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Rebtel Acquires Talkster Service

STOCKHOLM and TORONTO – January 19, 2010 – Rebtel, the Internet phone company, announced today it has acquired Free World Dialing, an award-winning consumer calling service from Talkster. Talkster’s Free World Dialing customers will now have access to Rebtel’s Free Calls solution, the only VoIP service offering unlimited free international mobile calls between 51 countries.

Launched in October 2007 at the CTIA Wireless Entertainment and I.T. exposition, Talkster’s Free World Dialing service was immediately hailed as a breakthrough new service, winning “Best In Show.” Since then Free World Dialing continued to win widespread recognition along with a number of industry awards, including Mobile Star’s Best Consumer VOIP App and Communications Solutions Product of the Year. Rebtel has acquired the full rights to the Free World Dialing service and its customers for an undisclosed sum. Under the agreement, Rebtel now carries all of Talkster’s international calls.

In addition to Rebtel’s Free Calls solution, former Talkster customers have access to other services from Rebtel, which make it possible to use any phone in 51 countries to call anywhere in the world for free or for just pennies per minute. The acquisition deal also allows Talkster customers to use Rebtel Computer Calls to make free or super-cheap calls from any country to anywhere in the world, as well as Rebtel SMS for low-cost international text messaging.

“We have a large base of loyal international calling customers who are very important to us, and we wanted to make certain they would continue to benefit from a high quality international calling service suited to their needs. Rebtel offers the best migration path for our customers who want to stay in touch with their family and friends abroad and Talkster is confident our customers will be impressed with the cost savings and valuable new calling features the Rebtel service offers.”

Rebtel is growing rapidly and now serves more than 4 million registered customers worldwide, and adds more than 100,000 new users each month. Revenue in 2009 was close to $20 million and grew 75% versus 2008. Rebtel expects to grow at a similar rate in 2010.

The acquisition of Talkster’s Free World Dialing comes just months after Rebtel’s similar acquisition of the Gorilla Mobile service, a U.S.-based VoIP company that provided low-cost calling primarily to Asia.

“Rebtel has successfully proven its business model by providing excellent quality of service, with transparent and low pricing, where innovation such as computer calling, applications and SMS is driven by customer demands. In 2010 we expect to see similar growth and will continue to develop our service to fit the needs of our users.” said Andreas Bernström, Rebtel chief executive officer. “Talkster is a clear fit offering excellent synergies with our free international mobile calling service.”

By: admin, January 19th, 2010 Tags: rebtel, talkster, VoIP

First-ever Report On International Communications Habits of Kenyans In US

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – December 22, 2009 - A new study issued this month shows several remarkable changes in the ways Kenyans in the U.S. are communicating with loved ones and family in Kenya. The research provided by Rebtel, based on its calling volume from January 1, 2009 to November 1, 2009, shows several key findings. Findings Conclude More People Are Calling Kenya More Often; Service Ease of Use and Call Quality More Important than Lower Costs to Kenya Callers

Perhaps expectedly, Sunday is the most popular day that Kenyans in the U.S. call their homeland. Texas followed by Minnesota, Georgia, Maryland and California make up the most active states calling Kenya. But surprisingly, Wichita, Kansas is the No.1 city on the list where calls to Kenya originate. Nairobi and Mombasa are the top two destination cities, of course.  But the vast majority of calls are now going to mobile phones in Kenya rather than landlines.

As of November 1, 2009, of those surveyed:
Kenyans in the U.S. spend just over 100 minutes per month – a little more than an hour-and-a-half – on their monthly calls to Kenya.
Calls are going to friends and families more often on their cell phones with service provided by Safaricom Mobile and Kencel Mobile vs. landlines.

Top Kenyan Phone Lines Receiving Calls from the U.S.:

1. Nairobi
2. Other destinations in Kenya
3. Mombasa

Top U.S. Cities Calling Kenya:

1. Wichita, Kansas
2. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
3. Dallas, Texas
4. Minneapolis, Minnesota
5. Fort Worth, Texas
6. Raleigh, North Carolina
7. Atlanta, Georgia
8. Rochester, Minnesota
9. Kansas City, Missouri
10. Houston, Texas

“Low rates combined with the most reliable and clear connections are driving the increase in international calling to Kenya,” said Rebtel CEO Andreas Bernström.
Of callers participating in the survey, 58.4% said Rebtel is easier to use than other international calling services and 48.2% said Rebtel’s call quality is much better than other services.
Nearly 78% of all calls to Kenya with Rebtel go to family members, respondents said.
Founded in 2006, Stockholm-based Rebtel was established to give people around the world an alternative to mobile operators’ rip-off rates for making international calls. Today, thousands of people living in the U.S. use Rebtel to call Kenya for $0.083 per minute to landlines or $0.109 per minute to mobile phones.
Rebtel has been ranked No.1 in international calling by Technology Appraisals and has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and The International Herald Tribune for its unique calling service.

