Nettalk Review- Tell It Like It Is – by Paul Jenkins 
Nettalk, a fairly new internet phone company is based in Miami and sells the Duo device. Their original device was called the TK6000 and the new version is the Duo, a device you can plug into your computer or internet router for phone service. The Duo is similar to MagicJack, but unlike MagicJack you can also use it without having a computer running.
Why It Rocks
The best part about the Duo is that you don’t need a computer running to operate it. You can plug the little device into your internet router and attach it to a regular phone and then voila you have phone service. Of course you can also use it with your computer, which means you can take it with you if you’re travelling.
There are no monthly bills with the Duo. The first year is $69.95 and each additional year is $29.95. This gets you unlimited US and Canada calling. They also offer international calling which you can buy prepaid minutes for.
Some of the included features are 911 (where supported) and 411 which is free. The Duo also allows for faxing, you just need a fax machine that supports VoIP.
You can also use Nettalk on the go. You just have to download their smartphone app to your mobile device (iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile). (Although the Blackberry Application does not support CDMA devices and you must be running an OS version 4.6 to 6.0..
Nettalk offers tech support 7 days a week so if you run into any issues you won’t be on your own. They also offer trouble tickets service so you can get email support.
Nettalk claims they do not install any spyware in their software and nor do they sell customer data to marketing companies. My guess is this is a reaction to the fact that MagicJack collects data on your machine and ships it to theirs.
Where It Strikes Out
Although, you can use the Duo on your computer and as a home phone, unlike some other internet phones you can’t use them at the same time. So if you want to use it while you’re travelling you won’t have a home phone. This also means you can’t set up multiple phones around the house and they don’t offer home wiring. The Duo adapter only works with one phone at a time. You can however use your smartphone at the same time as your home phone or computer phone.
The Duo device can only be used with Nettalk, so if you decide to change providers you’ll be stuck with unusable equipment.
Nettalk does not offer a second phone, nor does it offer a traditional softphone. This means that although you can use the Duo on your computer from anywhere you need to have an actual phone to connect to it – even if you’re at a coffee shop. With other softphones you don’t need a phone to connect to.
The area codes Nettalk offers are limited. Although they offer both American and Canadian area codes, they tend to be those of larger metropolises. If you’re living in a rural area you might be out of luck. Unfortunately, you can’t check to see if they offer your area code before you buy so if they don’t offer your area code, you’ll have to return the device or opt for another number. They also do not offer international area codes, however Duo to Duo calling is free from anywhere in the world.
Although Nettalk offers voicemail, its capabilities are limited. You can’t record your own voicemail and it doesn’t send a message to the phone that there are messages waiting. You can’t retrieve messages from an outside phone, although you can retrieve them from email. You also can’t select the number of rings you want before it is forwarded to another numbers.
The Duo Device only works with certain internet routers. There are some compatibility issues and so you should make sure your router will work with the Duo. They have a list of problematic routers buried in their forum. Unfortunately this is another issue with Nettalk. Their website, although clear, leaves a lot of information out. Their FAQ’s should be expanded and should also include some of the potential issues or some of the things they don’t offer. MagicJack does a better job at being upfront about what they do and don’t offer. Its not a bad thing to outline the big picture to the customer. The Duo device does certainly has its place and will be ideal for some people.
The Last Word
The fact that you don’t need a computer running to operate the Duo device is super convenient. However, you can only use one device at a time. Also, you should check the area codes available and whether your internet router is compatible before you buy.
My Straight-Up Advice: This could work for you if you don’t need multiple phones and don’t want the hassles of monthly bills.
