February 9, 2007
Lots More Mobile VOIP to Choose From
Have you noticed that it’s raining mobile VOIP these days? Information Week asserts that VOIP has finally hit the mainstream wireless market and points to Fring, JaJah Mobile and Windows Mobile 6 as indicators who’ve all had new announcements this week. Truphone is also part of that crowd.
Tom Keating reviews Jajah Mobile on his blog. Check it out.
As a consumer, I’m happy there are options. But I’m also a consumer who’s not really ready. This mobile VOIP stuff means more decisions. What’s most important to me? Being in touch with my Skype contacts, my Google Talk buddies, my JaJah list or some other list somewhere? Do I like downloading an application to my phone or would I rather not–too finicky? Do I need multiple phone numbers for my cell phone? I like to use the Wi-Fi capability of my nifty Nokia N80i, but cruising around my usual haunts in town I’ve yet to find a free access point (obviously I need to get out more). The only place I’ve used mobile VOIP is from the comfort of my own desk.
4 Comments on Lots More Mobile VOIP to Choose From »
February 9, 2007
Kanti Purohit @ 5:20 pm:
I share your frustration. To me, it is more than that - it is utter confusion!
When I read about these mobile announcements, I can never tell what I need to have to make those new services work!
Do I need data service plan on top of my plain old cell plan?
Does it need a WiFi access or will it work over the conventional cell phone infrastructure?
Do I need a new phone?
All I want to know is whether this “so-easy-to-use” service will work with my current phone and current subscription?
The meaning of the term “mobile” is stretched too far: It used mean just the basic cell service. If I need WiFi (and a phone with a browser) than my phone is simply working as a handheld PC - that doesn’t strike me as revolutionary!
VOIPGirl @ 6:00 pm:
Well said Kanti,
I hear you. How do you know that the cell phone you bought last year has what it takes? Unless you keep your user manual, half the time you can’t even tell what model it is by looking at it. Phoneboy will probably laugh at that becauase he’s a guy that really knows his handsets. The only rule of thumb I can offer so far is, if it doesn’t say Nokia on it, don’t bother.
Talkster (http://www.talkster.com) is a service that works on any cell phone with a browser. But if you’ve ever tried web browsing on an entry level phone you know how frustrating that is. So, would you ever bother making a mobile internet call in that case? Probably not.
Dilip @ 10:14 pm:
I looked at Jajah a while ago and was a little confused like yourselves when I was trying to figure out whether it uses SMS, GPRS, as its underlying technology. I gave up waiting for it to be ported to the blackberry and went with MINOWireless.com, check them out, its easy to understand and use and you don’t have to mess browsers etc from your cell phone to place a call. It does use the data network though !
Cheers
Dilip
August 5, 2007
VoIP_Addict @ 5:20 pm:
I was just reading up on Fring.. It seems pretty cool but what other mobile applications are there available for phone users.
Lets say I use two separate VoIP accounts? On a windows based computer we can make a choice between a lot of different soft phones. I like X-Pro as it supports a bunch of different accounts which is cool.
Yes, fring seems really cool but it worries me a little. Especially with the “Skype’ built in. Skype makes use of bandwidth sharing.. If you leave it running on a computer and even if your not using it Skype will use your bandwidth to mjove calls across the skype network. Referred to as making your computer a “Super Node”. The idea of that happening on my cell phone is out right scary as I live in a country where bandwidth is very expensive.
Is there something similar that can run on a mobile phone where I can pick up the handset dial a number and press the little green button to make a VoIP call home to the wife over my FWD account or over VoIP Buster for example?
If VOIPGirl doesn’t have an answer, I hope Phoneboy see this