The TelFree Group of Companies
The TelFree Group is a privately-owned group of companies headquartered in Switzerland, which provide value-added communication services of the next generation. TelFree has positioned itself to penetrate the 'last growth market' - namely, Africa and other emerging markets - but not to the exclusion of developed markets.
Under the visionary guidance of its CEO, Walter Betschel, TelFree makes the ideal of unified communications a reality. It does this by bringing together carrier-grade telephony, teleconferencing, voicemail and SMS messaging, as well as instant messaging (chat), email services and presence notification services, among others. With TelFree, unified communication is achieved across a range of products for the mobile phone, the PC/laptop and office PBX technologies, thereby creating a single user interface and user experience across multiple devices and media types.
The software development division of TelFree is proudly housed in Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa under the expert guidance of Rapelang Rabana and her team.
Walter Betschel - CEO, TelFree Group of Companies
The Chief Executive Officer of the TelFree Group of Companies is a true entrepreneur and a gentleman. He has established and continues to lead successful companies across a variety of fields that pique his keen intellect, on all continents with the exception of Australia.
An Austrian by birth, Betschel makes his primary residence in Africa, despite the Group being headquartered in Switzerland. It is here that on many occasions, he has worked with the likes of UNESCO and numerous Heads of State, to create a positive impact and make a real difference to the indigent people of his chosen home.
In his professional capacity, Walter Betschel is internationally renowned for his ability to develop strategic frameworks and sales strategies for businesses as well as his visionary capabilities to invest in industry sectors of the future, long before they deliver on their promise. His skills have been honed through various qualifications and experience over his 66 years, including; psychology, theology, sales and marketing as well as music.
Rapelang Rabana - Head of Research & Development
TelFree's Global Head of Research and Development, Rapelang Rabana, epitomises the new global generation of ingenious business intellectuals, able to influence how the future world works.
After a distinctive university life, including leadership positions on several councils and internships with some of the world's biggest corporates, Rapelang Rabana graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor in Business Science Degree, Honours in Computer Science and a Finance Major. Rabana went on to be selected as an Endeavour Entrepreneur in 2007 and a finalist in the BBQ Young Business Achiever Award, also in 2007. She is without doubt, as the Mail & Guardian newspaper suggested, one of the top 100 young people you must have lunch with.
Rabana as co-founder and CEO of SA-based software development organisation, Yeigo, oversaw the company's integration into the TelFree Group of companies in 2008. Now as Global Head of R&D, she and her colleagues in Cape Town and Pretoria continue to ensure that the telecommunications giant remains at the forefront of alternative communications.
TelFree Mobile and TelFree Web - FAQs
How does TelFree Mobile work?
The services are provided over the internet - TelFree provides cutting edge next generation internet based services on mobile telephones. Through the TelFree Mobile application, consumers have access to calls, messaging, chatting and emailing over the internet with exceptional quality. Telfree Mobile can be used on the following smartphones: Nokia E-Series, N-Series and XpressMusic, HTC Windows Mobile and Samsung Omnia, and of course, the iPhone.
How does TelFree Web work?
From your desktop or laptop, log onto www.telfree.com and register an account. From your computer you will be able to have access to all of the services provided by TelFree with the exception of e-mail as the majority of users will have their own e-mail accounts already registered on their computers. No downloading or installing is necessary.
What technology does the application use?
The Technology is developed by TelFree in-house and incorporates certain standard technologies and protocols (standards of communication) that allow TelFree to interoperate with other operators around the world and work with a broad spectrum of mobile phones.
Can South African bandwidth cope with the increased VoIP demand?
If using TelFree application on 3G or Wi-Fi, this should not present a problem as our applications have been specifically developed to cope with a bandwidth starved environment.
How can it be the same rate anywhere?
TelFree has sound, strategic commercial relationships that they have spent a number of years establishing and building credibility with. TelFree are committed to making international communication simpler and more accessible and what simpler way than to offer flat worldwide rates.
What's the catch?
TelFree offers a variety of packages from a subscription to a per month package (30 days notice) - TelFree doesn't tie consumers into contracts. Like its services, everything is flexible and designed to suit individual needs.
