8x8, Inc. the provider of the Packet8 VoIP broadband service today announed it has added the Apple iPhone to the list of over 450 mobile handset devices now supported by the Packet8 MobileTalk international calling service. Launched back in November 2007, MobileTalk adds inexpensive calling to the iPhone 2.0 which launched today.
Unlike the truphone iPhone application I blogged earlier today, the Packet8 MobileTalk is web-based interface, so unlike truphone there is no dialer application to download. Instead, it uses a customized web-based dialer, accessible via a standard data plan or WiFi connection, to route calls to a unique local Packet8 access number and then on to the Packet8 digital VoIP network. Once the call has been initiated, the data connection is no longer engaged and the call is carried to completion over the cellular provider's network with only Packet8's low international calling rates applied. So one advantage of Packet8 over truphone is that it also works over the 3G data connection and not just WiFi. (see details as to why)
MobileTalk features mobile international calling rates such as $.01 per minute to China, $.02 per minute to the U.K., $.03 per minute to Mexico and $.059 per minute to India. Not too shabby...
"With the tremendous adoption rate of Apple's first generation iPhone and today's release of the new 3G version, the potential market for the Packet8 MobileTalk service has increased exponentially," said 8x8 Vice President of Sales & Marketing Huw Rees. "The iPhone version of MobileTalk is even simpler to install than our version for other smart phones and our beta users were generally thrilled with its ease of use and quality."
Over 450 Windows, Palm, RIM, Symbian-based and iPhone mobile phone models, including the entire family of Blackberry phones running version 4.0 of the operating system and above, and 25 Nokia models running the Symbian OS, are now supported by the Packet8 MobileTalk service. A complete list of supported devices can be found at http://www.packet8.net/mobile_services/supported_phones.aspx.
Customers can sign up for a Packet8 MobileTalk account at http://mobiletalk.packet8.net.
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If this product is so great, and practically free (if not free, actually) why on Earth can 8x8 only sign up 2,000 users for this product (as of last quarter)?
Awful marketing?
With the Olympics coming up, this service couldn't come at a better time. I'm making calls to China every day, and making calls at a great price makes all the difference; as anyone in television can attest, it's always easier to talk on our cell phones, so this is something the i-phone does better, too.
Good work.
Well I thought that Packet 8's Mobile talk was a actual application (dialer application. It is similar to Myglobaltalk. You download the dialer app, And it will now disconnect the original call and engage a new connection to the number you dialed ,but it is through their network not your cell provider.The only thing is myglobaltalk can be used for local calls too.
Stay away from Mobile Talk still in the beta testing: Here is why,
Down loaded the Mobile talk on my blackberry and started making the international call, each time when I make a call it said connecting through Mobile Talk, interestingly after a month got a huge bill from my cell phone provide T-Mobile guess what, those calls were going through the T-Mobile network instead of Packet8 Mobile talk network, Packet8 admits the problem but did not refund the money, Louzy customer support poor quality