On several mailing lists in Uganda there have been requests to join friends in making free calls using Jaxtr, however many are unaware about this application, so here is a brief on how it works. Jaxtr is a California-based company developed an application that allows you to make and receive phone calls through the Internet. Initially launched in December 2006, the application “jaxtr” is a social networking VOIP service, which connects users to their online communities. When you subscribe to jaxtr, you are assigned a number. Others can then call you by dialing this phone number. It works for both mobile phones and fixed/landlines. Users can also receive text messages and voicemail, but it is through the website rather than a user's mobile phone.

Fortunately, jaxtr never discloses the call recipient’s phone number so you can install the application without ever exposing personal information. Users can also block callers or specify on a per-caller basis, which callers can reach them live and which get routed to voice mail. The service is free but local phone rates apply. This presents a problem for users not based in one of 50 countries around the world, South Africa, being the only one in Africa.

If you are not based in one of those countries, jaxtr assigns US numbers to your friends, therefore a user in Uganda, trying to call a friend in the US or any where around the world would still pay for an international call, because both the actual number and the jaxtr number are international numbers. On the other hand, a user in the US would benefit from the local call rates, as his/her friends around the world would be assigned US-jaxtr numbers. Similarly, a user in South Africa would have local (SA) jaxtr numbers to call friends abroad.

Another problem with jaxtr is that you only have a limited number of jaxtr units per month, in some cases as little as 10 – 15 minutes of talk-time. When used up, you cannot make any further calls and must wait till the next month to be assigned more units. Even when you have units, you cannot call someone that has used up his/her units for the month; instead, you are directed to their voicemail.

For more information about jaxtr, including the list of 50 countries with local jaxtr numbers, please visit http://www.jaxtr.com/user/faq.jsp

Please note that jaxtr is not the only application available for internet calls. A quick internet search for similar applications will provide a variety of options with different advantages and disadvantages.

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Compiled by the WOUGNET Tech-Support Team.