The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Comments on: Truphone brings VoIP to the iPhone

That's if they can use their iPhone 

Posted Friday 11th July 2008 14:37 GMT

Jobs Horns

Looks like Apple have pulled a Microsoft today and released V2.0 software for the iPhone which seems to have bricked thousands of phones due to the update having to re-activate their handsets and the activation system within Apple being down.

Just take a look at the Apple Discussions forum. Interesting reading :)

Glad I've not done my PiePhone update yet. Seems like Job's jesus phone has just been crucified what with O2 not being able to enable handsets. Scuppered by their own DRM!!

VoIP for Numpties 

Posted Friday 11th July 2008 15:30 GMT

Truphone is probably better suited to the iPhone, since it's very easy to set up and use. On the downside, it's 3p per minute to landlines. Alternatively, you could get a Nokia , get into the SIP settings, and set up something like VoipFone, at 1.175p per minute; admittedly a task probably beyond most fanboy's capabilities.

Am I missing the point? 

Posted Saturday 12th July 2008 13:38 GMT

Stop

Erm... to get the iPhone you sign up to a calling plan, all of which in the UK include free any network/any time minutes. All but the cheapest plan offer hundreds of such minutes. So why on Earth would you want to faff around with VoIP and pay 3p/min to call landlines instead of using your hundreds of free minutes?

I could just about see it for cheap international calls, but otherwise aren't we forgeting that the iPhone (and other smartphones) are actually *phones*, so they do make calls without any help from third parties?

S60... 

Posted Saturday 12th July 2008 15:58 GMT

Stop

i'll stick with my N95 free VoIP over 3G thanks.... thanks to the 3 network being more open

and friendly. thanks to Nokia being more open and friendly.

@bygjohn: Thank god it's not just me! 

Posted Saturday 12th July 2008 16:51 GMT

It has to be said I've always been somewhat confused by peoples insistance on trying to run VoIP over 3G. The only thing I could think of that it may improve is calling abroad, but hells teeth, there's even plenty of sim cards aimed at that these days.

Truphone on the iPhone - free calls 

Posted Saturday 12th July 2008 20:23 GMT

Happy

BTW - VoIP calls to other Truphone users and associated SIP VoIP destinations are untariffed, i.e. free to call.

VoIP over WiFi vs VoIP over 3G 

Posted Saturday 12th July 2008 20:29 GMT

Thumb Up

Using VoIP to make calls over WiFi is preferable in almost all scenarios in preference to VoIP over 3G - power consumption is considerably less and network performance (packet loss, latency and jitter) tends to be better too.

Using Truphone to make calls over WiFi make really good sense for international globetrotter (like me!) - as it is possible to quickly and easily make calls from your iPhone without the fear and horror of the international roaming bill! When was the last time you stayed in a hotel without WiFi?

What about iCall? Where for art thou? ;) 

Posted Monday 14th July 2008 04:40 GMT

Jobs Halo

I noticed that the calls weren't very cheap even compared to my AT&T plan I have here in the states. My problem is poor cell signal at home but not wifi. I've considered Magic Jack but decided to wait and maybe try iCall for the iPhone or perhaps someone else in the coming months.