8x8 Drops Fees For International Mobile Service

SANTA CLARA, CALIF. — VoIP provider 8x8 will drop the activation and subscription fee for its new MobileTalk mobile VoIP service.

The limited time promotion will give existing Packet8 residential VoIP subscribers the ability to load the MobileTalk application onto their cellphones without activation or subscriptions for the life of the service.

8x8 introduced the MobileTalk service in November, charging new users $9.99/month or existing residential or business VoIP subscribers $4.99/month. The service lets consumers use 8x8's VoIP network for international calls — thereby bypassing a carrier's long-distance rates (though consumers will still use cellular minutes).

The application uses a carrier's voice service and does not require data plans or Wi-Fi access.

According to 8x8, the service is compatible with more than 450 Windows-, Palm-, RIM- and Symbian-based mobile phone models.