By: Alex Drewniak, December 22nd, 2009 Tags: call, internet telephony, Kenya, lower rates, Mombasa, Nairobi, rebtel, tele communication, US, VoIP

Rebtel Introduces World's Lowest Rates On Calls To Nigeria

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – April 8, 2009 – Rebtel, the people’s global communications company, today slashed in half its rates to Nigeria so Nigerians living abroad can call their loved ones at home for just 9.9 cents per minute.

“It’s the best of all the networks I have ever tried,” said Daniel Mejabi, an English teacher at Lanzhou Jiatong University, in Beijing.  Added Harmony Home, a Nigerian entrepreneur in New York City: “I love Rebtel. It’s genuine, and a real value for the money. Rebtel doesn’t charge when the line is busy nor when there’s no answer. Other phone companies do. Long live Rebtel!”

There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account. No monthly fees, no connection fees and no hidden costs.  And, all new Rebtel customers who use the voucher code NigeriaApril when they sign up this month and purchase at least $10 of calling time will receive 30 minutes of free calls to Nigeria.

To try Rebtel for free go to www.rebtel.com/CallNigeria

By: Alex Drewniak, April 8th, 2009 Tags: nigeria, rebtel, VoIP

Rebtel Offers Free Calling From Dominican Republic To 50 Countries

Stockholm, Sweden – February 26, 2009 – The ’09 World Baseball Classic is right around the corner and in its honor, Rebtel, the people’s global communications company, has started free international calling to and from the home of baseball greats Vladimir Guerrero, Danny Ortiz, Jose Reyes, Manny Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, and of course, the New York Yankee’s power-hitting third baseman with the richest contract in baseball history, Alex (A-Rod) Rodriguez.

Starting today Rebtel makes it possible to call between the Dominican Republic and 50 other countries free of charge or make super low-cost calls from the DR to anywhere in the world.

There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account. No contract.  And, no monthly fees.

“I guarantee you that the Dominican Republic is going to kick the Netherland’s butt on March 7, so celebrate with a phone call to your friends and family no matter where they live in the world,” said Winbladh, renowned consumer advocate worldwide.  “We have more than 2 million people who use our service to make free or super-cheap calls every day.  This isn’t a joke or a gimmick.  This is the real deal.”

Free calls: Tricky but worth it
Rebtel’s standard rate from the Dominican Republic is little more than a penny per minute – just $0.015 to a landline or mobile phone in the U.S.

“But Dominicans are just like everyone else in the world when it comes to talking to their friends and family,” said Hjalmar Winbladh, Rebtel CEO  “They love to talk and love to talk often, so if our standard rates are still too high, then use our Smart Call service and make the call for free.  It’s a bit tricky, but after you’ve done it once, it’s easy and you’ll never go back to making a call the old way again.”
Here’s how to do it: When the person in Santo Domingo calls their friend in New York, they ask their friend – while they stay on the line – to hang up and call right back using the New York phone number displayed on the screen of their phone.

When that happens:
•    The person in Santo Domingo is making a local call
•    Their friend in New York is making a local call
•    Rebtel connects the local calls over the Internet, and
•    The international minutes are free.

Smart Calls (when the person who receives the call hangs up and calls back while the original caller stays on the line) can be made today between 51 countries around the world.

“I guarantee you that the Dominican Republic is going to kick the Netherland’s butt on March 7, so celebrate with a phone call to your friends and family no matter where they live in the world,” said Winbladh, renowned consumer advocate worldwide.  “We have more than 2 million people who use our service to make free or super-cheap calls every day.  This isn’t a joke or a gimmick.  This is the real deal.”

Getting started with Rebtel is fast, easy and free
1. Go to www.rebtel.com/dominicana, enter your number and a friend’s number abroad.
2. Rebtel creates a local number you can use from any phone, anywhere.
3. Save the number in your mobile phone’s address book and use it any time.

