This sub headline was in many papers today, which is aimed at all broadband users.

Using Skype, the system will allow the user to call any number in the UK free for 12 months.

"A freetalk business service will be announced later this month"

There has to be a catch, and it is probably the time one has sign up to.

Vonage probably is still better but who has heard of them? (And is incidentally the only one that allows access to 999)

juby

Quite a long thread discussing it on the MSE site.

See http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=94556

It launches this Friday.Website will probaly be?
www.freetalk.co.uk

wrote on Sep 28^th, 2005 at 10:56pm:

Quite a long thread discussing it on the MSE site. See http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=94556 It launches this Friday.Website will probaly be? www.freetalk.co.uk

Sorry Dave,

And thanks bigjohn, will follow it with interest.

juby

The site is up and running
www.freetalk.co.uk

Lots of features.But strangely still talks about local and national calls.

Has an 0871 Customer service number >:(

...and, as expected, charges on a per minute basis to 0845 and 0870 (see Calling rates -> Other metered rates). That instantly negates any saving that might be made. An average user might well be charged for 20 to 30% of their calls "on top of" the "Freecall" fee. What a total distortion of the marketplace!  >:(

Perhaps it ought to be called "Free-unless_it's_0870-talk"

wrote on Sep 28^th, 2005 at 10:33pm:

Vonage ...... is incidentally the only one that allows access to 999)

How can this be?! ??? :o

Clearly another case of Ofcom Kipping Meekly I fear.

Perhaps when the first unbundled voip only customer is burnt to death as they cant call the fire brigade perhaps Ofcom may belatedly realise their "Out of Touch" mistake?

wrote on Sep 29^th, 2005 at 11:21pm:

Perhaps when the first unbundled voip only customer is burn to death as they cant call the fire brigade perhaps Ofcom may belatedly realise their "Out of Touch" mistake?

I very much doubt that - they'd probably tell the crispy corpse that OfCOM was unable to help individual cases and to go to Otelo first ::)

wrote on Sep 29^th, 2005 at 11:35pm:

I very much doubt that - they'd probably tell the crispy corpse that OfCOM was unable to help individual cases and to go to Otelo first.

Yes of course.  After all we wouldn't want the Directors of Ofcom to have to miss an important weekly round of golf just so that they could get down to some regulation. ;)

If you look at

http://support.freetalk.co.uk/index.php?x=7mod_id=2id=18

and click on "What am i paying for"

It seems to suggest that if you buy the yearly package that 0845/0870 calls are included.But i doubt if that would be the case.

wrote on Sep 30^th, 2005 at 3:09pm:

It seems to suggest that if you buy the yearly package that 0845/0870 calls are included.But i doubt if that would be the case.

Even if they have made that error I'm sure the T&Cs are flexible enough that they can start charging for them on a matter of a few days notice.  This is bound to happen when they see how much it is costing them.

wrote on Sep 30^th, 2005 at 3:09pm:

If you look at http://support.freetalk.co.uk/index.php?x=7mod_id=2id=18http://djbnet.co.uk/cpw6630.htm and click on "What am i paying for" It seems to suggest that if you buy the yearly package that 0845/0870 calls are included.But i doubt if that would be the case.

I agree it appears to be confusing. However, if you look at the yearly pre-pay option it does clearly say:


Quote:

unlimited UK geographic local and national calls for just £79.99 per year? The freetalk one year calling plan liberates you from expensive traditional phone charges and allows you to make unlimited UK geographic, local and national calls for a flat rate of £79.99 for an entire year. See below our low rates for calls to mobiles, non-geographic numbers and international calls.

(my bolding)

That looks pretty clear to me. You ARE going to pay for all 0870 / 0845 calls separately. That is also the case with all the other VoIP providers in the UK - and hence my frequent comment that VoIP really is almost a non-starter whilst this revenue sharing continues. I think other people have computed how much extra it is likely to add to your overall bill.

How different it is here in the US where I am paying $14.00 (about £8.00) per month for a VoIP service (6 months prepaid) with 500 minutes of ALL calls to the US and Canadian numbers (except 1-800, of course - they are still free); 2c /min to the UK (geographic numbers only, of course!!); 3c to Australia; no surcharges or other fees; free adapter.....

Yes, 12 months at £8.00 / month is dearer than Dixons £80.00, but I have certainty - I ONLY pay extra if (a) I go over the 500 minutes per month or (b) I make International calls. No hidden scams here!!   ;)

...and BTW, I also have 911 service (999 to you.... :) )

Mikeinnc.

The FreeTalk call centre is in Arizona.Apparently a company called Packet 8 are running the system for them.Do you know anything about them?.

wrote on Sep 30^th, 2005 at 10:19pm:

Apparently a company called Packet 8 are running the system for them.Do you know anything about them?.

Their web site is at http://www.packet8.net

and their press release about the deal with Dixons at:

http://www.packet8.net/news/files/8x8DixonsRelease09.27.pdf

Interestingly, they show Canada as an international call whereas a number of the US VoIP providers include Canada in "domestic" minutes. (Canada is part of the North American numbering scheme, of course)

They also offer a US number to persons outside of the USA who might want to make calls inside the US.

[Vonage, on the other hand, make dark threats about taking your US VoIP number "outside" of the US. They appear to say that if they find out you are outside the US, they will terminate your service. Probably because they appear to charge more to UK subscribers than US subscribers - but so what's new?  ;)  ]

No, BigJohn, other than what I can read on their web site, I am not familiar with them as a provider.

aww damn, I just sent them hate mail already.. just the usual, "why say its free, when we pay" "when was 60 minutes considered as unlimited" "why use premium rate numbers" blah blah.. I for sure wont be using this!

The VOIP camps are totally underwhelmed with this 'me too' VOIP offering from Dixons Currys PC World The Link which they are no doubt going to hype up heavily for Christmas and trap a few poor souls into parting with dosh.

Luckily the ATA is a two line device and it looks like it may be possible to add a sensible(ish) free provider like Voipbuser to the same system and make many non UK calls for free

which begs the question on day two of ownership

dohhhh ! - Why did I pay £79.95 for this?

FreeTalk Customers are already experiencing probs.See this posting

http://www.freetalkvoip.co.uk/freetalk-problems-from-j-midlands/