How-To: Use a Pocket PC PDA as a WiFiphone

This week's How-To is a handy one for the folks out there who use the Vonage Voice Over IP (VOIP) service and happen to have a Pocket PC device with WiFi. We're going to show you how to turn just about any Pocket PC PDA device in to a real telephone with a working telephone number. At the end of this, we're also going to post our phone number so you can test it out (it might be a long distance call for you).

Ingredients for this How-To:

• Pocket PC with WiFi (we're using an iPAQ h6315 and h4100 Pocket PCs for testing)
• Vonage account with SoftPhone
• WiFi

Pocket PCs with WiFi

We recently started using the new HP iPAQ h6315 Pocket PC Phone which sports WiFi, GSM/GPRS and Bluetooth. This triad of connectivity allows many forms of communication, including voice, SMS, instant messaging, and IRC.

Late last week we spotted a post on MobileWhack about Vonage on Pocket PCs and shared it with a few of our Pocket PC-owning, Vonage-using friends, but they needed a little help getting it going so we decided we'd write a how to on turning a Pocket PC in to a telephone with a working phone number. If you travel a lot it's worth the $200 you'll pay on eBay for a WiFi-enabled Pocket PC and a $10 monthly Vonage account. After just a few weeks on the road and they should pay for themselves

What is Vonage?
Basically, Vonage allows you to use your broadband connection (DSL, Cable modem) to place calls from the corded or cordless phone you already have through a special free adaptar you receive when you sign up. Voicemail, call forwarding, call logs, caller ID, are all included. We've been using it for awhile, and we'll never use a "regular" phone line again.

You get a a real phone number in an area code of your choice, even if it's out of state, with plans starting as low as $30 a month for unlimited calling in the USA and Canada. This also means you could use your phone anywhere in the world if it was connected to the web (one of the reasons we like this). But for that, you'll need to add a feature to your account, a SoftPhone account.

What is a SoftPhone account?
A SoftPhone account is $10 extra per month and includes unlimited calling in the USA. This account allows you to use software on your PC/Mac/Linux computer to make phone calls just like you would at home, and you get an additional phone number (calls can be made to and from your PC) so you have full-functioning telephone at all times. Just like your other account you have Caller ID, Call Forwarding, and more.

If you have a Vonage account, just click "Features" in the top menu of your dashboard.

Now that we've got that going, it's time to put all the Voice over IP goodness to task on a Pocket PC.

For our tests we used iPAQ h6315 and h4100 Pocket PCs, both worked well—the Pocket PC which also doubles a real phone, though of the two the h6315, of course, had better mic pickup as it was designed to be a phone.

SJphone
SJphone is a VOIP softphone that allows you to speak with any Phone, PC, PDA, stand-alone and IP-phone with your Vonage account. You can download the installer or cab files here.

Once it is installed, we'll need to add your Vonage SoftPhone settings to the Pocket PC.

Setting up the Phone

Open the app by tapping Start > Programs SJPhone.


Tap Menu > Options > Tap the right arrow > Tap Profiles. Tap "New" to create a new profile. We named ours Vonage SoftPhone.


Initization settings (we left these default).


Tap the SIP Proxy tab. In Proxy Domain enter: 216.115.25.198. After the : which is the port, enter 5061. For User domain set it to: sphone.vopr.vonage.com


SIP is left default. Redirection and STUN are also left default.


When you click the OK button at the upper right, it will ask for your account and password. Your account is your Vonage SoftPhone phone number. The password is what you set it to on your SoftPhone account.

If you entered everything in correctly, you now have a working US phone, with a real phone number that can be used anywhere in the world with a net (WiFi) connection. In Japan? In Europe? Someone can call your USA number and it will ring right there on your Pocket PC.

That's it!

Stepping back, and looking at the device we're using we can use GSM to make regular phone calls through our provider, or we use our SoftPhone account any time we have Wifi and make unlimited calls. Depending where you live there tends to be a lot of friendly WiFi spots.

We think as phones get WiFi this should be built in, of course this is a really complicated business thing to figure out, but it has a lot of consumer appeal.

Call us...
Okay, if you didn't already notice here's our SoftPhone number.

1-360-243-0739

Call us for some hot gadget action.

---

Phillip Torrone can be reached via his personal site, http://www.flashenabled.com or [e-mail]

[jason @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

it sounds really bad.

[rich @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

If the voicemail greeting were suppose to sound like whale calls, then it sounds awesome. But to a human it sounds like high pitch, jumble mumble!

