14 DAY TRIAL // IP-based mobile communication-service provider Voxofon announced that it would offer VoIP services for Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform when it became available later in the year. Voxofon's offering will enable users of the new operating system to make long-distance calls directly from their smartphones, with cost savings of up to 98% compared with the standard mobile operators' prices.
The Voxofon Call Abroad application allows users to make cheap international calls with rates from 1.3 cents/minute and send text messages starting from six cents. The service can be used from any location where there is cell coverage to call popular destinations such as Skype, SIP, etc., without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.
When using the application, users will pay their mobile operator for a call to a local access number. The application will use about 1-2 KB of data for the initial call setup. Users with unlimited data or free minutes will not pay anything extra. The Voxofon account will be charged for the international part of the call. A $0.50 credit is given to all users who sign up to try out the service.
Making calls using the Voxofon application is as simple as clicking on the application icon and entering the destination number, or selecting the number from the phone's contacts. Prior to dialing the number, Voxofon will display the calling rate. From here, one can go ahead and make the call, send SMS or set up a callback.
"VoIP for smartphones is a relatively new and welcome development, since mobile phone users have traditionally paid a premium for long-distance service," Voxofon CEO Alexey Goloshubin said. "The rapidly expanding demand for smartphones for both personal and business use has increased demand for cost-saving applications such as Voxofon Call Abroad."
Besides the future release for Windows Phone 7, Voxofon VoIP applications can be currently enjoyed on smartphones powered by the iPhone, Android, Palm webOS, and BlackBerry operating systems.