it starts sounding “choppy”.
Switching to PrisonConnect Cloud
We have detailed instructions on switching your existing PrisonConnect service to Cloud here.