The only possible 'catch' would be that consumers need to have a connection to the internet such as Wi-Fi or 3G, as TelFree doesn't cover these costs.
Typically, when you are connecting on your home and office internet or Wifi, you will just be using your existing internet package and not pay any more. You can connect via your mobile SIM card and if you have a data bundle, you won't pay any more, otherwise you would pay your mobile operator per MB of data. You can connect via free wifi hotspots available in public spaces like coffee shops or join of the major hotspot providers like Wireless G.
Why hasn't this been launched before?
In a manner of speaking it has - the software development arm of TelFree, launched the world's first VoIP on mobile four years ago but have spent the past couple of years developing, fine tuning and testing as well as negotiating the various interconnect agreements before launching a Beta testing to market. Technologically, TelFree is right on the curve of these kinds of developments on mobile phones and it is only now that supporting technology is good enough to support developments and applications of this nature.
Deregulation of this market is also occurring, opening up opportunities for alternative operators to enter the market and revolutionise the current service offerings.
While VoIP was permitted in SA in 2005, there were a number of factors that still prevented new 'virtual operators' like TelFree from getting in, as the incumbents, as in any market, resist and the process takes very long.
How is this different to Skype?
The most obvious and compelling difference, is that Skype was designed for and made for a world of computers with lots and lots of bandwidth - which is very much not the case in a developing market like in Africa - this is evidenced in the fact that less than 5% of South Africans have ever used Skype at least once - and this after Skype has been around for over a decade.
TelFree was designed from the beginning to solve the problems of the developing world because that is their primary focus. For TelFree, the mobile market is the number one market, it's not an accessory, it's not just a nice to have, and it is their principle business. As a result, several aspects make their solutions superior:
TelFree is much more aggressive in their phone coverage. They cover: the full range of Nokia smart phones, HTC Windows Mobile phones and iPhones.
They recognize that their customers need to be able to do everything on their phone, because it is their de facto tool of communication. So they push the capabilities of mobile devices in order to provide customers with more services - they now offer a wide array of services, such as SMS, email and instant messaging to all the major social networks.
Additional differences:
Skype's rates differ country to country - no global flat rates
Skype does not thread messages etc and does not do SMS at all
Skype does not do email at all
Skype is primarily a web based platform whereas TelFree combines offline and online worlds into one effortlessly and seamlessly.
Skype's primary offering is just voice. They do have instant messaging, but their key is just voice.
TelFree is offering a unified communication experience encompassing your most popular means of communication: voice, SMS, email, IM in one.
What is a Smartphone?
A smartphone is any phone that supports advanced data applications such as an Apple iPhone; many of the Nokias, Samsungs etc - the only smartphone that will not support TelFree is Blackberry as it has its own technology and this is what made Blackberry less accessible for us.
Can I keep my number?
Yes, you can keep your number, but TelFree issues you an 087 number anyway, which even when you are disconnected to the network, will send you a message so you can log on through your phone (or web) to connect to your TelFree account to see who is messaging you or calling you.
The 087 number is fully portable.
TelFree do not interfere at all with your GSM number.
How do I start?
Visit and register at http://www.telfree.com or SMS 'telfree' to 39642 and download the application (SA only).
Can I only make calls with Telfree from my computer?
No, you can make calls on your mobile - that's why it's the new freedom of speech - anytime, anywhere.
Do I have to have a contract?
No, you pay a monthly subscription - 30 days notice.
How does the billing work?
You pay by credit card and in South Africa, you can purchase UKash vouchers at Pick 'n Pay outlets around the country.
Who's behind this?
The TelFree Group of companies under Walter Betschel who saw the potential in South African based Yeigo and who are now the fully integrated software development arm of this international telecommunications group.
Who are TelFree's clients?
TelFree's work has always been geared to improve the communication options for people in developing markets by bringing affordable and convenient communication to a badly underserviced market.
At the same time, TelFree are truly pioneering on a global scale and anyone, anywhere in the world, who has to keep up with calls, emails, social networking, stands to gain a lot from using TelFree's services.
How big is the company, where do you operate from?
The TelFree Group of companies has approximately 30 people working around the world in Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa; in China; Germany and Switzerland. Our product development happens in Cape Town where most of the team is all from the same graduation class from the University of Cape Town.