Talkster service lets mobiles call IM clients

Talkster will let users make voice-enabled IM calls from mobile phones

A new service promises to link mobile phones with PC-based instant messaging (IM) clients and cut the cost of making mobile calls when roaming abroad.

Talkster will today unveil a beta version of its namesake service that enables mobile phones to place free calls to voice-enabled IM services such as Google Talk and MSN Messenger, plus users of the Gizmo Project softphone.

"Users at the desktop are already using many communications methods such as IM, but we're targeting users outside the office with a phone or PDA," said James Wanless, president and chief operating officer of Talkster.

The service works with any phone that has a WAP or HTML browser, according to the company. Subscribers use the browser to choose a name from their contact list, and a call is then initiated via the mobile network to a Talkster network access point, where it becomes an IP call.

Wanless said the service can also cut the cost of roaming charges. If a travelling worker calls home using Talkster, the mobile call only goes as far as Talkster's local gateway in that country.

"The international portion goes over Talkster's IP network. For a roaming user, this can mean significant cost savings," Wanless said.

Subscribers also show up on their contacts' buddy list, enabling colleagues to place a voice call to their handset from Google Talk or MSN Messenger.

The release version of Talkster, due by mid 2007, will be able to link with IP deskphones that follow open standards such as session initiation protocol (SIP). This version will be provided for a monthly fee, but Wanless said the exact sum has yet to be decided.