[Dean in Des Moines @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Your VM greeting is completely and in all aspects unintelligable, registering slightly below static. This is not very convincing that the project is at all worth my time.

[Adam Solomon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I just bought an Ipaq 6315, and I have a vonage softphone account. I set it up, and I can make calls, and people can hear me, but I can�t hear them. I know the phone speaker is working, because I can make regular cell calls.

Do you have any ideas what might be wrong? If I could get this to work it would be a real lifesaver.

[sushi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

The link to Phillips site is broken. It should be http://www.flashenabled.com

[Joel @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Any luck using a bluetooth headset to talk on the pocketpcphone?

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

We've heard a lot about VoWLAN, now that you've got the 6315 working with Vonage, can you post your results? Would be curious to know more.

[Mauricio Freitas @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Stanaphone is available to everyone anywhere, and users are assigned US numbers. Check http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=3016 for how to configure it if using SJPhone, or download the new version available on http://www.stanaphone.com with all the configuration built-in and ready to go - just intall and use.

[Sam @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Small clarification - the Vonage site says the US$9.99 Softphone plan only includes 500 minutes of local and long distance (US and Canada) *not* unlimited calling. http://www.vonage.com/features.php?feature=softphone

[dave @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Your having sent this announcement all over the world may well constitute a breach of national security.

[Marc @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

You show a Sony 900 - will it work on that too? What software?

[OSUKid7 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

hhttp://www.vonage.com/features.php?feature=softphone

has one extra h at the beginning.

[Craig Rockweiler @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I'd use Skype instead, better voice quality than POTS or Vonage, runs on more platforms (yep, Linux and Mac) and they promise to never charge for Skype to Skype calls. Plus, their landline call charges are reasonable.

[Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

...is actually the "alien" communication sound clip from the movie Contact. Duh!

[ROBERT PRENTICE @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I have a Sony Ericsson T610 bluetooth enabled handset and a Dell Axiom X30 Bluetooth/WiFi enabled PDA. Can some genius come up with a simple answer to this: using the Dell [or other] bluetooth enabled PDA to link with a bluetooth handset [such as the SE T610] without having to use a Bluetooth headset. In particular I use the Dell with a Bluetooth GPS system - which, in the UK, works close to perfectly - although fly-overs confuse it no end... anyway... this kit is installed in a clever PDA holder that incorporates a powered speaker system so that the voice instructions for the Sat Nav system can be heard above the noise of breathing quietly - which at 70MPH [or more] seems to exceeds the abilities of the Dell PDA [and other's I]ve tested. So, to get back to the question - ideally the phone can remain in my pocket... or the boot of the car... or where ever [within bluetooth range] I've left it and forgotten all about it and the PDA can be used as a phone. This would simply be using the bluetooth connection with no need for VOIP etc. Certianly in the UK there is absolutely no advantage in using VOIP for calls within the country as calling plans or even pre-pay [with a few odd execeptions] treat all calls as national calls.

So... who has the simple answer to this problem???

[Gandy @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I've used Skype on a hp5500 with a motorola BT headset and unless you are plugged into the mains you can only talk for a while. Wifi kills an ipaq battery quite quickly anyway, but when you switch on BT as well it's mental. You just sit there watching Wisbar's battery meter dropping. The ipaq also gets pretty hot on the back.

[DeanWesterburg @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

It seems to me that we have allready overcome the hurtle of having a wireless phone. It's called a "Cell phone"! At $10 a month for 500 min, why wouldn't you use your cellphone?? $20 a month will get you 500 cell min AND it will work in places other than Panara or your favorite coffee shop!!!

[Chokchai Lerdsuwanrut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

When wifi phone can be use worldwide?
and what can we do if we would like to use wifiphone sevice in the country where ban vioce over IP service.

[Faro @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

This sounds too good to be true please tell me this available in the UK and can you show me how to set it up.


Kind Regards

Joseph

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

If your iPaq has GSM service couldn't you call your GSM number through the SJPhone software (or vice versa) and in effect make the iPaq call itself? It's just a thought...certainly not a practical activity but I found it interesting. By the way there are many VOIP providers worldwide which will allow you to make calls to "normal" (pstn) telephones through the internet. Search "voip provider."

[Gregg B @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Assuming I'm out of WiFi range (which around here is frequent), does GPRS provide enough bandwidth for VoIP traffic? For instance, if I had a data-only GSM/GPRS account...