“One day soon, all calling will be free,” said Winbladh. “Unido – together – we can make it happen.”

By: Alex Drewniak, February 26th, 2009 Tags: dominican republic, rebtel, VoIP

U.S. House of Representatives Pass Calling Card Legislation That Affects Panamanian Americans Calling Abroad

San Francisco – December 1, 2008 – On October 6th the U.S House of Representatives moved to force companies that sell or distribute prepaid calling cards to describe any fees associated with the cards on packaging and in advertising. The legislation declared that the calling card industry is “plagued by fraudulent and deceptive business practices,” and this new legislation is an attempt to combat that. The bill passed with an overwhelming majority. Since Panamanian Americans make up a sizeable percentage of international callers, this legislation will have a profound effect on them.

The legislation came after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into the industry. The investigation concluded that card companies only deliver an average of 60% of the minutes promised due to charges that are hidden from the consumer. National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg stated in testimony to the FTC, “[The calling card industry] is a ‘Wild West’ of sellers and merchants who too often prey upon the most vulnerable consumers by promising minutes they don’t deliver and loading up on hidden or undisclosed charges and fees.”

The bill, H.R.3042, was sponsored by Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. “This is just a good consumer protection bill,” Engel said, prior to the vote. “And it has to be federal because if you have a hodgepodge of states all with different laws, it really doesn’t work. You really need something uniform.” The bill has not yet been passed to the Senate.

While the new bill requires calling card companies to disclose their rates in fine print to consumers, it doesn’t place any limits on how bad the rates and terms of a deal can be. A typical example of a calling card cited by the FTC, Africa Sky card’s terms include, “Use of a toll free number from a pay phone will incur a $.99 per call fee. Call time for multiple calls is calculated by rounding the last minute up to the closest multiple of 3 and then adding 1 minute except that if your call lasts less than 1 minute you will be charged only for a minute.”

It is estimated that fraudulent calling cards may be costing Panamanian Americans up to $30,000 every day. More often, the Panamanian American community is turning to other providers of inexpensive calling services including Rebtel which charges solely on a per minute basis with no other fees or connection charges. “It was precisely because of the rip off schemes we’ve noticed with calling cards that drove us to build a new service that people could trust,” says Rebtel CEO Hjalmar Winbladh.

Greenberg, however, doesn’t believe the bill goes far enough. She states, “While [the bill] requires that the disclosure text on the calling card itself, packaging, or other promotional material (including online) be in same language used to advertise the card, we would recommend expanding [the bill] to require that prepaid phone card providers provide toll-free customer service lines staffed by customer service representatives able to converse in the languages that the cards are advertised in.”

These gaps, says Greenberg, along with lax requirements for businesses to enter the calling card industry, will continue to make it difficult for consumers who use calling cards to ensure they’re getting a fair deal. “The most vulnerable consumers—military families, immigrants, low-income families —rely on these cards and spend their hard-earned money only to see the value of the cards disappear quickly after first use,” says Greenberg.

Winbladh sees the legislation as a major step forward in the demise of calling card fraud, “The Panamanian American community wants quality and honesty at affordable rates; this is the main reason why we have seen major growth from the community over the past year.”

By: Alex Drewniak, December 1st, 2008 Tags: "calling cards", rebtel, VoIP

Rebtel Liberates Puerto Rico, Panama, Malta

Stockholm, Sweden – November 25, 2008 – Rebtel, the people’s global communications company, today added Puerto Rico, Panama and Malta to its worldwide family of now 50 countries where citizens can use their mobile phones to speak with their loved ones abroad for no more than cost of calling around the corner.

“El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido,” proclaimed Hjalmar Winbladh, Rebtel CEO and outspoken champion of consumers around the world. “Stop being a patsy for operator and calling card thugs.  Put an end to their rip-off tactics and tariffs today.  Join the Rebtel army and start calling your family and friends abroad for just pennies per minute.”

Here are just a couple of examples of Rebtel’s low-cost rates any time, any day of the week:

- Puerto Rico to any phone anywhere in the U.S. – $0.015 per minute.

- Panama to Columbia – $0.029 per minute to landlines; $0.095 per minute to mobiles.

- Malta to the U.K. – $0.019 per minute to landlines; $0.18 per minute to mobiles.

