Respected UK technology e-tailer SCAN International has today launched its own VoIP service, TalkScan. The new service allows free Internet based calls with Scan's telephony software, with a top-up based credit scheme for calls to landlines around the world.
A little under £6 gets you started with TalkScan's SoftPhone software, which can then be used to make calls to other SoftPhone users. A list of call tariffs is on the TalkScan website so you can see how much it will be to ring various countries and telephone networks. For example you can call Botswana for a tidy 12p a minute.
As a registered user you can add credit to your TalkScan account through the online purchasing system, with credit purchases ranging from £5 up to £50.
If you don't fancy using the software, it is possible to configure a hardware VoIP solution to work with TalkScan, instructions for which are provided online. The TalkScan website also has a voicemail service, so you can login online and manage your messages.
The launch of TalkScan comes at a time when VoIP is a term that the general public might even start to be familiar with. Using the Internet to make phone calls is growing in popularity, and so TalkScan is looking to get UK broadband users on the VoIP bandwagon. The question is: will they jump on? Time will tell.
