Rebtel vs Talk360

Rebtel and Talk360, both purveyors of voice communication wizardry, have seemingly made it their mission to ensure that when you shout into a small plastic rectangle, someone thousands of miles away can actually hear you—and hopefully not just static or the faint whisper of despair. Rebtel, ever the ambitious show-off, has concocted a peculiar thing called "local call technology." This ingenious bit of trickery allows you to make international calls as though they were merely local, thus baffling your phone provider into thinking you're not, in fact, chatting with your cousin halfway across the globe but simply checking in with the next-door neighbor. It's particularly keen on offering unlimited calling plans to certain lands, ideal for those who enjoy the occasional hours-long international gossip.

Talk360, however, prefers a more straightforward approach, no doubt to avoid the sheer bewilderment of baffling technology. It has adopted a pay-as-you-go model, which is rather like having a snack machine that dispenses communication instead of crisps—perfect for people who'd rather nibble on their international calls now and then, without the commitment of signing their lives away to a subscription. It's so simple, in fact, that one might be forgiven for thinking it's almost too easy. But then again, who could complain about simplicity when the alternative is an unlimited plan with more fine print than a Vogon poetry manuscript?

In essence, if you're the sort who likes structure, plans and tricking your phone into thinking it's smarter than it is, Rebtel will have you well sorted. But if you're a casual caller, unwilling to surrender your financial future to the gods of recurring fees, Talk360 is your delightfully unfussy companion. Choose wisely—just don’t forget to check your signal.

See also: Top 10 VoIP services