3 UK has thrown the N97 up on its site, so let the Nokia N97 orders begin. Of course, 3's "free calling" is plastered all over the N97's order page, so if you're a Skype fan, or an existing customer enjoying all that free calling, you'll still feel at home. Pricing on this do-it-all bad-boy is £free as long as you're willing to fork out £35 plus per month for the privilege. If you're more of a pay as you go type, fear not, you can still grab the N97, but it'll cost you somewhere in the £319 range. The website lists July 3rd as the earliest shipping date if you grab at it today, so quit reading and start ordering.
Talkster is -- or rather, hopes to be -- set to steal some Skype thunder in the free phone service world. Using ten second ads at the beginning of each call to fund the service -- which is already supported in some 25 countries and growing -- users can call a single person or set up conference calls for nothing. Calls are set up via a web interface -- accessible by mobile or workstation -- by simply entering your number and the number you wish to call (notice the lack of signing up?) Talkster then sends you and the person you want to call an SMS with each other's local number. Call the number you received -- which can be saved to a contact as it does not change -- when they pick up tell them to hang up and call you back on the Talkster number they received -- yeah, this bit is odd -- and voila, your numbers are bridged and you're set to talk the evening away for nothing. Talkster has already added a Facebook application for its service which'll give you anonymous and free calling to those dodgy old friends on your Facebook friend list.
