Comments on: Raketu - Another VOIP Application For BlackBerry http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/ BlackBerry News and Reviews Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:29:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Raketu Switches to Social Networking… | BerryReview http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/#comment-8228 Raketu Switches to Social Networking… | BerryReview Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:39:36 +0000 http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/#comment-8228 [...] one is a bit of a turnaround. After launching in January at CES as a VOIP competitor Raketu is now touting itself as a Social Network for BlackBerry with VOIP. I’m [...] [...] one is a bit of a turnaround. After launching in January at CES as a VOIP competitor Raketu is now touting itself as a Social Network for BlackBerry with VOIP. I’m [...]

]]> By: luc-mobile http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/#comment-1032 luc-mobile Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:13:54 +0000 http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/#comment-1032 Damn, I couldn't wait. The whole description of services in the Web site was way too exciting for me to pass. So I made an account... . The good: + VERY cheap rates, lower than Skype! + Nice special rates/conditions for Raketu-to-Raketu calls. + Powerful integration of features (VoIP, SMS, multi-protocol IM etc.) But that's just on their desktop application. + They really try to help you use the service. If your phone doesn't have a browser, you still can request calls via SMS. + Great cartoons. :-) . The bad (let's get this over with already): - Very cheap rates indeed, but Raketu requires callbacks, so every call in fact incurs the cost of two calls, just like Skype or Jajah. - There is no Blackberry app! They try to put all the spin and make it sound like it's very convenient, but it isn't since there is no integration with the phone's address book. We have to open the site, log in, then fill in a Web form with the two phone numbers we want to connect. An-noy-ing! The site provides its own phone book, but I'm sick of apps and services that think it is reasonable for me to keep replicating my address book hither and thither. I am NOT going to be filling yet another one. And their cookie jar needs some fixing, cos I explored their site for one minute, clicked a link to http://BlackBerry.raketu.com and had to log in *again*! Ex-tra an-noy-ing! - The desktop application runs on Windows only. They promise Mac and Linux (yeah, right!) versions sometime one of these days, but I will not hold my breath. - Credits expire in 3 months (versus 6 months with Skype). . . That is why competition is never enough. This match is badly tied! For an occasional caller like me, the lack of address book integration might not be such a big deal, but the short 3-month expiration period pushes me towards Skype. The only Skype application for Blackberry (IM+ for Skype) costs $25 though, which makes me pick neither Skype nor Raketu, I buy international calling cards. The rates aren't very attractive and dialing is a pain, but very rarely have I ever needed to place an international call from the streets with my cell phone. I can't justify the upfront $25. For a very frequent caller, the 3-month expiration period should be no problem, but the lack of address book integration certainly is a major obstacle. A frequent caller should definitely go with IM+ for Skype. It is a lot more convenient. . Everyone should keep an eye on Raketu, though. It still sounds very promising. Damn, I couldn’t wait. The whole description of services in the Web site was way too exciting for me to pass. So I made an account…
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The good:
+ VERY cheap rates, lower than Skype!
+ Nice special rates/conditions for Raketu-to-Raketu calls.
+ Powerful integration of features (VoIP, SMS, multi-protocol IM etc.) But that’s just on their desktop application.
+ They really try to help you use the service. If your phone doesn’t have a browser, you still can request calls via SMS.
+ Great cartoons. :-)
.
The bad (let’s get this over with already):
- Very cheap rates indeed, but Raketu requires callbacks, so every call in fact incurs the cost of two calls, just like Skype or Jajah.
- There is no Blackberry app! They try to put all the spin and make it sound like it’s very convenient, but it isn’t since there is no integration with the phone’s address book. We have to open the site, log in, then fill in a Web form with the two phone numbers we want to connect. An-noy-ing! The site provides its own phone book, but I’m sick of apps and services that think it is reasonable for me to keep replicating my address book hither and thither. I am NOT going to be filling yet another one. And their cookie jar needs some fixing, cos I explored their site for one minute, clicked a link to http://BlackBerry.raketu.com and had to log in *again*! Ex-tra an-noy-ing!
- The desktop application runs on Windows only. They promise Mac and Linux (yeah, right!) versions sometime one of these days, but I will not hold my breath.
- Credits expire in 3 months (versus 6 months with Skype).
.
.
That is why competition is never enough. This match is badly tied!
For an occasional caller like me, the lack of address book integration might not be such a big deal, but the short 3-month expiration period pushes me towards Skype. The only Skype application for Blackberry (IM+ for Skype) costs $25 though, which makes me pick neither Skype nor Raketu, I buy international calling cards. The rates aren’t very attractive and dialing is a pain, but very rarely have I ever needed to place an international call from the streets with my cell phone. I can’t justify the upfront $25.
For a very frequent caller, the 3-month expiration period should be no problem, but the lack of address book integration certainly is a major obstacle. A frequent caller should definitely go with IM+ for Skype. It is a lot more convenient.
.
Everyone should keep an eye on Raketu, though. It still sounds very promising.

]]> By: luc-mobile http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/#comment-1031 luc-mobile Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:43:48 +0000 http://www.berryreview.com/2008/01/10/raketu-another-voip-application-for-blackberry/#comment-1031 I don't have time to check this new VoIP service out (or the 3utelecom.com service you recommended in that other post - how do we make hyperlinks in this comment box?), but for now I can say that Gizmo is not the most usable option out there. AFAIC, it really wants a direct TCP connection, so BIS users like me are simply out of luck. Even if you do have a direct TCP connection, a quick visit to the gizmo5.com forums will reveal a remarkable number of issues disappointing the eager adopters. . I know nothing about EQO and Packet8, gotta check them out too when I get some time. My gripe with Jajah is that it doesn't accept Paypal. NO WAY I'm going to give my credit card number to a company I know so little about. Apart from that, I really like the concept. . Anyway, my point is that you can't have too much competition. ;-) I don’t have time to check this new VoIP service out (or the 3utelecom.com service you recommended in that other post - how do we make hyperlinks in this comment box?), but for now I can say that Gizmo is not the most usable option out there. AFAIC, it really wants a direct TCP connection, so BIS users like me are simply out of luck. Even if you do have a direct TCP connection, a quick visit to the gizmo5.com forums will reveal a remarkable number of issues disappointing the eager adopters.
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I know nothing about EQO and Packet8, gotta check them out too when I get some time. My gripe with Jajah is that it doesn’t accept Paypal. NO WAY I’m going to give my credit card number to a company I know so little about. Apart from that, I really like the concept.
.
Anyway, my point is that you can’t have too much competition. ;-)

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