[Den @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

All sounds really good and exciting, however as for us Brits we dont have vonage. I'd like to try it out on my Ipaq, how would you go about doing so in the U.K????? cheers

[Curt Broskey @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

So I got a WiFi phone. Has anyone tried to use this with Vonage and if so what are the settings. Please help.

[KEITH @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I have taken my Laptop to WiFi hotspots here in Costa Rica and made vonage softphone calls to the US with great success, and at $10/500 min that is a great deal. It has worked so well that I have decided to get the IPAQ 6315, I will report my progress.
Keith

[anonymous @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Re UK Voip
Have you tried BT's VOIP service can the SW used in the article be used with BT?

[jim @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

GPRS is not fast enough in north america generally to support it. avg speed 40- 60kbps
now verizon is releasing a new broadband wirelessly and so is sprint on that technology that could support it. att and coingular has the edge technology that can support the download and theoretically support the upload too. good luck let me know what happens guys.

[Hugh @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I downloaded the software and opened a Vonage softphone account. Doesn't replace the cell phone but it works well enough for my purpose. Anyone figured out how to get the BT headset (Motorola HS810) to work with iPAQ2215? Would be great if I could use the Softphone via the iPAQ in combination with BT headset.

[Dimitri @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

BT headset can connect to iPaq 2215. See http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=85322

The new HS850 is a nice improvement over the HS810 using the BT 1.2 protocol.

[NiNTENDO i DS @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Has anyone heard about a Phone / VoIP software like that for my intendo DS?

[Robert Kim @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

VOIP is now everywhere.. BUT beware... big co;s like Cingular is boobytrapping their pocket pcs so that if you install a wifi card... well... the cell side goes dark.. more lawsuits on the way??? ala verizon and v710 bluetooth issue... i'll put some more info up at http://wireless-internet-broadband-service.com later... bob

[IMRAN @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I have a pocket pc ( I mate ). and i want 2 use this software help me plz .......

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I used this setup in Europe in October of 2004 and it worked great. I used my Vonage account and used wi-fi spots in hotels in Berlin, Munich, and Brussels to call Seattle, Dallas, and California. The quality was better than a mobile phone, but not as good as a landline (of course).

This is a great solution when traveling overseas and don't want to be bothered with getting a mobile phone.

Equipment: I have a Dell x5 running at 400mhz. Let it run at 400mhz--don't use the powersave or auto feature. I use a Linksys 802.11b CF wi-fi card.

[M Leiter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Seems to me that Skype works out to be a better deal compared to Vonage - Skype's charges seem to work out to about 1 to 3 cents per minute in most popular calling regions. On the other hand I have tried Skype via my iPAQ 4150 and it sounds like you're talking and listening inside a tunnel. Is that because I am not using a BT headset, just a regular headset? Or does anyone know from experience that Vonage connections sound crisper than Skype? Lastly, for all the excitement I tend to agree with one of the previous postings that my trusty old Sony Ericsson T637 cellphone is just as handy, much clearer, much more juice in the battery department, and so why bother with VoIP via your PDA?

[TheGreatDL @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

I happened to come across this page last night while searching for a softphone to work with wifi, and my vonage. I got rid of my cell because the taxes were as much as the service.

I have had skype on my pda before, but i was never satisfied with the quality. Last time I searched for software with pda and vonage, not much turned up.

So i wanted to post to let anyone know, that i was able to get softphone to work fine on my ipaq 2210 bluetooth pda running pc2003. People say I sound better on the softphone then i do on my phone plugged into the internet via vonage. lol

I'm going out to try softphone with bluetooth, cause i can :) My wifi adapter is an ambicom wL1100-cf

Why cant vonage offer this fix? because they still say you cant put it on a pda. unless its not for the avg user yet. just good enough for us geeks.

-peace

[Stephany @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12892165~mode=flat
Settings are as follows:
install xten 2.2 for pocket pc
www.xten.com
once installed & opened:
click
Options>system settings>sip proxies

Display Name: The phone number for the softphone account with the 1 (11 digits)
User Name: The phone number for the softphone account with the 1 (11 digits)
Auth User: The phone number for the softphone account with the 1 (11 digits)
Password: (your password)
Domain: sphone.vopr.vonage.net
SIP Proxy: sphone.vopr.vonage.net:5061
Outb Proxy: sphone.vopr.vonage.net:5061
Sip proxy: 216.115.25.198
There's no outbound proxy
Check box "enabled"
http://support.xten.net/viewtopic.php?t=1092
Tip: echo can be elimminated by doing tthe following
options/advanced/audio....check the box labled "high echo sensitivity".

