TalkTalk app lets customers use their landline package on a smartphone

Now that everyone and their dog has a mobile, landlines are less communication tool, more compulsory conduit for getting broadband at home. Free weekend calls and other concessions that come with landlines are usually wasted, but just as BT and Virgin Media did last year, TalkTalk has today announced a new app that lets its customers use their landline minutes and perks on their mobiles. The Talk2Go app, which has been knocking around the Android and iOS app stores for the past month, allows anyone with a TalkTalk landline to make calls over 3G, 4G and WiFi. Users may find it the cheaper calling option, depending on their home phone plan, or at least take comfort in knowing conversations aren't eating into their precious mobile minutes allowance. And because it can handle calls over WiFi like Three's inTouch or O2's TU Go apps, you don't need a mobile signal as long as you're in range of a hotspot.

You can also register up to four devices with the same TalkTalk account and make calls between them for free, though that's not particularly exciting as there are innumerable services that let you call others for free over data networks. Most importantly, there are no barriers to using Talk2Go abroad, so you could potentially save yourself unnecessary roaming charges if you need to call UK numbers while you're away. Better yet, you can get the app to forward calls from your landline to your mobile, meaning you never have to worry about missing another cold call from a double-glazing salesman again.