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iPhone App Enables GSM To WiFi/VoIP Switching
alias420 writes "You can save on long distance and air time with the new 3G iPhone. iPhone Hacks has the scoop on an upcoming iPhone 2.0 App named 'iCall', that will let you switch between VoIP and normal GSM calls anywhere in North America. You can check out their recently released video proof of call switching in action . This software requires no hacks and will be completely official. Here is a little quote from the developer: 'We are part of the Apple iPhone developer program. This is not an application for you naughty jail breakers ;-)'"
While the story does have a point, it is important to remember that the iPhone is not sold with flat-rate data subscriptions in all countries.
Especially the iPhone 2 will not be sold with flat-rate. Both Apple and the telcos have gained insight and experience in the customers actual use of the phone. Standard terms for an iPhone 2 will be around 300 megs a month - a number which is very high for browsing and the occasional iTunes purchase, but nowhere near enough to sustain heavy VoIP usage. Or constant radio-streaming. Or video conferences. Or porn-streaming.
- Jesper
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
I'm surprised really that the cell phone companies haven't completely fucked the idea of VoIP in the public's mind yet. With as much as they screw people over on the price of SMS (glorified ICQ at 20 cents a message on my phone plan here in Germany), why haven't the phone companies switched en masse over to VoIP, and then continue to charge varied rates on distance?
Fringe is a similar app that lets you connect to skype and make voip calls. What would be great is if these kind of apps worked over G3. Here in Mexico incoming calls to cellphones are free, so in theory you could us an all data plan and use skype for your outgoing calls.
When the new iPhone starts selling in the UK with its subsidised price and contract signed in the phone shop, you'll see how quickly Apple's application store becomes restricted for some customers. The developers say Apple has explicitly stated that VoIP is allowed, just not over Edge networks - ha ha. Once the networks start part-paying for the handsets, as I hear they are doing in the UK they get to say what works and what doesn't, and this application just won't be allowed.
Matthew @ Bytemark Hosting
does this like... for ages?
... couldn't you do this anywhere in the world with a phone running Skype for Mobile or practically any VoIP provider of your choice using a PocketPC? Either that summary is way too summarized or there really isn't anything exciting here other than saying this is now possible on an iPhone too...
so in theory you could us an all data plan and use skype for your outgoing calls.
Provided you have a flat-rate data plan with a price tag small enough to actually make your scenario work. Which will not be all that common for the iPhone 2. Telcos are not stupid. They will identify the exact amount of data transfer which is precisely enough for "regular" customers to never actually reach it, but no where near enough to use the device for streaming, VoIP, or similar services/technologies.
A normal smartphone users spends around 100 megs a month. Including constant syncs with his company exchange server. An advanced smartphone user spends about the double of that. The iPhone 2 will be launched with a 300 meg data plan. Not flat-rate. Coincidence? I think not.
300 megs is more than enough for just about every "normal" smartphone user. But not enough to throw in VoIP, radio-streaming on the road, or mobile pr0n.
- Jesper
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
From what they showed, they are not actually switching the call, they are establishing a parallel voip call, then dropping the cellular call. This is unlikely to work seamlessly the other way around, since if you are on voip and walk out of wireless range it will take some time before a cellular call can be dialled to replace it.
There's an official VoIP SDK for the iPhone, so expect similar apps to follow from other providers. The only limitation is that you can't VoIP over the GPRS/Edge/3G data connection.
GSM over wifi is nothing new.
When my crackberry is in UMA mode cals/data don't count towards plan minutes and while overseas the phone thinks its in the US and NO INTL ROAMING fees.
See www.umatoday.com
i suppose this is actually only "really" useful for americans. in other gsm coutries (at least in europe) we don't pay for recieving incoming phones calls. of course, making outgoing calls over wifi is pretty useful (especially considering the rates we pay for making calls outside of our own countries).
This would need you to take a new phone number, much like Grand Central.
Then, when the call arrives, the SIP Invite is forwarded to the application (if running), and the user is prompted to decide on delivery mechanism.
If the app isn't running, the call is connected. If at a later point, the user starts the application, the app registers with the service, and, if desired, the call is dropped from the mobile connection and sent to the VoIP link using a reinvite (probably).
This can be probably be done using Asterisk on the server side. The nifty bit is the VoIP client on the iPhone. Other than that, the service looks pretty bulk standard.
