What You Can Do With Raketu
Raketu is so rich in features that it can be said to include most of what services like Jajah, Skype, Gizmo, Truphone and Fring provide collectively. Calls using Raketu can be made from a computer to another computer, between computers and phones, and even from phone to phone. Users can choose to download a softphone application but can also use the service without downloading and installing anything, through the web interface. Also, any SIP-compliant hardware or software can be used with Raketu, giving users a large choice and flexibility in accessing any communications device.
Raketu to some extent implements Unified Communications too, by providing presence and instant messaging across many platforms and devices, SMS services, file transferring, conferencing, video conferencing and email services along with their calling services. Raketu also has a media drive, which allows users to save pictures, documents, etc. from any device (mobile or desktop) and to share these both with the Raketu community and outside the Raketu community. Raketu has groups, bulletins and blogs for sharing posts/information/pictures both within Raketu and outside Raketu with bridges to other social networks.
The Cost
Raketu’s costs hover around the cheapest prices on the market. They even have an item on their web site that shows price comparisons with Skype.
You can make free calls with Raketu in two ways. Firstly, through computer-to-computer calling- voice and video calls are free between computers running Raketu. Then through calling to free Zones; Raketu has locations in 46 countries around the world included in its free zones. Once a user activates a calling plan, they have access to free calling, no matter how they access the Raketu service (download, web-browser, sms-text message, SIP device/software).
The computer-to-phone calling service is called RakOut-RakWeb DialOut. It works in calling plans. For instance, for $2.95 per month, users get 1500 minutes calling to the free zones; and for $1.95 per month, users get 1000 minutes calling to the free zones. Raketu does not charge connection fees, unlike other services of this type. But mobile users are still charge their local charges, unless they have a data plan, which is still costly.
The incoming service is called RakIN, and allows users to receive calls on their fixed or mobile phones from computers or web browsers, starting at $7.95 per month. For the time being, RakIN service is available only in London and in the US. Quite restrictive.
Raketu comes with promotions as well. If you signup from an affiliate referral, you are automatically credited 20 minutes of calling to their free calling zones. If you complete certain information requirements, you are credited with 1 hour of calling to their free calling zones.
Review
I asked certain questions on the service from the company’s CEO Greg Parker, and one thing he told me, among many others, is that in direct comparison with Skype, Raketu provides all of the services of Skype and more without the use supernodes. Skype uses supernodes that allow other users communications to be routed through a computer without the user on that computer even knowing it. This leads to computer and network (bandwidth) related performance issues for Skype users, along with security issues. Raketu uses its own proprietary peer-to-peer (P2P) technology and does not use supernodes – this suggests that Raketu is inherently more secure. Raketu chooses quality routes as opposed to gray routers, which lead to congestion, uncompleted calls and jitter. This is what makes the relatively good call quality of Raketu calls.
But while Raketu does compare favorably against other services of its type, Skype has a light call quality advantage, especially with their new enhancements in Skype 4.0. But there are so many factors that affect call quality, which you have to be mindful of.
Raketu offers an element of flexibility in its service, in a view of unifying communication needs. Users can access the services from the Raketu softphone client, any web browser, any web-enabled mobile phone, mobile download, and any SIP compliant hardware or software.
A user gets a single account no matter where or how he logs in. This comes handy because you can use the same account when at home on your desktop, out with your mobile, or while traveling, using Wi-Fi hotspots. Small businesses also use Raketu on their desktop computers at the office, with their desktop phones connected via ATAs or directly connected to the RakIN service, with their mobile phones.
While Raketu is supported on the major phone models (BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia, Android, Windows Mobile), most of the currently used phones are not supported yet. Concerning their mobile service, Greg Parker states, “Raketu continues to develop and increase features/functions and access in our mobile offerings - we believe that as mobiles mature and new models are released they will be more flexible and powerful to enable much more functionality on the handset.”
Bottom Line
The Raketu service is quite rich in capabilities and features, with communication, multimedia and social networking. It does a good endeavor towards Unified Communications and offer interesting flexibility. Raketu shines through all this and its competitive calling rates. It however has limited coverage of the call receiving RakIN service and limitations on the mobile phone models. The call quality is relatively good compared to other service of its type, but does not always compare favorably against Skype.
