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AT&T Introduces Worldwide VoIP Calling App

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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AT&T has launched a new app to allow its customers to make inexpensive international calls over Wi-Fi. With the AT&T Call International app, customers can get the "lowest international calling rates" that AT&T offers.

Calls to the UK, for example, cost $0.04/minute for calls to wireline numbers and $0.27/minute for calls to mobile phones. Calls to China are $0.04/minute. The price list for all countries is available here.

Pricing is competitive with other VoIP calling apps like Vonage -- though having a major name like AT&T stand behind the app may make some users more comfortable than making calls with a lesser known name.

Within the United States, calls are placed like a normal cellular call -- no Wi-Fi required, and a nice feature compared to making calls on other VoIP apps -- but outside the U.S. all calls are placed only via Wi-Fi.

The AT&T Call International app is free to download -- call charges are applied to a credit card, not the user's AT&T phone bill, with no monthly fee or minimum charges.

Article Link: AT&T Introduces Worldwide VoIP Calling App
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/08/att-introduces-worldwide-voip-calling-app/
coder12

coder12

macrumors 6502a
Jun 28, 2010
512
3
This best for those who have the unlimited data plan.
...
Waaaaaiiit a second.

In all seriousness, Google Voice has already been doing this for me for a long time.
 
cajun67

cajun67

macrumors regular
Aug 29, 2011
188
350
Why would I want to pay for data usage a second time? VOIP calls should be free.

And while we're on the subject, Apple should break out the VOIP portion of FaceTime so that Mac and iOS users can make free VOIP calls to each other.

AND Apple needs to allow us to make FaceTime calls over the cellular data network. AT&T has done away with their unlimited data plan, so there's no reason to hold back now.
 
ericrwalker

ericrwalker

macrumors 68030
Oct 8, 2008
2,812
4
Albany, NY
Seems like a decent deal, but AT&T is already limiting most of us to 2GB of data. I will stick with google voice to make international calls (which calls a local number).
 
doug in albq

doug in albq

Suspended
Oct 12, 2007
1,449
246
Take a look at the icon for the app...

I like how there are TWO separate gloss effects applied, one on top of the other, and not the same shape on the bottom arc.

I wonder how much AT&T pays their team of app developers/visual designers...? Idiots!
 
L

lsbuffs

macrumors regular
Feb 5, 2009
173
46
May just be me, but keep getting 'invalid credit card number' when trying to create account on this app.

Edit: I was able to complete set up using another VISA. Not sure why it wouldn't take the first one.
 
Last edited:
H

HoopTrundler

macrumors member
Oct 7, 2011
71
0
cajun67 said:
Why would I want to pay for data usage a second time? VOIP calls should be free.

And while we're on the subject, Apple should break out the VOIP portion of FaceTime so that Mac and iOS users can make free VOIP calls to each other.

AND Apple needs to allow us to make FaceTime calls over the cellular data network. AT&T has done away with their unlimited data plan, so there's no reason to hold back now.
Click to expand...

I think Apple is holding off on allowing FaceTime over 3G because it would be laggy.
 
Blakjack

Blakjack

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2009
1,805
317
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

Wow AT&T...Really? Who's actually going to use this?!
 
L

ladeer

macrumors 6502
Feb 15, 2007
391
10
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

coder12 said:
This best for those who have the unlimited data plan.
...
Waaaaaiiit a second.

In all seriousness, Google Voice has already been doing this for me for a long time.
Click to expand...

Please read the article. You are NOT using data when you are in US, but using your airtime (dial to a number like SkyPe Mobile service).
This is HUGE!! It means I can call international numbers at much lower rate without worrying about having wifi. I am very surprised AT&T would do this!
 
L

ladeer

macrumors 6502
Feb 15, 2007
391
10
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

You don't use data
 
mkrishnan

mkrishnan

Moderator emeritus
Jan 9, 2004
29,776
15
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
^^ You're not using data whether in the US or not. It works over WiFi outside the US (and over voice cell in the US).

Does the fact that it costs three times as much to call a mobile in the UK as it does a mobile in India and almost seven times as much as a mobile in China have something to do with tariffs?

I don't make international calls, but it looks like AT&T has a nice offering. Now if they really liked me they'd just give me an option to route all the calls I make from my phone to VOIP and pay the lower rate without needing the app (and work with Apple to integrate the WiFi calling so that the phone just made WiFi calls when appropriate, again without needing an app), but still, this is a nice step.
 
