Editorial Review
Talkatone's Features
Talkatone offer app users a local U.S. phone number and 60 free minutes of outbound calling to mobile devices and landlines within the U.S. and Canada per month. If a user needs more minutes they can pay a small fee or take part in free offers organized through the app.
All inbound and toll-free outgoing calls, plus sending and receiving of text messages, are always FREE. Universal SMS and MMS are supported by all major U.S. cellular carriers with Talkatone. So it doesn’t matter if your texting your family or group chatting friends that don’t have the Talkatone app, you can still connect with them.
Talkatone’s calls and texts, work with any smartphone –- the more colleagues, friends and family who own the Talkatone app, the easier it will be to communicate with them. Unlimited incoming calls and texts are always available between Talkatone users.
International calls are available –- over 60 countries are supported so far -- at enticingly low rates. For users traveling abroad, calling via Talkatone on a Wi-Fi signal with your mobile device removes the pain of enduring awful roaming charges. Further, texting or calling from overseas into numbers within the U.S. or Canada is offered free of charge.
In fact, the international calling features and functions of Talkatone make this app an especially worthy consideration for those who make frequent out-of-country trips. This app can allow one to finally say goodbye forever to unbelievable roaming charges.
Talkatone's cost structure
If you use up your 60 FREE minutes per month you can purchase 60 more for $0.99. Talkatone also offers a painless way to earn more domestic outbound minutes by accomplishing tasks related to free offers within the app. Talkatone is supported by an advertising model. Although fairly un-obtrusive, these ads can be permanently removed with a one-time charge of $9.99.
Call audio clarity and fidelity
Talkatone has improved considerably in this department over the years. Call audio quality is more than adequate. The company has implemented improved redundancy and enhanced audio compression. Background noise and static are no longer issues for Talkatone.
Final thoughts
Users report that this app is straightforward and easy to setup while at the same time packed with features that one shouldn't overlook.
Many newer users have reported annoying –- sometimes insurmountable –- bugs and slow performance, especially after newer versions and updates are released. Be aware, also, that the reliability factor is largely determined by how strong your Wi-Fi or data signal is.
Overall, Talkatone fits quite nicely into the niche of users who desire a low-cost -– and potentially free of charge –- calling and texting solution they can use with their smartphone, tablet, iPod or any Android-based media player device. Furthermore, Talkatone is likely to be around for a while and further improvements, better features and expanded services are likely in the cards for this app going forward