[Imran Malik @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Yes Brandit. I have tested BT headset (Motorola HS810) with iPAQ2215. Works great. I am planning to get latest GVM TDI from http://www.digitaluweb.com I will get crystal clear quality!

[m sprouse @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Tried this setup using vonage on hP ipaq 5555, worked great in france but after softboot, sjphone quit working, says" waiting for proxy registration". Can anyone help? Tried re-loading software, shows different screens than your setup. Got it reloaded, but still same proxy registration problem.

[Women's shoes @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

The problems with Skype are: 1. Proprietary protocol. 2. Only able to talk to other Skype VoIP users. 3. No PSTN dial-in 4. Only one voice coodec (iLBC) 5. Softphone only (where do I plug my POTS phone?)

[Myk Hill @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Had a WiFi idea i wanted to share, probably coming out in next couple months anyway so I will share. Waiting on my internet phone router to come from http://www.sipphone.com/ then plan on getting a wireless router to hook my voip router into and install a power inverter to rund divices in my car, then pull up to a free wifi area and try to make a call out. A bit crude at first if it works it should not be too hard to conceal your devices though.
Let me know if you know of anybody who has tried this already... Thanks.

[Keith @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Success with the iPaq 6315. GPRS in CR is not even close (and most wifi hot spots), but at home and work no issues. One bad thing about the SJPhone software is that it uses the external speaker instead of the phone speaker, so a headset is necessary.

Good Luck!

[Keith @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Success with the iPaq 6315. GPRS in CR is not even close (and most wifi hot spots), but at home and work no issues. One bad thing about the SJPhone software is that it uses the external speaker instead of the phone speaker, so a headset is necessary.

Good Luck!

[priesh mistry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

HI, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN USE MY IPAQ 3760 ALSO AS A WIFI PHONE OR IS JUST FOR THE POCKET PC MOBILES I DO HAVE A WIFI CARD FOR IT!!!! WHICH I USE!!! IVE LOOKED AROUND THE NET CANT FIND ZIP PLEASE HELP ME

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Got 6315 and vonage /sjphone to work fine after some tweeking, but the echo is annoying, does a head set get rid of it?

[Topdoc777 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Hi,

I am using SJLABS softphone for Vonage on my Dell Axim x50V. I can make and recieve calls, and the other party can hear me, BUT I cannot hear the other party. I know the speaker works fine (Im actually using the Dell headset/mic that they make for the axim)...

Can anyone please help me. It would be very very much appreciated. Thanks...

-Topdoc777

[beya @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

Topdoc777 I suggest you try Xten X-Pro for pocket pc, at least that will reveal if there is an issue with your phone and SJ.

beya

[Merlin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

No sounds with a Dell axim x30?? somebody?

[Ketan Mistry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

hi, i would like to know if you can use the interface connection on the ASDA zip drive or is it only compactible with the WR34? mines only runs at 100mb i dont know zip please help

[Priesh Mistry @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

hey ketan, the interface connection is only compactible with the WR34 zip mulipler. however u can upgrade to accomodate the ASDA zip drive through wifi terminals and also using the 077XDA system to moniter the noton anitvirus software. hopefully that has answered ur question

[Nayan "the hustler" Bhavsar @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

hey ketan and also priesh am just commenting on the discussion u peeps were avin, i fink that the ASDA zip drive would also comply with the O.C config. moreover the PAK! R/U5 can be compressed using the amstrad cpc464 hopefully i have been of some help geezers

[CK2005 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:26AM]

VoIP for using with your PDA (PocketPC's) is a great (cheaper) proposition to replace cel phone charges + taxes, etc. But it requires one to hunt for a Wi-Fi hot spot and it all sounds like a planned event. Making phone calls or receiving calls is a spontaneous action, one should not have to schedule time to make a phone call.
So I wonder if one already had a fast broadband connection on their PocketPC e.g. Verizon's Wireless Broadband, can we then use VoIP for making phone calls using your VoIP supported PDA and VoIP telephone software. I believe the answer should be yes. Also I wonder if you are have a data connection e.g. Tmobile data package where you use your wireless provider to connect to the internet using your cel phone as modem e.g. T610 (Bluetooth) you normally get a connection speed ~ 115kbps, would then VoIP work once the internet connection is dedicted??

Anyone has any answers or opinions about my thoughts???

CK.