Great news for the VoIP world: iCall, the maker of the
iCall VoIP iPhone app that can catch a GSM call and flip it over to WiFi, has issued a press release saying that the new iPhone SDK allows for VoIP over 3G cellular connections. Previously such calls had to be made over WiFi, since AT&T's network (or someone well acquainted with AT&T's network) didn't think it was man enough to take the VoIP traffic. Interestingly, iCall says its 3G-friendly VoIP app is available now, and is the first and only such app in the App Store -- which seems like some pretty quick turnaround on everyone's part, but apparently the 3G restriction wasn't anything to do with the software itself, but instead a server-side block. We just tested this out and it totally works, and while we'll be looking for more verification that the ban has indeed been lifted, it sounds like it's time for some cheaply connected international parties in the streets.
posted January 27th 2010 10:07PM
iPad just turned into a huge iPhone.
@techobsessive
Steve Ballmer is so gonna party today! iPad = iFail
@(Unverified)
More like iTampon.
@Scribbles
STAY ON TOPIC, STAY ON TOPIC, STAY ON TOPIC
@artemis360
Ok, Omg i cant believe this take that AT&T, i will VIOP all day long..... (better)
@techobsessive
Feels like a game of PokeMon.
Apple used SDK 4.0
iPhone evolved into iPad!
@Scribbles
Yes, that is better. But you spelled VoIP VIOP ;)
Change you can believe in!
@techobsessive
Hurry! Hit End Call!
@techobsessive
Does it even have a microphone? Noones said either way and I wouldn't put it past apple to leave one out for the first version of the iPad.
@Bratyr Yes it has a microphone.
@techobsessive with NO MICROPHONE... wha wha wha whaaaaaaa
@Aryeh5761 it has a mictophone. people, know your specs.
Wow. +1 for apple. Screw AT&T!!!
@00iEye00 But AT&T is a SMALL part of the world market.
@00iEye00 how does that screw AT&T? It screws iPhone users. They cannot swap out the sim card. It means you have to have two data plans.
@kylemullaney
Woosh
Wow, an actually COOL development from Apple today.
@psycros
I blinked twice when I read this. Apple did what??
So did Jobs kill McGraw Hill yet?
@James I did notice that they were never mentioned, nor did I see their logo during the launch yesterday.
Heh.
Finally some possible good news. Now the question is - will Google Voice or Skype come to the iPhone and work over 3GS. And, well, what will the reliability and the quality of the call be like?
@Anatidae For the umpteenth time, GV is not VOIP.
@y3kbug
It's just a matter of time - they bought Gizmo after all.
who cares...
Cool, so hey, WebOS just got some more games today including Brothers In Arms, a Mech game, some more flight sims and Assassins Creed the other day.
Not to mention the coup de grace for Topolsky, lyrics apps for Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, AND Justin Beiber.
I'm looking forward to it. I've wanted a UMPC with a cheap, unlimited data plan. This will fit the bill pretty well for me I'd say...and I will predict it will be much more capable after the release of iPhone 4.
@95black
Why not just get an iPad?
oh wait...
Same here. Skype will be much more useful now.
iPhone is available from well over 100 carriers - why do you guys assume AT&T is responsible for the previous restriction?
@Joanna D What possible benefits does Apple have by restricting VoIP apps? That is the question you need to ask yourself.
@thomodachi What benefits does Apple have by restricting Flash? See how that works?
OMG!?!?! What the hell?? Did someone at Apple die!?
@Plazmic Flame
I'm so surprised, I never thought Apple would take part in tearing apart the Telcos, they totally hate this sorta thing and usually react in raising prices on data.
Hmmm....$40-$65 voice plan with telco... or $3 plan with Skype.....decisions, decisions....
YAY. More Dropped calls.
Cool. Now we can VOIP over 3G?
Wait, don't we need to be in one of those little blue zits on the coverage maps that I see on the tv?
That title almost seems redundant or something
"Apple lifts Voice over Internet Protocol over cellular restrictions in new iPhone SDK"
what?
Apple is simply reacting to one of the biggest gripes. Why does it always take huge amount of complaining before they address anything. Still, without multitasking or OS integration this is only half a solution.
Apple, look at N900. Admit that Nokia does something right. Integrate VOIP, IM etc straight on the OS level and operators be damned...
@Rev
It's more like Apple reacting to the FCC.
I wonder if they would have flipped this switch if the response to the iPad wasn't horrendous? And it says you can now transfer GSM calls over to VoIP over WiFi... what about completely skipping the GSM part? As in: will this let the iPad make phone calls?
It looks like they're doing this to increase apparent network capacity, under the guise that is is being done in response to consumer's demand.
Yes - VOIP over 3G should allow an aggregate increase in voice calls to be handled by all AT&T devices in those 'blue blips'. It will help but it won't be without problems, but that isn't the end game here...
Now these iPhone/iPad apps will create more users who are comfortable with VOIP, thus they'll become comfortable using it in their homes over their WiFi networks...
The play here - Uverse. Now they'll charge me >$10 per month to give me VOIP at home and QOS to make it that much better than my Google Voice/Gizmo5 and Skype options. I'll happily pay this $10 to make my life easier and switch my room mate and friends to this solution...
WOW! They just made a bunch of money by marketing VOIP in an iPhone app, which gets users to use their existing VOIP infrastructure, all for minimal capital investment...
Ya - they planned this as one of their road map options
Finally. So, where's the update for Skype?
I currently pay $75 a month for 1st generation iphone.
I would like to see if I could beat the cost in one year by using an iPad (skype) as a phone instead of paying my AT&T cell phone bill each month.
3G iPad Costs:
$629 16 gig 3G iPad
$29.99 12 months($359.8 Unlimited Data
$988.00 a year.
I would then need to purchase US to US skype telephone number for $50 a year.(this would allow anyone to call you and allow you to make US calls)
988 + 50 =1038 a year
Now, I currently pay $75 a month for a 1st Generation iPhone 700 minute plan.
This plan cost me $900 a year.
The iPad will cost me $138 more a year.
However, having a 3G connecting device will allow me with the extra perk of being able to search the web from home without paying for a cable/dial up model on a device that seems to work similar to my laptop. Plus I will benefit from having 3G compared to my outdated 2G connection from my 1st generation iphone. Last but not least, no two year contract.
Yes it will be a large phone, but nothing a sweet backpack and ear buds can't take care of.
Sounds Like a plan!!
@flibida don't forget that the iPad only allows one app to run at a time..! your ability to be contact anytime will be significantly diminished, unless you literally just walk around with an ipad in your backpack and earphones in your ears to hear it ring when someone calls. doesn't seem to realistic to me, but it's the right direction! VoIP phones are coming!
@e100828f
Ya I think your right about having to strap the thing on all day.....
Yeah! This app allows free Voip calls from the US to the US: useless for 90% of the people on this "lovely" planet. Can you call it a good thing???
@Tchiort
Not yet but I am sure with mounting preasure from ofcom and other consumer bodies this will eventualy be THE way to comunicate with anybody world wide.
Now all we need is to see other service providers following suit and communication has taken a major leap forward and will prove that they DO think about the consumer once in a while ;)
Skype?
... and Apple just pulled iCall from the app store for issuing a press release against a pre-release SDK.