And for all new customers who sign up before December 18 the rates are even lower for their first 30 days of calling:

- Puerto Rico to the U.S. – less than a penny per minute – $0.008 per minute to any phone.

- Panama to Columbia – $0.015 per minute to landlines; $0.067 per minute to mobiles.

- Malta to the U.K. – $0.013 per minute to landlines; $0.126 per minute to mobiles.

“But if you think that’s still too expensive you can use Rebtel’s Smart Call system and make many of those same calls for free,” said Hjalmar Winbladh, Rebtel’s co-founder and CEO.  “You have to jump through a hoop or two, but it’s worth it, and actually very easy to do.”

With expansion into Puerto Rico, Panama and Malta, Rebtel is now up and running in 50 nations making Rebtel the most global communications company in the world.

By: Alex Drewniak, November 25th, 2008 Tags: malta, panama, puerto rico, rebtel, VoIP

First-Ever Report On U.S. Calling Habits To Mexico Commissioned By Rebtel

San Francisco – November 20, 2008 - A new study issued this month shows several remarkable changes in the ways people in the U.S. are communicating with family, friends and business associates in Mexico. The research provided by Rebtel, based on its calling volume in the first eight months of 2008, shows several key findings.

- Saturday and Sunday are the most popular days for calls to Mexico.

- The largest number of calls are coming from Los Angeles, CA, Houston, TX, Orange, CA, Miami, FL, San Diego, CA,

- Cuauhtémoc, Guadalajara, Ciudad Monterrey, Neruda, Juarez and Culiacan Rosales are the most popular calling destinations, in that order.

As of November 1, 2008, of those surveyed:

On average Rebtel users spend 175 minutes per month – 2 hours and 55 minutes – on their monthly calls to Mexico.

And for the most part, they are calling friends and families more often on their landlines in Mexico rather than mobile phones.

Top Mexican Cities Receiving Calls from the U.S.:

1. Cuauhtémoc
2. Guadalajara
3. Ciudad Monterrey
4. Neruda
5. Juarez
6. Culiacan Rosales

Top U.S. Cities Calling Mexico:

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Houston, TX
3. Orange, CA
4. Miami, FL
5. San Diego, CA

“Low rates combined with the most reliable and clear connections are what have been driving our increase in international calling to Mexico,” said Rebtel CEO Hjalmar Winbladh.

Founded in 2006, Stockholm-based Rebtel was established to give people around the world an alternative to calling cards and mobile operators’ rip-off rates for making international calls. Now thousands of Americans use Rebtel to call Mexico for 2 cents per minute to landlines or mobile phones. The company recently was ranked #1 in international calling by Technology Appraisals and has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and The International Herald Tribune for its unique calling service.

By: Alex Drewniak, November 20th, 2008 Tags: india, international calling behaviour, rebtel, VoIP

Rebtel Introduces World's Lowest International Calling Rates

Stockholm, Sweden – November 20, 2008 – The global economy stinks.  Money is tight.  Everybody deserves a break.  So, Rebtel – the people’s global communications company – is slashing its rates on calls to 23 countries around the world up to 50 percent for the next 28 days.

That means, for instance, that you can talk to your friends and family for 1¢ or less per minute if they live in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Russia or the United States.

“People around the world are losing their jobs; many their homes. Calling cards are a total rip-off. We just felt like we needed to do something extra good for people right now,” said Hjalmar Winbladh, Rebtel co-founder and CEO.

All new Rebtel customers will automatically receive the super-low rates on up to 1,000 minutes to 22 counties until December 18, 2008, and up to 3,000 minutes to India.

“After the 28 days we’ll go back to our standard low rates – already some of the lowest in the world,” said Winbladh.

“One thing is for sure: calling cards will only deliver 60 percent of their face value, and the old operators will always cling to their decreasing margins, lock-in contracts, hidden charges, big offices, expensive TV-commercials, and out-dated methods.   But they cannot stop the future of calling,” said Winbladh.  “Operators and calling card companies must change or die. The Internet was built on transparency, consumer value, openness and change. Values diametrically opposed to the business models of the traditional telecom players.”

“One day soon, calling will be free,” added Winbladh. “Together, we will achieve that.”

