PokeTalk

Saw this on BBC's Click website. VOIP service that offers free 10 minute calls to and from a number of destinations, some including to mobile phones. You enter the numbers of both phones involved in the call and PokeTalk connects them, sponsored by advertising.

The connection method is not new, but I'm not aware of another service of this type that does it for free. Should be interesting to see how long this lasts in the current economic climate:

http://www.poketalk.com/

This has been tried before but it quickly gets hacked. (The account info gets 'sniffed', making it possible to set up for free calls using an ATA without seeing any of the adverts). Unless you get advertising sponsorship from a true 'global brand' (Coca Cola or Sony perhaps) the localised advertising is not targeted correctly and the sponsors find they are getting no benefit and pull out.

The theory would work if you could geo target the advertising, something I am sure other operators are working on right now.

Its an intersting model, the Calls are in theory paid for from clicks on the site adverts. But I guess the real reason is this.

Quote:

The system continuously enhances its "familiarization" with each user, allowing for best match between the available advertisement in the inventory and the users' area of interest. The data bases start accumulating the relevant information during the registration process, through virtual communities (facebook, etc.) and the ongoing system utilization.

So I guess you could call the free call your payment for the details they get on you and the parent company use.

Ian

I have been using PokeTalk for few months now in addition to three other VoIP service providers. Basic free service does not cover some of the countries I call. So I also paid for their PRO service.
Sound quality is good and has not have any probs with getting a connection.

It is a ring back service; so you pay from the moment you initiate the call from their website. Just a few seconds, so no big deal. Unlike some more expensive offerings from the likes of Finarea, you only pay if you get connected.

Their new interface is an improvement but still has a few bugs. Nothing too serious though.

Unlike Betamax, with Poketalk, you do get a reply from their customer service.

PokeTalk is a minnnow compared to BetaMax/Finarea but they are growing fast.

I wish them well.

saw this entry by PokeTalk in their Facebook:

".... limited accounts now have a total of 30 calls. This allows us to continue being efficient with low prices for Pro calls, reduce abusive users, and provide high quality calls. We hope you understand and continue enjoying PokeTALK's services."

"limited accounts" persumably mean free accounts.
No more 30 free calls per month, it seems.
don't know if PRO users will continue to get 30 free calls per month!

Yes Pro accounts will continue to get 30 free calls per month, you can see those available features when you change your free a/c to Pro.

I got a PRO account. Just made a free call to France. didn't take 10 mins. so don't know if that rule still apply.

Anyways, hope that the changes lead to the promised high quality service.

Any company that offers a quality VoIP service outside the Betamax/ Finarea empire is welcome news.