With New SDK, VoIP Over 3G Apps Now Working On iPhone

silverpig writes "Yesterday marked the announcement of the Apple iPad device, and with it came a new version of the SDK. In this new version, Apple has lifted the VoIP over 3G restrictions that limited VoIP traffic to wifi only. This morning, Fring announced that its iPhone app is 3G-capable starting immediately. No update is needed as apparently the app had 3G capability all along, but a server-side block prevented its use. Furthermore, apparently a 3G-capable version of Skype has been ready for some time now, and has been waiting for this restriction to be lifted."

Comments

All markets?

[BadAnalogyGuy]

It's nice to have this enabled finally. However, the mention that this is something blocked on the server side makes me wonder if this may only be relevant to specific markets.

I'm not special anymore

[jgtg32a]

One of the best parts about my iPhone being jailbroken was that little hack that let you use VOIP over 3g.

Re:I'm not special anymore

[Monkeedude1212]

I guess you could go catch a virus thats exclusive to Jailbroken iPhones. Would that make you feel better?

Re:I'm not special anymore

[WaXHeLL]

You mean the viruses for those people who were stupid enough to leave OpenSSH running on their iphone, with the default login/pw?

Re:I'm not special anymore

[Lars T.]

http://www.findmysoft.com/news/Security-and-Functionality-Why-Not-Jailbreak-Your-iPhone/

According to security expert Charlie Miller, jailbroken iPhones are more vulnerable than non-jailbroken And Charlie Miller should know what he is talking about. After all, he is credited for uncovering the security issue that spawned the first Google Android update, and he did manage to break the Apple developed Safari browser in about 10 seconds and this year’s PWN2OWN competition. While jailbreaking the device is a great way to use the iPhone’s full potential, it also means that you remove all the security protections that Apple built into the device’s software. You will be able to install 3rd party app and other software applications that are not distributed via the iTunes Store, but you will also leave your device wide open to all sorts of attacks.

About time

[WiiVault]

Now where's teathering for us poor AT&T "customers"?

Re:About time

[peragrin]

You can tether with AT&T now the trick is they charge you an extra $20 a month. So if you are a poor AT&T customer your still SOL.

Indeed with the random variabilty of AT&T network speeds and latency why any would want voip over 3G is beyond me. As for verizon well their network is 3G in technology only. It has massive sections that can barely handle voice let alone data.

Re:About time

[shamborfosi]

It's better to use the native tethering inside the iPhone.
The steps are:
1) Jailbreak your phone: http://www.redmondpie.com/jailbreak-iphone-3.1.2-firmware-with-blackra1n-zni327/
2) Enable native tethering: http://www.redmondpie.com/enable-tethering-on-iphone-3g-3gs-3.1.2-firmware-eqw846/
3) Make sure you have the correct mobileconfig (not the benm.at one): http://www.redmondpie.com/fix-iphone-3.1.2-tethering-and-visual-voicemail-vvm-ows754/

Interesting

[whisper_jeff]

Bluetooth headset, iPad, 3G connection. Ding!

Re:Interesting

[rsborg]

Right. If that happens, then I think cell providers will be well on their way to becoming dumb pipes.

This still doesn't resolve the fact that you're going through THEIR pipes and given the corporate friendly FCC in this decade that decided to roll back regulations, THEY choose how to fuck you over... there are precious few providers, and two of the four use CDMA (which in its current implementation doesn't allow voice+data) while the other two use GSM/HSDPA (which is what's required for the iPad).

Now the situation in Europe might be different, but that's because their governments mandate standards and interoperability which creates competition.

In short, without government intervention there is very little hope of avoiding the balkanized price-gouging cell market we have today in the USA.

Beginning of the end of telephony?

[uzyn]

This could mean the beginning of the end of traditional telephony, ie. mobile carriers will soon simply become ISPs with no one using its voice/SMS/MMS services.

Re:Beginning of the end of telephony?

[slimjim8094]

Oh God I hope so. It goes great with VoIP on the home-line side.

Why should there be a marginal cost to a phone call? There isn't - once you're paying for the infrastructure, it's free.

Re:Bluetooth Keyboard drivers

[whisper_jeff]

I would imagine it will work once the iPhone OS is updated when the iPad launches (or shortly before launch).

While we're at it... (other bluetooth profiles).

[weston]

When is the iPhone getting that? The iPad can use a bluetooth keyboard, but the iPhone can't? What kind of crap is this?

And while we're at it.... why not bluetooth syncing (with SYNCH, FTP, & OBEX), DUN for the touch and iPad, BPP (printing), and Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)?

This isn't just an Apple problem, by the way. This is an industry-wide problem right now: "bluetooth" means a lot of things and most of the market doesn't seem to care to specify what. The BSIG ought to require those using the Bluetooth logo to specify which profiles a device supports, for the sake of consumer awareness and market pressure.

AT&T has allowed VoIP on 3G network since Oct

[daveschroeder]

AT&T now allowing iPhone VoIP calls over 3G

AT&T Greenlights VoIP For the iPhone

What about multitasking?

[itsme1234]

I assume multitasking is still missing so how's skype/fring going to work? "Call me so I can log in"? "While in a skype call - let me log out, I need to check this links/mail/etc?"

Re:What about multitasking?

[MrEkted]

Fring / Skype / etc. can pop up a dialog when you get a call or SMS as long as you enable Push notifications.
As of last July for Fring
and September for Skype.

Re:Lifted until?

[jgagnon]

Don't blame the vendor, blame the users that support the lock-in by supporting the vendor. Without them the vendor would be forced to change or go out of business.

Re:Lifted until?

[jo_ham]

Wait!

So, first it's "Apple is evil, it;s so locked down! It sucks! They should open it!", and when they actually do open it up and enable new function that they had previously prevented (for whatever reason) it's "Apple is still evil! They will restrict it again!"

Which is it?

Do you want them to remove restrictions or not?

Re:Maybe someone can fill me in here

[jgtg32a]

$0.02/min to China, as opposed to $3/min.

Re:Google Voice?

[iluvcapra]

Google Voice never used VoIP, it was just a front-end for viewing your messages and contacts- when you wanted to make a phone call thru the app, it just inititiated a POTS call to a nearby toll-free number, which made the connection to their backhaul.

Re:Lifted until?

[ColdWetDog]

Apple is still evil until it was never evil from the beginning.

Now don't go getting all biblical on us. Won't work because we understand recursion.

Re:Lifted until?

[Swift2001]

I agree. I was in the hospital recently, and the pretty nurse happened to notice that I had an iPhone. She was very curious about it. I showed her e-mail, and the browser, and google maps, and IHeartRadio, and she decided there and then she'd go and buy one. She came back the next day and waved it at me. Now, she's a nurse, she's reasonably clever, but not computer person. She does have a computer, and knows how to dock the phone with iTunes. Does she want a philosophical discussion about open v. proprietary? No. It's just got to work.