Tokiva, a company calling itself  "a traveler's mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)" has announced the immediate availability of its IM-To-Call service on its open mobile communications platform.

 

The Toronto, Ontario provider of value-added communication services for global travelers offers users the ability to call a desired number using Tokiva's global VoIP network.

 

This, the company boasts, has the potential to save up to 90 percent on normal call costs since calls are carried by Tokiva's global VoIP network which has a footprint in over 185 countries.

 

As per the company's latest announcement, the IM-To-Call service is available on leading

instant messaging systems, including MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AOL (News - Alert) Messenger, and GTalk and offers registered users to ability to add Tokiva on their IM buddy lists.

 

When users wish to make a call, they simply IM Tokiva to call and Tokiva calls back the users land line or mobile phone then connects them to the desired number.

 

"Tokiva users tend to be on IM systems all the time. Tokiva IM-To-Call service is a natural extension to what the IM users are already doing -- communicating in real time with their friends worldwide," commented Tong Li, Founder and CEO of Tokiva Inc. "Tokiva is connecting text based IM systems with voice based phone networks in a simple yet powerful way."

Tokiva also said they filed a patent on the enabling technology platform that currently supports MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AOL Messenger, and GTalk.