Truphone is no longer offering their FREE calls, after having had this options for many months. Mobivox, announced that calls between Mobivox users are no longer FREE, too.
All that said, is a new trend starting? Are we finally in front of the end of the FREElosophy?
On the contrary, companies like Rebtel caught this opportunity immediately and issued a press release where they state that, unlike TruEphone and Mobivox, their service can still be used for FREE, with the “smart call” option.
Unfortunately there are two weak points here. First, this is not free. That option can be used if both users are calling a local number from their phone, calls that they are paying (not to Rebtel, but to their local telecom provider). From Rebtel’s website:
Please note: You and your friend will pay your phone companies for the local part of the call. The international connection is free!
Secondly, that method is not certainly the most usable, they surely have other methods much more suitable for a wide general usage. However, we have to say that Rebtel’s CEO honestly admits this in the press release:
“It true that most of our customers choose our paid service,” said Hjalmar Winbladh, Rebtel co-founder and CEO. “And we don’t deny that our free calling service requires people to jump through a hoop or two. But if free is what matters to you, then give us a try. It’s really not hard to do – in fact, we think it’s kind of fun.”
Anyway, customers will tell their opinion by using this or that service. In the meantime, I praise any VoIP company that start making users pay for their services. It’s a clear equation: someone offers you a service, you have to pay.
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As I mentioned in a post last week on Skype Journal, calling Truphone-to-Truphone remains free; they are now charging for calls from Truphone to the PSTN — where there are termination charges involved. Mobivox, on the other hand will be charging for calls between Mobivox users because somebody has to pay for use of the VoxGirl who sets up the calls.
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