Low cost mobile calls made easy by Mobivox

A LOW cost voice telephony service that's easily accessible from any mobile phone has just been launched by Mobivox. There's no downloads or software to install.

Once you've set yourself up as a Mobivox user, all you do is call a local phone number. You will hear the dulcet tones of the Voxgirl ( a voice recognition service). She then connects your call to any number you like - as long as you have enough credit.

The neat trick is that you can import all of your existing Skype contacts into Mobivox. Calls from Mobivox to Skype are free. So all you pay is the cost of the local call.

Although Mobivox is still officially in beta there are loads of neat facilities. You can check 'presence', for example, to see if one of your Skype contacts is actually online. If they aren't you can call their mobile phone instead.

Another feature which impresses the INQ is the ability to hand-over a mobile call. Say you're speaking to some-one on you mobile and you then arrive home. It's then possible to divert that call away from your mobile and onto you home land line.

Mobivox looks pretty international working with around 40 different countries but currently Voxgirl only understands and speaks British English or American English.

It's perfectly possible to override the voice recognition facility and just dial numbers straight from the keypad.

The INQ has tested Mobivox out and it works pretty well but be warned - by default you don't have enough credit to call a mobile phone number. You'll have to buy some credit.

Calls to mobile phones get charged in US dollars at 1.9 cents per minute, which is pretty competitive.

This service strikes the INQ as a great way of avoiding roaming charges. You can go online and upload all your favourite contact names and numbers.

Then, when you're abroad - in Spain, for example, you can call the local Mobivox number and only be charged for the local rate. µ

L'INQ
Mobivox