Talkster offering ad-supported FREE calls

Talkster is a service I’ve been looking at since one year ago.

At that time, Talkster could be categorized as a mobile VoIP service. I’ve been one of the very first users and, even if the service was starting up, it was worth a look.

Now their PR Melissa Burns sent me a press release coming from CTIA Wireless&Entertainment 2007. I’m happy to see that during this period Talkster evolved and now looks like a complete VoIP service for mobile and computer users rather than “only” a mobile VoIP service.

The main news from this press release are:

• FREE World Dialing
• A new Facebook application (that I just installed)
• ad-supported calls (audio and text ads with presence and context relevant)

In detail, from their PR:

Talkster’s Free World Dialing™
- FREE Global consumer calling service
- Free unlimited long distance and international calls
- Free group conference calls for up to 5 callers
- No limits, No registration, No credit card

Talkster’s Free World Dialing Facebook® Application
- Global calling service for Facebook users
- Talk with Facebook friends all around the world for FREE
- Preserves the anonymity of your phone number
- Creates a global phone book with all your Talkster numbers
- Talk with one friend or a group of friends all at once

Both services supported by relevant ad offers
- Highly-targeted audio, text, coupon and video ads
- Context relevant, dynamic, presence and location based

The only concern I have is about the procedure that a user must follow to make a call. Whatever the device is, the method is always the same and it’s similar to that used from Rebtel:

Step 1
On the form above, enter your name and phone number you will make the call from, along with the name and number of the person you want to call. Click on Call to start.
Step 2
Talkster will give you and your friend each a local Talkster number that you can use whenever you want to call each other. Save this number in your phone book (if you want). Your local numbers will also be sent to you both by SMS (in case you forget them!). Click here to see the list of Talkster countries currently available.
Step 3
Call the Talkster number for your friend. When your friend answers, tell them to hang up and call their local Talkster number for you that they got in the SMS or that they see on their phone’s caller display. You stay on the line – don’t hang up! When your friend dials back using their Talkster number, you’ll be connected and can talk for FREE as much as you want!

Step 3 is the problem, to me. I already raised my concerns in my post on Rebtel a few months ago:

is your friend willing to pay to talk to you ? I’m calling him and asking him to call a local number to talk to me. Is it always reasonable?
this said, which is the subset of users which will find this service useful? who I’m going to ask for money?
who is willing to remember yet another phone number?

On the other hand, it’s surely attractive because it’s FREE for the final user. The business model seems a mixture between an ad-based model and a revenue stream coming from the usage of the local numbers.

Will it work? I’ll stay tuned for further updates from James Wanless, their founder, and Melissa.

In the meantime, you can install the Facebook application from here.

free calls, luca filigheddu, talkster, voice 2.0, voip