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I predicted many times that a new trend with VoIP services would have been the ability to solve specific problems for the final users. This can lead to both services that are free for users or that users are willing to pay for. In any case, there are many ways to monetize them, directly or indirectly and the value for customers could be very high.

Jajah knows this very well and yesterday announced two brand new services, Jajah Babel and Jajah Concierge.

The former is an English to Mandarin translator (more languages will be available soon), just in time for the Olympic games. You just need to dial a number and speak out the word you want to translate. Straightforward. This service is available in U.S., China, UK and Australia.

The latter, offered in partnership with Mobivox, is a personal assistant. You simply dial a local number and ask your personal concierge to do something for you, like initiating phone calls, sending a text message or establishing conference calls, all with voice commands and hands free.

Good job guys!

Technorati Tags: jajah, jajah babel, jajah concierge, luca filigheddu, mobivox, Voice 2.0, VoIP

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.

Technorati Tags: free, luca filigheddu, mobivox, rebtel, truphone, VoIP