Posted by Fox on August 24, 2007 at 1:38 PM

Crickey, this "could" be neat! Free mobile calls and cell phone calls for users of a new service called Truphone. There's no need to change your network or tariff/cell phone plan, but you do need a compatible mobile handset. Using VoIP principles, users of Truphone can call other Truphone users free.

From their site... You can make calls using Truphone wherever you have access to the internet via Wi-Fi (or 3G) and the availability of wireless connectivity is absolutely booming.

This can mean your home, office, public areas or commercial hotspots (coffee shops, airports etc). You will be able to make free or VoIP-rate calls from your sofa or when visiting friends with Wi-Fi. Similarly, Truphone calls can be made from your office and other workplaces you visit.

Basically, your mobile handset connects to the internet using Wi-Fi and allows you to talk to another truphone user (as long as they are also in a Wi-Fi area).

It'll be a long, long time before something like this becomes a threat to your current mobile operators business and there are draw backs. Aside from the very limited number of compatible handsets, the most obvious draw back is the fact that my friends and colleagues need to be Truphone users for this to work.

Truphone Checklist:

- You and your contact BOTH need a compatible handset.
- You and your contact BOTH need to be in a Wi-Fi zone, at the same time.

I love the idea, but until the truphone is available on most (if not all) mobile handsets and the planet becomes a Wi-Fi zone, I think it'll be limited to niche usage, no idea what that usage will be though. When I'm at home I can use my internet phone, or instant messaging. At the office? Well I don't pay for the calls :)

You know? I just don't think that the majority of mobile users have a monthly bill that would justify going to all the trouble of setting this up.

Visit: truphone.com