Yeigo launches free calls & IM via data

Yeigo is a South African based mobile phone network that uses the internet to connect users, bypassing operator call charges.

All you need is a data connection (3G or WiFi) and the Yeigo application does the rest.

Initially I thought this was a incoming dial service — i.e. you select the person you want to speak to and Yeigo then calls you both. However after a bit of close-up investigation, it seems Yeigo is data-based, that is, it sends your calls and instant messages via your operator’s 3g data channel or via wifi.

Obviously wifi is best, because if you try using Yeigo with a UK mobile operator, you’ll be charged in the region of 4 pounds/meg if you haven’t already signed up for an unlimited data plan. If you dare use it in Canada, you’ll be charged squillions/meg because of their ultra backward data charges.

Further, your average common-or-garden mobile operator in the United Kingdom doesn’t have much tolerance for users bypassing ridiculous mobile phone charges. e.g. You’re ok to use about 1,000mb of data on T-Mobile UK for about £7 per month… as LONG as you don’t dare use VOIP. Use VOIP and T-Mobile get nasty. Or quite simply prevent you from connecting in the first place, unless you upgrade to their top-level ~£25/month data plan.

Yeigo comes in two major flavours — Symbian or Windows Mobile…

Users who download the Symbian or Windows Mobile version of Yeigo to their mobile phones enjoy free calls and IM not just between UK-based mobiles, but between mobiles based anywhere in the world. And calls made from your mobile to landlines are significantly cheaper than what you would be charged by your operator. In addition, you can send SMSs from Yeigo to any destination in the world for substantially less than you would be charged by your operator.

But you can also run Yeigo on any java-enabled handset:

Yeigo has also introduced a Java version, Yeigo Lite – which allows users without a compatible phone for the Symbian or Windows Mobile versions – to use Yeigo’s innovative ConnectUs, IM and SMS services.

A note on data usage: The Yeigo site helpfully lists the approximate data costs and usage expecations. For example, the site advises that you will use around 100kb of data, per minute, during a call (so roughly 5.75mb per hour).

It looks like a smart service that could be particularly useful if you speak regularly to friends and family abroad and you’ve got WiFI nearby.

I’m going to download the application and give it a go shortly.