Ringo users can now call any landline or mobile in the country at a rate of 19 p/min, without paying any charges for roaming, STD or top-up cards. The calling app uses telephone networks instead of phone data or the Internet for a phone call and it can even make calls if the recipient of the call does not have the app installed.

“With Ringo’s standard rate of 19 paise, it is 90% cheaper than most carriers and 25% cheaper than the most popular calling apps that are Internet based. Additionally, the app offers 50 minutes of free talk time to every user who installs the app for the first time, and 50 additional minutes for every friend a user refers to Ringo,” a company statement said.

Bhavin Turakhia, CEO and Founder of Ringo, said, ” Our local calling service is not only the cheapest in India right now, but it is also free of typical telecom-related hassles such as STD charges and differential pricing. In a country where 3G penetration is not fairly high throughout, we also have a strong edge over Internet telephony apps, as Ringo calls do not use data, and are comparable in price.”

Commenting on future plans for Ringo, Bhavin added, “Our aim is to become a smart, one-stop calling solution for people across the globe, and local calling in India is certainly our biggest step in that direction.”