Does talkatone still work for free calling back to the US? Used last summer but they were using credits then. Can I still make and receive free calls to and from the US?

The way Talkatone (theoretically) works is, you get free calls to any phone in the U.S. or Canada as long as you have a good WIFI connection and have credits left. You usually get 10 credits (minutes) per month and they roll over. You can buy 60 credits for 99 cents. One thing you must do though, is use Talkatone at least once a month to keep it active. If you don't do that, you lose your Talkatone number and have to reregister and get a new number. They often give you free credits for silly reasons like the change of seasons or Mother's day etc. Sometimes if you buy credits, you don't have to make a Talkatone call every month to keep your number. So to answer your question, as a long time Talkatone user, yes you can still make free phone calls back to the U.S. or from the U.S. If you want to make international calls FROM the U.S. then you must buy credits. Not to drag this answer out but, I discovered last year that if both parties have Talkatone, then you can call each other using credits(and WIFI) even if both of you are in SXM or any other country.

Sounds a bit too high maintenance to me. MANY other inexpensive and easier ways to call home

I have not used since last summer and when I signed back in, they gave me a new # (no biggie). But it also said they are no longer using credits and all calls to US and Canada are now free. Was wondering if they are free if calling the US from St. Maarten and vice versa.

It actually was quite easy. Downloaded the app, signed in and got a phone #, and then used to call and text my kids the three plus weeks I was in St. Maarten. Didn't cost me anything and worked great anywhere WiFi was available.

Originally Talkatone had unlimited free calling back to the states in conjunction with Google Talk(or Voice I forget). About 2 years ago or so, that collaboration ended. I last used Talkatone in December to call back home. If what you say is true, that's good news.

Talkatone is different from the other free wifi programs is that with Talkatone you can call any phone, be it a landline or cell, free, and people can call you free from the U.S. or Canada just by dialing your Talkatone phone number. In other programs, both parties must have the same program.

Ok..that sounds a bit easier than worrying about credits...but if I want to call home from SXM I just do airplane mode/wifi calling and my own S7 phone. No 3rd party involved and I also receive calls from home as long as I'm connected to wifi. USed it multiple times in January.

This is for USA to me (anywhere) or me to USA (from anywhere)...calling international #'s is a different issue.