BT Smart Talk

[bendyone]

Anyone tried this? Apparently if you have a WIFI connection you can make calls on your mobile using your home BT account so if you have free call on your home phone your calls from abroad will also be free.

 

[Slow_boat]

I tried to get connected to BT broadband.
I emailed them the code you need to change providers and they lost it twice then simply failed to connect me within the month that the code is valid.
I didn't chase them up because I thought that if that is the standard of service to someone who wants to be a customer, how do they treat their customers?
But as it was explained to me, yes, bendyone, that's how it works.

 

[bendyone]

Well it installed all OK on my mobile and seams to work. The main advantage for me is to be able to sit in a Macdonalds and make calls.

 

[Slow_boat]

Don't you have to have a BT broadband account?

 

[bendyone]

Yes you have to have a BT package at home,

 

[Blue5]

I have the BT account and the app for the i-phone but I have never managed to get it all to work, same with BT Fon or Openzone. The concept is great, perhaps I am just unlucky!!

 

[Slow_boat]

I have a BT phone account, they just didn't seem to want me as a broadband customer.

 

[nigelmercier]

I have a BT phone account, they just didn't seem to want me as a broadband customer.

You are lucky then.

You don't need BT BB to use this app.

 

[david_bagshaw]

It can be done on your existing broad band, and sign up with a voip provider.

I use http://www.voipfone.co.uk/ and have done for the last 5 years. It works v well, the only problem is finding an adequate open network when abroad.

Also brilliant for free calls to long distant relations. set one up with a phone connected to my dads router, via a box. (they are quite good on international calls as well, as it is routed via internet to the country then local for the last bit)

 

[bendyone]

Well, went over to Calais yesterday and the results are in.
Using my normal UK mobile Smarttalk worked over free wifi at Macdonalds with a good clear call.
Using my other mobile with a French sim card and 3g signal the call quality was OK but not as good as with wifi. Used 1.4 MB of Data for a 1 minute call ( 0.05€ a MB) so not too bad.
It would not allow you to set up the app with a non UK sim ( because you need to receive a sms ) but using my UK number for the tex it worked.
Smart Talk worked for me and because I have all inclusive calls on my BT landline calls over wifi will be free.

 

[Richard10002]

Makes me think of Skype for those who don't have BT WIFI. Skype would add about a penny a minute to the cost of calls to landlines.... Which isn't much in the scheme of things?

 

[VicMallows]

Is there any way to access SMART TALK from a PC? .... doesn't seem possible from my investigations. A bit unfair for those of us who are BT customers but don't have a need for iphone/android devices.

Guess just have to continue with VOIPCHEAP (cheeper, and better IMHO, than SKYPE). Those few pennies just annoy me!

 

[bendyone]

Is there any way to access SMART TALK from a PC? .... doesn't seem possible from my investigations. A bit unfair for those of us who are BT customers but don't have a need for iphone/android devices.

Guess just have to continue with VOIPCHEAP (cheeper, and better IMHO, than SKYPE). Those few pennies just annoy me!

Just buy the cheapest smart phone that will work with wifi and connect, you done need to have a 3g connection to make it work so you dont need a phone contract.