Talkster, Rebtel & Jaxtr Free "long distance" Skype alternatives

[sirsellsalot]

I've been using Talkster for over a year now and it works brilliantly. I put the words "long distance" in quotation marks because you are not actually dialing long distance you are dialing local numbers that it assigns you and then connects those two calls. The only thing to remember is that it does eat up regular minutes.

Talkster is my favourite, but rebtel is also good. Never tried Jaxtr...

http://www.talkster.com/Default.aspx

http://www.rebtel.com/en/

http://www.jaxtr.com/user/index.jsp

I suggest talkster, it has saved me so much money I can't even begin to imagine how much, especially for international mobile to mobile calls which are so expensive. Think of them as skype for a regular or mobile phones, perfect for when you don't have a PC.

Rebtel offers more countries though, including Japan.

Everyone in my family now uses it as well as loads of friends. They've cancelled all their long distance plans which are obsolete once you use these.
Just get talkster numbers for everyone and you will only need to dial local numbers.

[Stevie Boy Wonder]

i suggest rebtel. my girlfriend and I have been using it for years. Great quality calls, and the possibility of a totally 100% free long distance call if the person you call has call display. I've used rebtel in hongkong to call canada as well. Nice post.

[GSC]

I use rebtel, its so great n reliable

used talkster but needa pay for it later on

[Smashy]

I have a Toronto number but am in Waterloo during the week. I haven't been able to find one with a Waterloo/Guelph access number that I can call. Anyone had any luck?

When I'm Toronto, Rebtel works great and free.

[sportmiester]

Thanks for the info

[Triple_Dude]

Awesome, thanks for the info :).

Are there some sort of audio ads inserted before the calls are connected using these types of "free" services? I would assume so, otherwise how do they earn money?

[elwebmaster]

Awesome, thanks for the info :).

Are there some sort of audio ads inserted before the calls are connected using these types of "free" services? I would assume so, otherwise how do they earn money?

The costs of running such service are marginal and the revenue comes from your carrier: both parties have to call a number to get connected, each incoming minute generated on this number is paid to the provider that owns it. The numbers themselves are connected using VoIP over the Internet so it doesn't cost anything.

[sirsellsalot]

I use telus one number unlimited service plan and talkster combined with this cell phone add on service:

http://en.alldaytalk.com/Cell/default.asp

Together they offer unlimited minutes and free long distance! Impossible to beat this combination from what I can see.

[annebos35]

I just use MSN Messenger microphone option to talk long distance to people ...
or I'm sure Yahoo has the same option.

[need2save]

Awesome, thanks for the info :).

Are there some sort of audio ads inserted before the calls are connected using these types of "free" services? I would assume so, otherwise how do they earn money?

I've been using Talkster for at least two years now. Initially they would make you listen to a ten-second ad (as you agreed to do when you signed up), but it was always for themselves, lol. At the beginning there was definite VoIP lag and the service could cut out on you anytime -- sometimes hours, sometimes minutes.

Ironically, just as the service got perfected -- first the lag went, then the cutouts -- they stopped advertising altogether. The only delay now is to hear the message, "Please hold on while your friend calls you back at the Talkster number you provided" (that's how it works, you call a local number and patch through for ten seconds, then hold while your friend calls back their local number and then you get connected indefinitely).

[Triple_Dude]

I just use MSN Messenger microphone option to talk long distance to people ...
or I'm sure Yahoo has the same option. Yes, but it costs money to use MSN (or Skype, or Others) to call a LANDLINE. This allows you to call international landlines for free :).

[shani_d_best]

Thanks for the info.

For talkstar - it gave me 403 number with 1 before it and I called it from Fort McMurray.. I hope I will not get charged for long distance.

For rebtel - I live in Fort McMurray and it is giving me edmonton 780 numbers.
What should I do?

[need2save]

Thanks for the info.

For talkstar - it gave me 403 number with 1 before it and I called it from Fort McMurray.. I hope I will not get charged for long distance.

For rebtel - I live in Fort McMurray and it is giving me edmonton 780 numbers.
What should I do?

You and the person you're calling should each be given a local proxy number to call that will in turn patch you through to the other person's phone number. For example, I call a friend in Maple and we each got the same 416 number (local to both of us), only when he calls it patches him through to my home number and when I call it I get his. You shouldn't have to be calling any long distance number, that would defeat the purpose of the service.

[booboi]

Hello, I am a total noob at this.

Can someone explain how this works?

I want to call a Japan mobile from Toronto. I normally use skype to call, and its a whopping 18 cents a call.

So how does this differ from skype? (I do not get the part of jaxtr free number)

[Sash[DSL]]

How does talkster make money? I am sceptical about their ability to provide this service on a long-term basis for free. Could this be another gimmick to reel in clients at a loss, then start charging for service and hope people have gotten so accustomed to it, they can't switch? Over the years I've seen lots of services of this type go up and down. :confused:

[kogepan]

Is there any call limits for these 3 services? Like 10mins per call etc etc?

Thanks

[josephstrong]

seems like the local access number for Ontario is in the 416 area code
so if you have a 519 number, the call is long distance

[Initial_C]

I've been using Rebtel and I must admit, it's pretty good. My boyfriend (who's in Finland) and I have been using the SmartCall and I have no idea why... But it works. Absolutely free!

[ai_c]

So both parties call 2 numbers differently and it's free? I checked the Rebtel website and they have their rates listed. Am I missing something? Help please.