[sten]

call centers are an office just like any other. The hardware adds up pretty quick.

Today's pc's are cheaper then ever. It is not difficult to get a pc for less then $500 these days. These workers don't need the latest and greatest to read database entries off a webpage, ever a 200MHz box would work fine for that (ie: used equipment).

Allowing for NEW equipment would only increase the FIXED costs about $30,000... allowing for desks (no fancy cubes here.. $200 ea), an additional $12,000. Even the automated servers are not very expensive. Figure an additional 30 machines (callers determine which sound file they hear).. increases the fixed cost about $15,000. These costs run about $57,000 total. Allowing for unseens... increase that to $100,000. Then add office space in some warehouse district for less then $8/sq ft and go for about 2,000 sq ft, and you'd have about $1,333/month rent. These are all costs based on US numbers, not Mexican or Indian.

[Libloather]

These are all costs based on US numbers, not Mexican or Indian.

How about the cost of labor? With the minimum wage at what - $35 an hour - how does that compete with India?

[grellis]

I asked my husband last night if he thought $30 mil for a 7 year contract was exhorbitant. He said it does seem like a lot. Then he pointed out that the phone bill in his call center is $15,000/month, and that is down from the $32g a month that EDS was spending. Health insurance for employees has to be quite a bit as well. Virtually everyone in my husband's office is employeed full time. Maximus offers health, dental, and vision. I can't imagine that's cheap.