By: Alex Drewniak, November 20th, 2008 Tags: rebtel, VoIP

U.S. House of Representatives Pass Calling Card Legislation That Affects Indian Americans Calling Abroad

San Francisco – October 8, 2008 – Last week the U.S House of Representatives moved to force companies that sell or distribute prepaid calling cards to describe any fees associated with the cards on packaging and in advertising. The legislation declared that the calling card industry is “plagued by fraudulent and deceptive business practices,” and this new legislation is an attempt to combat that. The bill passed with an overwhelming majority. Since Indian Americans make up a large percentage of international callers, this legislation will have a profound effect on them.

The legislation came after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launched an investigation into the industry. The investigation concluded that card companies only deliver an average of 60% of the minutes promised due to charges that are hidden from the consumer. National Consumers League Executive Director Sally Greenberg stated in testimony to the FTC, “[The calling card industry] is a ‘Wild West’ of sellers and merchants who too often prey upon the most vulnerable consumers by promising minutes they don’t deliver and loading up on hidden or undisclosed charges and fees.”

The bill, H.R.3042, was sponsored by Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. “This is just a good consumer protection bill,” Engel said, prior to the vote. “And it has to be federal because if you have a hodgepodge of states all with different laws, it really doesn’t work. You really need something uniform.” The bill has not yet been passed to the Senate.

It is estimated that fraudulent calling cards may be costing Indian Americans up to $100,000 every day.  More often, the Indian American community is turning to other providers of inexpensive calling services including Rebtel which charges solely on a per minute basis with no other fees or connection charges. “It was precisely because of the rip off schemes we’ve noticed with calling cards that drove us to build a new service that people could trust,” says Rebtel CEO Hjalmar Winbladh.

Greenberg, however, doesn’t believe the bill goes far enough. She states, “While [the bill] requires that the disclosure text on the calling card itself, packaging, or other promotional material (including online) be in same language used to advertise the card, we would recommend expanding [the bill] to require that prepaid phone card providers provide toll-free customer service lines staffed by customer service representatives able to converse in the languages that the cards are advertised in.”

These gaps, says Greenberg, along with lax requirements for businesses to enter the calling card industry, will continue to make it difficult for consumers who use calling cards to ensure they’re getting a fair deal. “The most vulnerable consumers—military families, immigrants, low-income families —rely on these cards and spend their hard-earned money only to see the value of the cards disappear quickly after first use,” says Greenberg.
Winbladh sees the legislation as a major step forward in the demise of calling card fraud. “The Indian American community wants quality and honesty at affordable rates; this is the main reason why we have seen major growth from the community over the past year.”

By: Alex Drewniak, October 20th, 2008 Tags: india, rebtel, VoIP

First-Ever Report On U.S. Calling Habits To China Commissioned By Rebtel

San Francisco – October 8, 2008 - A new study issued this month shows several remarkable changes in the ways people in the U.S. are communicating with family, friends and business associates in China. The research provided by Rebtel, based on its calling volume in the first eight months of 2008, shows several key findings.

•    Saturday and Sunday are the most popular days for calls to China.
•    The largest number of calls are coming from Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York, Sacramento – and of all places, Montgomery, Al.
•    Shanghai, Beijing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Dalian and Shenyang, are the most popular calling destinations, in that order.

As of October 1, 2008, of those surveyed:

On average Rebtel users call three people every week and spend 145 minutes per month – 2 hours and 25 minutes – on their monthly calls to China.

And for the most part, they are calling friends and families more often on their landlines in China rather than mobile phones.

Top Chinese Receiving Calls from the U.S.:

1. Shanghai
2. Beijing
3. Fuzhou
4. Guangzhou
5. Dalian
6. Shenyang

Top U.S. Cities Calling China:

1. Los Angeles
2. Alexandria, VA
3. New York City
4. Sacramento/Stockton, California
5. Montgomery, Alabama

“Low rates combined with the most reliable and clear connections are what have been driving our increase in international calling to China,” said Rebtel CEO Hjalmar Winbladh.

Founded in 2006, Stockholm-based Rebtel was established to give people around the world an alternative to calling cards and mobile operators’ rip-off rates for making international calls. Now thousands of Americans use Rebtel to call China for less than 2 cents per minute to landlines or mobile phones. The company recently was ranked #1 in international calling by Technology Appraisals and has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and The International Herald Tribune for its unique calling service.

By: Alex Drewniak, October 8th, 2008 Tags: china, international calling behaviour, rebtel, VoIP