As the internet became mainstream, one thing that it changed was the way people used to communicate. Earlier the regular users used to make voice calls and now the internet has made it almost free with VoIP based apps. Calls charges dropped drastically over the years as the companies felt it difficult to counter VoIP based apps. In India though, some network operators tried to charge for VoIP based calls, but it was ultimately stroked down by the law. However, one disadvantage with the internet based apps that allows you to call for free is that they cannot make calls to a particular phone number directly, but requires the both the users to have the app installed. You can bypass this restriction using apps like Skype and Google Hangout. These internet based services allow you to make international calls to any phone number for a nominal fee. The calls made using these internet based apps are cheaper than your regular calls made over the 2G network. However, the fact is that these internet based apps have limitations. Suppose you are in an area where there is no proper 3G/4G coverage or even WiFi coverage. What can you do in this situation if you want to make an international call? You can use your regular 2G based network to make the calls, or you can use Ringo. Ringo is an app available for Windows Phone, Android, and Apple iOS devices. It allows you to dial any international and national number without an internet connection. How Ringo Works? Unlike the traditional VoIP based app, Ringo takes a clever approach to make calls without the internet. Suppose if you want to dial a number in UAE from India. When you dial an international number, Ringo will send a callback request to its server from your number. The server will then dial your number, and you will receive a call. You have to accept the incoming call from Ringo. Once you receive the call, Ringo will dial the destination number using its own infrastructure. Now both the calls will be connected using Ringo’s service. The caller in UAE will see your actual number rather than a private or internet based number, which is a good thing. Ringo International tariffs? Ringo claims to provide up to 80% cheaper international tariff plans when compared to the network operators. For example, if you use Airtel to make a call to any UAE number, then you will be charged Rs 13 per minutes. Whereas Ringo will charge Rs 10.32/min. The call charges are typically much much higher for middle east than any other country. What is Ringo WiFi Calling? Ringo WiFi calling is a feature in Ringo app that allows you to make international calls using the WiFi connectivity to any landline or mobile number. Ringo WiFi calling is a bit cheaper than Ringo regular plans. So, if you have access to WiFi connectivity, Ringo WiFi calling can save a lot in monthly phone bills. Ringo Local tariffs? Ringo also allows you to make local and STD calls within India. The local call tariff starts at just 19 paise per minute. This is indeed a lucrative offer compared to other network operators. However, temporarily (as of writing this) the local call service has been temporarily shut down by Ringo. Although the CEO has promised to reinstate the service soon, we don’t have any exact date for the same. What’s the catch? Even though Ringo claims to be a 100% internet free calling service, it still needs to use your phone’s internet connectivity. When you dial a number, Ringo will use your internet connection to send a callback request to its server. So, if you don’t have network coverage, you should have the WiFi connectivity or vice versa. The internet connection is only needed for sending the callback request to the server. After the request has been sent, you don’t need the internet connection to connect the call. Below is the official response I received when enquired about the same (click on the image to enlarge it). The data charges that you may incur while callback request is sent is negligible. I did not notice any charges for two calls I made while testing the service. How to Install and Use Ringo? To make international calls without the internet, you have to install the Ringo app on your Android, iPhone or Windows Phone smartphone. You can download Ringo app from here. Once downloaded, proceed with the installation. After the installation, open the app. Now enter your Mobile number, Name and Email address. Tap Next/Arrow icon to proceed. Now you need to verify your number by entering the verification code sent to your phone number. After the verification, you can see that Ringo has added Rs 10 as a promotional balance to your account. You can use the balance to contact any number in your contact. If you want to recharge your Ringo account, go to pay.ringo.co. Enter your mobile number and select the country. If you are from India, you can choose from Rs 10 to Rs 500 credit option. You can make the payment using the Credit/Debit card or Net banking. Ringo is a handy app that allows you to make international calls without the internet. It also offers cheaper tariff plans than its competitors. However, as of now, not having the ability to make local calls is what keeping me away from using this service extensively. Do let me know your thoughts about Ringo in comments below.