This definitely wouldn't need anything other than the standard APIs.
What they aren't doing is using the built-in Mobile Phone Application and intelligently re-routing outgoing calls based on the presence of a WiFi connection, the way that TruPhone was going last September.
I think they would have some pretty extreme problems constructing a business case around selling this through the AppStore. Apple's current billing and charging limitations pretty much kill it instantly.
The 300MB limit gives you 10MB/day, which would be fine for VoIP
Provided the users never uses any other services which require data. Which I personally don't think is realistic.
:-)
Your point would be valid if the user had 300 megs only for VoIP, but that is not the case. Any VoIP usage comes on top of the existing data usage - and on top of that, the normal subscription includes regular call usage. These two things combined is what makes the scheme work for the telcos.
- Jesper
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
..why would you want to transfer an incoming call to voip? Surely you make your call that way because its cheaper, but receiving calls... well they already chose to call u that way, their cost...? ...unless this has something to do with Americans spending their minutes to receive calls..?
Andrew
skype in all of this? Why haven't they even mentioned an iphone app? With dozens of millions in this potential market, can they really leave it to fring et al? since there are obvious network effects going on in VOIP, skype should try to lead in the iphone space, but as of now they're just silent. Does anyone have any info I'm missing here?
where the rates for international calls range from $0.60 to $1.5 for certain countries, once this iPhone and the service are made available in middle eastern countries like Iraq, Syria and the UAE...etc. Overseas business communication costs will see a significant drop.
What exactly is "naughty" about using hardware you paid for in the way you want?
Value judgements on behavior that harms no one. Delightful.
I'm sure someone who has some amount of respect for freedom will come up with an app that delivers similar functionality soon.
+++ATH0
i guess this is only news because its for the iphone, while other phones have done this for a long time. i have been able to use my n95 SIP client to make free calls over the 3G connection for a long time now. ATT doesnt seem to block that data traffic here in the states. unfortunately truphone promo finally ended so calling cell and landlines is no longer free. but for the last year i could do 100% of my calling totally free, as data, and not use 1 cell minute from my plan. rack up those roll over minutes:)
If anyone has used ATT in southern california, you've probably noticed that it needs all the help it can get. It would be wonderful if I could use my wireless internet to make calls out of my apartment. As it is now, I have to run outside whenever my phone rings. More bars in more places my ass!
Your carrier may make VoIP over data connections against the ToS. I know O2 in the UK do.
As it is, I have an E51 and use WiFi for VoIP calling. I may drop the tarrif altogether and get a PAYG sim just to keep the phone active, and for when out of WiFi range.
If I can't use the data connection I pay for without limitations, they don't get my money. Simple as.
Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/
Try again when it's for hacked phones.
Twitter supports and protects racists - by smearing their critics with the "Hate Speech" label.
I want a phone that keeps up with my home Asterisk exchange while I travel, or when I'm at home (I live in NZ) - rings anywhere in the world - and is smart about making outgoing calls depending on which sim card I have in and whether I can reach the asterisk exchange over wifi - of course this is going to be different for each user so it's going to have to be scriptable ...
Didn't you hear? Because of all the jailbroken iPhones the CEO of AT&T had to cut back to only THREE buckets of caviar a month instead of the six he normally enjoyed.
When I was at WWDC I didn't want to pay the $2.70 per minute(roaming) to call home so I tried fring with my skype account. It worked but the latency was terrible and the quality was only OK, not good. I was using the free public wifi at the conference and there were probably 2000 iPhones or more there so who knows, it could have been interference or something. I did however, try it at home and the call quality was still pretty bad. Latency was still kind of high as well but I was behind NAT in both situations.
When I was at WWDC I didn't want to pay the $2.70 per minute(roaming) to call home so I tried fring with my skype account. It worked but the latency was terrible and the quality was only OK, not good. I was using the free public wifi at the conference and there were probably 2000 iPhones or more there so who knows, it could have been interference or something. I did however, try it at home and the call quality was still pretty bad. Latency was still kind of high as well but I was behind NAT in both situations.
Has anyone tried these?
Mobile with TV tuner, FM, Dual SIM support, with a spare battery, touch screen with stylus, double speakers for stereo, 256 MB memory expandable, USB, Bluetooth, video and voice recording, MP3, MP4 playback support, handwriting recognition etc for around USD 120/- to USD 140/?
http://shop.rediff.com/shop/searchv3.jsp?Query=tv&catid=576&level=2&frompg=tv_search
Or this:
http://www.uk2usa.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=ZTC838
Would anyone here have any experience using phones like these?
