Jajah, the "alternative" phone service, just introduced a new way to save money when calling abroad. So-called "dial-around services" used to ask you what number you want to call. After this step the provider makes two calls: One to your own number & one to the number you want to reach. Those two calls are relatively cheap for the provider because the distance of the audio data transmitting is quite short. The "long-distance" will be bypassed through the own VOIP network of the provider.

Jajah is trying to become even cheaper: Their trick is that Jajah can reserve local numbers everywhere in the world. This allows to simulate local calls which are in fact long-distance calls.

Example: Your area code is 089 (this is Munich...;) and your partner is in Paris. You just tell Jajah the phone number of your partner & tell Jajah to give him a number in the 089 area (remember that your partner is in fact in the Paris area). You type the number in your phone and use the 089-number to call your partner. Your phone company will charge your for a local call and additional 3,4 cents a minute for Jajah.

This rate is not too bad. As rates may vary have in mind that this is possible between 2 mobile phones as well... a call which may become really expensive.

Jajah's area numbers can be get w/o using a PC via phone. So far they do have 19 cities & more are coming. Check their website: Jajah.com