Eqo mobile is offering a slightly different way for mobile phone uses to call abroad cheaply.

It first launched its VoIP service in 2006 but it's been refined and changed and now works on all java enabled mobile phones.

To use the service you make a national phone call. In the UK's case it's an 0208-London number but this is, of course, different for different countries. The recipient of the phone call also (but unknowingly) calls an exchange in his/her country.

This all sounds complicated, but the magic bit is that it's easy as pie because it's all done in software.

Eqo's software negotiates between the caller and the recipient so that there are no numbers involved and it works like a normal mobile phone conversation would do.

The magic bit is Eqo's software that looks like instant messaging software, with a contacts list you can call. It'll also let you speak to your msn messenger and aim contacts too.

Eqo mobile won't charge you for Eqo – Eqo calls, but it does charge you for calls from an Eqo enabled phone to a non Eqo mobile phone or landline. Users are also billed for national telephone charges by their mobile phone operator separately.

The problems with this service are obvious though; it's not for landline phones, it won't work for national calls and an Eqo-enabled mobile phone must pay national rate telephone charges even if they are the recipient of a conversation.

Paying to receive a call is never popular with anyone and is likely to confuse people.

Windows Mobile support will come in the next two months and Eqo is looking to expand to 40 support countries. Every county needs to be specifically enabled with a VoIP-analogue converter before it can be used for Eqo calls.