How have the customers not gone crazy over that when you don't get charged to receive land-line calls, only make them? Or do Americans get ripped off there as well?
In the United States, the land-line customer doesn't get charged to receive calls. But unlike in Europe, the land-line customer doesn't get charged to make calls either unless they're "long distance".
Muahahahahaha! Finally VoIP over Wifi is becoming an option on cell phones!
Next step, VoIP over WiMax w/ GSM switching.
Next step, VoIP over WiMax only, and the death of the cell phone service providers. Rest in pieces, you bastards >:)
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
I have an N95, and Gizmo. If I want to make a call that would be expensive on the cell side, I just find a WiFi hot spot and use the Gizmo Voip program.
It works great, especially while traveling in areas where the the AT&T roaming charges would stagger a billionaire.
Not news, just iPhone news.
* Carthago Delenda Est *
This came up a month or so ago, so I call DUPE! Anyway. It isn't a matter of API, think functionality. Does it support 3-way calling or call transfer? A slick app would (in the background), sey up wifi, establish a VOIP client, dial VOIP client via 3-way calling, connect VOIP client, disconnect 3G/GSM line. Simple? Well, no. You'll need a "number" (a.k.a. some VOIP link to the telco network probably via SIP), that the iCall provider will gladly sell you or give for free in exchange for VOIP SPAM.
Using the Freedom of Speech while I still have it.
Surely, you mean anywhere in North America with both GSM and WiFi connectivity available. Even just the GSM part limits you to a very small portion of North America, where crummy CDMA networks dominate the land.
It costs $10 a month extra and you get unlimited calls over wifi providing you have a wifi phone. I've heard the quality is excellent.
I knew about the free local calls (but then given how big the nation is, you need to encourage them to communicate!) I just wasn't sure about receiving if the US got screwed over on receiving them, where you've got no control over how long the call lasts (unlike when you're making the call).
I sell something way cooler from a new company www.divitas.com. Iphone 2.0 app is in the pipe and almost complete. Already works on dual band Nokia and Windows Mobile phones. Divitas is made for the Corporate user comes with its own SIP gateway and all kinds of other goodness.
Gizmodo covered this nearly a month ago, iCall is not brand-spankin' new and the video is not "recently released."
I don't know which websites you visit, but most web pages in 2008 are from 100 to 500 KB (which is sad, considering that (X)HTML/CSS pages should be much smaller).
As for "the occasional iTunes purchase", a single tune will be around 3MB. So, let's remove 12MB for the four "single of the week" which are free, and you're already down to 288MB.
It also means you can only view from 19 to 100 web pages every day even if you only use your 300MB for web usage. And that's without any YouTube, internet radio, etc.
I'd take a guess and say that most people probably use 300MB every day with their desktop/laptop, so 300MB for the whole month, even if it's only on the iPhone, is way too low IMHO. Google Maps alone is probably going to eat a lot of that 300MB.
I just wasn't sure about receiving if the US got screwed over on receiving them, where you've got no control over how long the call lasts (unlike when you're making the call).
I don't understand. Either party can hang up at any time, at which point the call ends three seconds or so later.
There is a technology available called UMA (Unified Mobile Access) which, with the right handsets, will seamlessly switch from cellular to VOIP over WiFi. It is what is used by the T-Mobile "Hotspot @ Home" plans in the US. The phones have cell and WiFi, and if you are at home or on another WiFi connections your calls (in and out) are VOIP and don't count against your cell minutes if you pay the $10 or $20/month. I use it because our building at work seems to block GSM cell signals, so I use WiFi to get signal at work. I also use it at home where the cell signal is a bit iffy.
The iPhone seems to have all the hardware required, but you can bet your life that AT&T won't be offering this any time soon, because their customers might actually like it...
A quick search for "iCall" brings up this dupe from 23 days ago:
iCall Brings Seamless VoIP To IPhone Users
That is exactly what the Divitas application does. it's not cheap but it works. Divitas.com DiVitas combines corporate voice and messaging applications for business and places them onto a single mobile smartphone under IT control. As a result, employees are reachable via a single business number â" their deskphone extension â" anywhere, anytime. They also have access to a broad set of business communications features designed to enhance the efficiency of mobile business communications. These capabilities are made available reliably and cost-effectively over both cellular and WiFi networks using Environment Aware Roaming Technology.
