TruTalk+ is gone, but you can still beat Nigeria’s 30 k/s floor. This guide compares Pulse’s flat 23 k/s, BetaGist’s 6-for-3 bonus and XtraTalk/XtraData bundles, shows migration codes, hidden fees and a SmartSMSSolutions 1–2 % airtime-discount hack.
Why TruTalk+ Died—and What It Cost
|
Date |
Event |
Impact |
|
20 Mar 2025 |
NCC raises voice floor to 30 k/s |
TruTalk+ (11 k/s + ₦10 daily fee) becomes illegal |
|
29 Mar |
MTN SMS: “TruTalk+ will retire 31 March” |
Customers auto-migrated to Pulse |
|
April onward |
No new activations |
Users must pick a new long-term plan |
Under the new floor, TruTalk+ would have cost ₦28/min (₦10/first min + 18 ₦ subsequent) — worse than today’s options.
The Three Viable Successors
|
Plan |
Core Call Rate / Mechanism |
Real Cost For 10-Min Call |
Pros |
Cons |
|
Pulse |
23 k/s flat (₦13.8/min) |
₦138 |
Cheapest legal flat rate |
No bonus; 30 k/s if you migrate away |
|
BetaGist |
30 k/s but 3-min bonus after 6-min paid |
≈ ₦180 → ₦135 (effective 22.5 k/s) |
Rewards long calls, no access fee |
Short calls (≤ 5 min) expensive |
|
XtraTalk 500 / 1500 / 5500 |
In-bundle ₦10.8/min |
V 1500: ₦128 |
Beats every PAYG rate; includes data |
Pre-pay needed; 24-h rollover grace |
Migration Cheat-Sheet
|
Target |
USSD / SMS |
First Switch Fee |
|
Pulse |
4061# or text 406→312 |
₦0 |
|
BetaGist |
1232*1# or BG→312 |
₦0 |
|
XtraTalk V1500 |
3121500# or V1500→312 |
₦0 (bundle cost only) |
Remember: a second switch within 30 days costs ₦102.
Cost Scenarios For Ex-TruTalk+ Users
|
Monthly Usage |
Old TruTalk+ Bill* |
Pulse |
BetaGist** |
XtraTalk 1500 |
|
250 min |
₦3 520 |
₦3 450 |
₦3 375 |
₦3 000 |
|
400 min |
₦5 120 |
₦5 520 |
₦4 950 |
₦3 996 (V1500 × 2) |
|
120 min (short calls) |
₦1 920 |
₦1 656 |
₦1 800 |
₦1 920 (V500 × 2) |
*Old cost = first ₦10/min + 11 k/s remainder (now illegal).
**BetaGist assumes avg call ≥ 12 min to earn full bonus cycles.
Decision Flow-Chart
┌─Averagecall≥6min?──►YES─►BetaGist
││
Starthere__┤NO
││
│Doyoutalk>200min&needdata?──►YES─►XtraTalk1500+
││
└──Otherwise►Pulse
Avoid Hidden Fees & Minute Loss
|
Pitfall |
How It Stings |
Fix |
|
Second migration inside 30 days |
₦102 |
Plan to stay a full month |
|
BetaGist bonus minutes expire in 48 h |
Wasted bonus |
Cluster calls into 6-min blocks |
|
XtraTalk rollover window only 24 h |
Lose leftover minutes |
Calendar reminder on expiry-1 |
|
PAYG data leak at ₦3.07/MB |
Airtime drain |
Block PAYG (312201#) or add Betamix Mini |
Stretch Savings Further With SmartSMSSolutions (1–2 %)
- Load wallet (web/app).
- Fund via bank/USSD/card.
- Buy airtime or bundle—₦1 500 costs ~₦1 470–₦1 485.
- Savings on two V1500 bundles a month ≈ ₦30–₦60—another 2–4 bonus minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
|
Q |
A |
|
Can I resurrect TruTalk+ via *400#? |
No—plan closed network-wide. |
|
Does BetaGist bonus work on mifi / modem SIMs? |
Yes, as long as SIM makes voice calls. |
|
Is there an XtraTalk 1000 tier? |
Discontinued; smallest is V 500. |
|
Will Pulse Points replace TruTalk night bonus? |
Points convert to data only, not voice. |
|
I’m under 15—should I skip all and use mPulse? |
Yes, mPulse at 20 k/s is cheaper than TruTalk+ ever was. |
Conclusion: TruTalk+ Nostalgia Fixed—Choose The Right 2025 Twin
- Pulse replicates TruTalk+’s no-frills simplicity at the lowest legal flat rate.
- BetaGist echoes TruTalk+’s “reward long calls” DNA with its 6-for-3 bonus.
- XtraTalk bundles blow both away for anyone willing to pre-pay minutes at ₦10.8/min.
Combine your pick with a SmartSMSSolutions 1–2 % airtime discount and you’ll actually pay less than you did on TruTalk+—despite 2025’s higher tariff floor.