Rocketman

Rocketman

macrumors 603
Dec 2, 2001
6,191
1,186
Claremont, The intellectual capitol of the world.
mkrishnan said:
^^ You're not using data whether in the US or not. It works over WiFi outside the US (and over voice cell in the US).

Does the fact that it costs three times as much to call a mobile in the UK as it does a mobile in India and almost seven times as much as a mobile in China have something to do with tariffs?

I don't make international calls, but it looks like AT&T has a nice offering. Now if they really liked me they'd just give me an option to route all the calls I make from my phone to VOIP and pay the lower rate without needing the app (and work with Apple to integrate the WiFi calling so that the phone just made WiFi calls when appropriate, again without needing an app), but still, this is a nice step.
Click to expand...
Phone is an Apple app, but your point is well taken. I think the incentive to get a significant portion of voice plan charges, overrides Apple's interest in simplicity and seamlessness and frictionless, in this case. :D

Rocketman
 
benji888

benji888

macrumors 68000
Sep 27, 2006
1,889
410
United States
Will do good said:
Why use ATT? They are so late to the party.
Click to expand...

and, as has already been pointed out...if you READ how this app works, calls from the US are made using your wireless minutes NOT wifi. This is a big advantage!:D

And I just got done chatting w/AT&T, Airtel does not block voip calls (I had so much trouble before w/skype and such), and also, your phone number will show on receiver's phone:)...I think the fact that Skype (and other tries) had no phone number attached to them, and this was the big problem for me.
 
mkrishnan

mkrishnan

Moderator emeritus
Jan 9, 2004
29,776
15
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Rocketman said:
Phone is an Apple app, but your point is well taken. I think the incentive to get a significant portion of voice plan charges, overrides Apple's interest in simplicity and seamlessness and frictionless, in this case. :D
Click to expand...

Actually, if I understand it right, for making the call inside the US, this really doesn't need a phone-side app or a modification to the Phone.app at all -- AT&T could do that entirely from their end. They just put the call through on VOIP and charge you accordingly whenever possible.

For the WiFi part of the service... If I'm excused for sounding like an anti-Apple fanboy (I've never owned an Android), I think that there are some phones outside the iPhone that have VOIP integrated into their phone calling system already? Yes, absolutely, it's something Apple would have to design. You could imagine that they could create the system inside the Phone app and then allow the service providers to use it if they want (and usually this is the part where I snark that it will be available in every major market except the US). Then, you could download Google Voice or Skype or what have you if you want, and/or you could flip a switch to let your phone use VOIP as necessary.
 
hassiman

hassiman

macrumors regular
Aug 30, 2006
120
11
San Diego
Am I incorrect in thinking that FaceTime allows international video calls for free?

Am I incorrect in thinking that FaceTime allows international video calls for free? FaceTime would be VOiP or VO&ViP calls.;)
 
jav6454

jav6454

macrumors Core
Nov 14, 2007
22,303
6,257
1 Geostationary Tower Plaza
Will do good said:
Why use ATT? They are so late to the party.
Click to expand...

AT&T offers me cheaper rates to call Honduras than Skype does (AT&T $0.15/min vs Skype $0.38/min)

That's a 50% savings... even after taxes factored in.


Blakjack said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

Wow AT&T...Really? Who's actually going to use this?!
Click to expand...

Me... bye Skype
 
T

tivoboy

macrumors 68040
May 15, 2005
3,978
791
only wifi

cajun67 said:
Why would I want to pay for data usage a second time? VOIP calls should be free.
Click to expand...

I think this app only works over WIFI, so one wouldn't really use much of their cellular data plan with it.

Cheaper and easier to just setup skype, but they will get some customers for this.

IF they would move to billing to your phone number directly, these rates, using this app THAT would go a long way to pushing adoption.
 
Icaras

Icaras

macrumors 603
Mar 18, 2008
6,344
3,393
Blakjack said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)

Wow AT&T...Really? Who's actually going to use this?!
Click to expand...

People who want to call abroad through wifi?

----------
tivoboy said:
I think this app only works over WIFI, so one wouldn't really use much of their cellular data plan with it.
Click to expand...

It's only wifi if your calling to outside the US. National calling can be through 3G.
 
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