You're at home with your iPhone. You make a call on VOIP because you're in range of your HOME WIRELESS NETWORK.
You decide to leave and go somewhere but wish to continue talking on your iPhone. You get out of range of your home wireless network.
THE PHONE SWITCHES FROM VOIP TO GSM WITHOUT DROPPING THE CALL.
Sprint and T-Mobile have been doing this for awhile now (at least a year) but the problem was that none of their cool phones had WiFi.
We figured out a long time ago that it's easier to elect seven judges than to elect 132 legislators.
Yes, but if you make the call then you know the topic of the conversation and you know how long it should (roughly) last. If someone else calls you then you never know what they might want to talk about and don't have much control over it.
As an example, if I phone someone it is normally a quick "I want this info" or "I'll be a bit late, see you soon". If someone else calls it could be my wife saying we need some shopping, or it could be my mum wanting a longer discussion and catch-up. By general etiquette I can try to shorten the call in polite ways, but I have comparably less control over how many people call me and for how long.
Wow. Given how atrocious GSM (and CDMA) phone quality is relative to good old POTS (or even analog cell technology), 3G VoiP must be really unconscionably awful.
I am frankly stunned at how many people are switching to mobiles as their only phone. When I'm talking to someone who's on a mobile phone - particularly if I'm on one as well - I am constantly having to ask them to repeat themselves because I can't understand what they're saying. Between the filtering out of the high frequencies (which saves on bandwidth at the cost of intelligibility - consonants are all distinguished in the high frequencies) and occasional little quarter-second-long dropouts, digital mobile technology still seems just barely this side of unusable to me.
Making it worse via VOIP doesn't seem like the greatest idea to me.
I stole this sig from someone cleverer than me.
unless I'm missing something
Yes, I read TFA. And yes, it appears you missed something: the quite obvious possibility, that if flat-rate is (or becomes) available for a sufficient number of users, someone will make a corresponding iPhone app that runs on hacked/jailbroken iPhones.
:-)
We are geeks after all?
The number of homebrew apps already available for the current iPhone seems to prove that there is no limit to what you can actually do - regardless of whatever obstacles or deliberate shortcomings the public SDK contains.
And please consider using a little less hostility in your next postings. I don't see a valid reason for such a negative negative response. My first comment is general in nature, and I believe there is a valid point - if you expand your view to include the actual capabilities of the device, and don't restrict yourself to the confined universe of the SDK.
With all respect
- Jesper
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
It could be a European thing. It is easier to rape the customers on new markets, where nobody is used to having a flat-rate data plan for the iPhone for the simple reason that the first generation iPhone was never sold on that market.
Practically the entire European Union, minus France and the UK, would fall into this category. :-)
- Jesper
My security clearance is so high I have to kill myself if I remember I have it...
I think the major thing these guys didn't disclose is you have to subscribe to their icall service first and the call has to come through *their* icall assigned telephone number. (If you lookup their "incoming call number" shown on the video it's a number assigned to icall.) The software can't just switch a direct dialed-to-your-iphone-phone-number seamlessly. However if the outside phone call is dialed to an "icall" number that is then forwarded to your iphone phone number, then they can do the active switching... which is cool, but at the same time stupid, since their software should have routed the call through VOIP if you were in range of a WiFi hot spot to begin with, and saved you the initial call connection charge.
When there is no alternative.
OpenMoko: Useless.
Android: Not for sale.
LiMo: Nowhere to be seen.
Got any other ideas?
Your post also implies (wrongly) that free software is unusable on the iPhone. My OpenSSH, links, etc. would like to have a word with you.
+++ATH0
There is no alternative, and saving my money for an alternative that will never come will accomplish nothing.
So what do I do instead? Spend it on things that approach what I want, to try and push the industry with what little voting power my dollars have in the right direction.
+++ATH0
Looks pretty cool, have to wait and see.
and will never amount to anything.
Search your feelings, you know it to be true, etc.
Seriously, that project has never had a single shred of vision or direction. It was "LETS PUT LINUX ON A FONE HURR" and there was never anything resembling a cohesive PURPOSE to it.
+++ATH0