Product: Eqo Mobile
Website: www.eqo.com
System Requirements: Java enabled handset
Price: Free download

THE BEST of both worlds is what Eqo claims to offer mobile phone users. The cheapness of VoIP/Internet telephony combined with the reliability of regular voice calling.

Crucially, Eqo is one of the many alternative telecoms services which the INQ has tried which claims to provide 'presence'. But in this case it actually works.

And it works well. The Eqo software automatically reads in all your existing telephone numbers from the handset's addressbook. Then those who are currently connected to Eqo show up as green icons.

Which, of course, means that you can call your visible Eqo buddies for free. Well, almost free (see below). There's also a neat facility which allows you to text your buddies and 'nudge' them so they sign into Eqo.

One of the most impressive features of this application is that it bundles a whole bunch of useful facilities together.

From within the same app, you can make a call; send a text; or participate in an IM [instant messaging] session. That's not Eqo's own IM, it's MSN Messenger; Googletalk; Yahoo; and ICQ plus others.

The greatest advantage to Eqo is that it is an application which works with almost every Java enabled handset you might own. Unlike its arch rivals which only work with a small subset of smartphones.

Almost the only facility missing from Eqo is an incentive to invite your friends to sign up too. You could always tell them that you get your first £1.50 worth of Eqo usage free, of course.

The other minor criticism we have is that Eqo doesn't roam. You can't take your Eqo number and start making calls from abroad.

On the other hand, Eqo fully supports CLI [Calling Line Identity], so your Eqo number shows up each time you make an Eqo call.

There's a hidden advantage to Eqo's approach. It works by sending out a tiny amount of data via GPRS that sets up the call session.

This means that the first part of the call is actually over a standard voice connexion. So not only are you using up part of your data allocation, you're also utilising part of your bundled minutes.

This means that Eqo calls could be classed as free only if you have unused minutes and data allowance on your mobile contract. Which is why the INQ describes Eqo as almost free.

The same applies to sending texts via Eqo. Text messaging to another Eqo user is free if you haven';t burnt up your monthly data allowance already.

Additionally you can text non-Eqo users at competitive rates. This means around 5 – 7.5 pence per minute compared to 15 pence on some UK network tariffs

Where Eqo hopes to make most of its money is from UK communities with relations living abroad – say in Poland or India. Using Eqo to route your overseas calls. In some cases, it can produce cost savings of 97 per cent.

Don't forget, you can land lines as well as mobile phones in other countries. The software is currently available in 20 countries including the USA and UK.

The fact that Eqo gets subscribers to use their voice minutes and data tariffs mean that the mobile operators like it. No bun fights with T-Mobile, for example.

So how much does Eqo really cost? The company works out that in a typical month, you'll probably consume about 5 MB of data. If that amount is already built into your tariff, then you're laughing. µ

Good
Presence shows other Eqo users online

Bad
Currently doesn't support roaming abroad

Ugly
Burns through 5 MB of monthly data allowance

Bar Tender's Rating
8 out of 10