Santa Clara, Calif. — VoIP provider 8×8 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.
8×8 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 8×8’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 8×8, the service is compatible with more than 450 Windows, Palm, RIM and Symbian-based mobile phone models.
