"Alternative" phone service takes off in Italy

AN ALTERNATIVE phone service for mobile phone users, Eqo, has taken off big time with Italians. So the company is offering even more competitive rates between the UK and Italy.

"Italians love Eqo," claimed Simon Edelstyn, md for Eqo EMEA. "It's quickly become our number two market simply through word of mouth."

Eqo's approach is different from its rivals. It dispenses with the need for calling cards, callback schemes or searching for a Wi-fi hotspot. Instead it works by sending out a tiny amount of data via GPRS that sets up the call session.

In theory Eqo to Eqo calls could be classed as free. The first part of an Eqo 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.

Consequently Eqo calls could be classed as costing nothing but only if you have unused minutes and data allowance on your mobile contract. Which is why the INQ would describe Eqo as almost free.

The same 'freeness' applies to sending texts or IM messages via Eqo. Text or instant messaging to another Eqo user is free only if you haven't burnt up your monthly data allowance already.

The good news is that Eqo doesn't use its own IM system - it hooks into MSN, AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber.

To celebrate its launch, EQO is now offering a bonus of up to 100 minutes of 'free' calling for all new users who sign up to the service via the company's web site.

Eqo's standard rates from the UK to Italy are definitely very competitive. Calls on you mobile phone to an Italian landline cost 1.2 pence per minute and 12.3 pence per minute to an Italian mobile phone.

As Eqo's software runs using Java it can be loaded onto a wide range of handsets - not just a small subset of Nokia mobile phones like some of its rivals. µ