On Tuesday I had a chance to talk with my friends Jeff Black and Barbara Lewis at TalkPlus about today's announcement and what's on the horizon. TalkPlus has always had an insightful vision into some of the very interesting things that can be done with telephone services. I like them for two reasons. First, they innovate with existing technologies. They creating a new technology, but using things that already exist in creative ways. The other thing I like is that they don't just have an idea and roll it out a week later in raw form, letting users figure out how to make it work. They're strong on methodical planning and testing.

Today they're announcing a couple of new twists - TalkPlus Country Connect and TalkPlus Global.

With TalkPlus Country Connect, you can sign up for a virtual international DID number in 20 different countries. Once it's activated, it will immediately ring through to any telephone number you give it here in the states, landline or mobile. Need a business presence in London? No problem. Need a local number in Mexico City for family to call you via local dialing? No problem.

For minimal cost, you get an international phone number that reaches you where you want it. I asked Jeff about multiple numbers in several countries. As a solo business person, I can see the real value of a local number London, Paris and Munich for example. He said that the long range plan is to support up to ten international numbers for people who need an establish telephone presence in more than one location.

TalkPlus Global presents a different twist. Like some other solutions, this approach lets you put in your number and that of the person you want to call on the web, and with a click, both phones start ringing. Those services have been wildly popular, but they've also had a problem. If you were in a hotel or a business behind a PBX that didn't assign DID numbers, they didn't work. TalkPlus has implemented a new "call through" approach that eliminates the problem. They'll assing a virtual local phone number for you to dial. Place a local call to the number they create on the fly, and when you connect, the called party's phone will start ringing on the far end. They'll set up a local virtual number that you can call within the next ten minutes to complete your call.

Recently the management team at TalkPlus did a little reorganization aimed at letting Jeff work on some strategic intiatives and ideas. Since he'd been filling multiple roles, Jeff wasn't able to devote the attention he'd like to new ideas. That's already changing, and TalkPlus has some other interesting new things coming quickly. I know I'll be part of the beta testing of one new solution in the very near future. We'll be hearing lots more from these folks in the months ahead.

TalkPlus Expands Voice 2.0 Service to Include High Quality,
Low Cost International Long Distance
TalkPlus Country Connect and TalkPlus Global Make it Easy
to Stay Connected Around the World, on Your Phone of Choice

SAN MATEO, Calif. – May 23, 2007 – TalkPlus, Inc., a provider of advanced Voice 2.0 services, today introduced TalkPlus Country Connect and TalkPlus Global, two new services that dramatically reduce the cost of international calls to and from the United States.

“TalkPlus is dedicated to creating innovative communication solutions that enable consumers and businesses to reduce costs and increase effectiveness. Up until now, affordable, high quality international calling has been a tremendous challenge for consumers and small businesses.” said Michael Toepel, CEO and president of TalkPlus. “Country Connect and TalkPlus Global make it easier and more affordable for you to call overseas and for friends or clients overseas to call you. Even better, these two new services lower the cost of long distance calling without sacrificing sound quality. ”

TalkPlus Country Connect (http://www.talkplus.com/countryconnect.html) is a subscription service that gives you access to international phone numbers that ring on the phone of your choice in the US – mobile, home, or work phone. When your friends call that number, they only pay the cost of the local or in-country call and you pay the TalkPlus Country Connect rate of 2.7 cents per minute. Activated in less than 5 minutes, the service features advanced voicemail and carrier-grade voice quality. With no download required, you can sign up immediately online or over the phone.

TalkPlus Global (http://www.talkplus.com/makeacall.html) lets you make international calls from your mobile or landline phone. You simply enter your phone number at www.TalkPlus.com, and the number of the person you would like to call. TalkPlus calls you first, then the person you’re calling, connecting you both. Calls are activated on the web, but executed over the regular phone line, so no mobile application is required and call quality is the high level that you expect from your voice carrier. As a prepaid service, there are no contracts, monthly fees, or hidden charges.

Unlike competitive solutions, TalkPlus Global can also be used by businesses with PBX systems, where one phone number may serve multiple extensions.

These two new services make it possible for Americans living abroad, small businesses, multinational ventures, and military families stationed oversees to easily and affordably stay in touch internationally. Conventional land lines, calling cards and mobile phone plans can be expensive or awkward to use, while call quality can be lacking with VoIP telephony providers like Skype and Vonage.TalkPlus provides an easy low cost way to talk internationally on the phone of your choice, at a voice quality level that makes calling worthwhile.

TalkPlus Global and TalkPlus Country Connect services are available immediately at TalkPlus.com.

About TalkPlus
TalkPlus provides Voice 2.0 communications services, including multiple mobile lines, advanced mobile features, and low cost long distance service. TalkPlus subscribers benefit from increased flexibility, privacy, and control over their mobile experience, at affordable prices. Mobile carriers partnering with TalkPlus can offer features to their customers without extensive infrastructure updates. TalkPlus is a privately held company based in San Mateo, Calif., and is backed by Menlo Ventures LLC. The company was founded in February 2004.

To learn more, please visit www.talkplus.com