Nimbuzz lets you call your IM buddies

by Omar McFarlane, posted Jan 26th 2007 at 4:54PM

We've all been there -- you need to get in contact with your friends; they're not answering their phones. You know they're online, but you need to have an actual voice conversation. Well, rejoice, our frustrated friends -- for Nimbuzz plans to bridge the gap between instant messaging and cellphones. Its currently-in-beta (no surprise there), free-to-download app supports "more than 500 [Java-enabled] mobile devices" and allows you to call and initiate voice chats with your buddies on Google Talk and MSN / Windows Live Messenger. In addition to keeping you on top of your online friends, it lets you make international calls to other cellphones at local rates, so long as whomever you are calling also has Nimbuzz installed on their device. Besides that, you also get free text messaging and the ability to have Group Calls with up to five buddies on your contact list regardless of how they are connected, and Nimbuzz says it is currently working on getting your AIM, ICQ, Yahoo! and Skype friends into the mix. Now that you know, we hope you don't mind as we run and make a few overdue calls to our pals across the pond and in the far East.

Filed under: Software, Java

Tags: AIM, gchat, google talk, GoogleTalk, gtalk, ICQ, live messenger, LiveMessenger, msn, msn messenger, MsnMessenger, nimbuzz, Skype, windows 2000, windows xp, Windows2000, WindowsXp, Yahoo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Tobias @ Jan 26th 2007 7:09PM

I agree. Been using Nimbuzz for a couple of months now and it has been working fantastic in connecting me to my friends in Europe. Cannot wait for the Skype compatability, though MSN and Gtalk already work brilliantly. Especially from mobile to mobile is voice quality is stellar!

Neutral

Geoff @ Jan 26th 2007 7:20PM

So I'm a little confused - I went through all the info I could find on their website but I don't get it.

When I want to voice call someone in Europe, they need to a) have Nimbuzz installed on their phone, b) be in a country where mobile voice is available and c) have have an internet ready phone ... right?

When I "call" someone, its going VOIP, and not calling a mobile number directly, correct? So, basically, the receiver needs to have a fairly robust data plan to make this worth while, as well as myself (I can connect via wifi, so it's a non-issue)

I just need some clarification from someone who's done this. Their website, while well crafted is quite unclear in some places.

Neutral

Martin Smink @ Jan 27th 2007 8:54AM

Geoff, thanks for your reply here.

Yes your "a, b, c" is exactly true. But the calling mechanism for a mobile to mobile call is actually quite different, let me explain:

Nimbuzz allows you to call from your mobile phone at local rate to other Nimbuzz users on their mobile. You don't pay anything to Nimbuzz, you pay the local rate to your mobile provider. The receiving mobile party also pays local rate to their operator.

Result: No international roaming anymore.

And as the actual call is made via GSM, the quality is perfect.

So we don't use the data network for the mobile voice leg, the data network is only used for call setup. Therefore no Wifi, UMTS or EDGE connection is required. Plain GPRS is sufficient. And it works without exception of any operator.

But Nimbuzz also allows you to make calls from mobile to PC users, whether they are Nimbuzz, MSN or GTalk users. Then the calling procedure is similar to the above with the exception of the receiving leg. This of course is VoIP and there are no cost at all for the receiver.

I expect that this explanation really does answer your question. We will take action to improve the information on this subject on our website.

Other relevant information on this subject:

(1) If you have a domestic (and not an international) mobile to mobile call, you are automatically directly connected to the other party, not using the Nimbuzz accesspount at all. Thereby avoiding the need for 2 local calls on either side
(2) Using Nimbuzz mobile, you always pay local rate(supported in 35 countries, check website) provided that you actually make the call when you are in your home country (e.g. US). Otherwise your operator will charge you for calling to a US number (the Nimbuzz US accessnumber). But this is nothing new a presume...

Martin Smink
co-Founder Nimbuzz

Neutral

mugdao88 @ Nov 27th 2007 5:37AM

Hi,

I would like to know the call rates for using Nimbuzz.. I have tried to search in your website but seems not found it...

Can somebody tell me where can i get the call rates for making call to others country?

Thanks!!

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