Apple Will Allow Voice Over IP (VOIP) on Wifi

MacRumors · Mar 6, 2008, 03:15 PM

During the Q&A Session, Apple indicated that they would allow Voice Over IP (VOIP) applications on the iTunes App Store so long as the applications only ran over Wifi, not cellular networks (such as EDGE).

This means that popular internet telephone applications such as Skype could be easily ported to the iPhone. Allowing VOIP to run over EDGE connections would directly compete with AT&T's voice plans, but even Wifi support for VOIP could be very useful.

Article Link

psychofreak · Mar 6, 2008, 03:17 PM

Awesome...hopefully a Jailbreak app will come fore VoIP-On-EDGE

overanalyzer · Mar 6, 2008, 03:20 PM

The day Skype or another VoIP app comes out post iPhone 2.0, even for WiFi only, I'm definitely dropping Vonage for good (even though they give me free service when I try to cancel). And yes, I know I could hack my phone, but I actually want a supportable product with a solid upgrade path, thanks.

spazzcat · Mar 6, 2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychofreak

Awesome...hopefully a Jailbreak app will come fore VoIP-On-EDGE

I think EDGE will be too slow for this?

SilvorX · Mar 6, 2008, 03:51 PM

This is pretty amazing news, my parents live in a rural community without a GSM tower (but a couple CDMA towers) so when I "need" to make calls through my current phone, I use Skype. This will be handy if a VOIP based app arrives onto the iPhone, that is if the iPhone ever comes to Rogers

Nanaki · Mar 6, 2008, 04:01 PM

This will make the iPhone the most coveted platform on the planet. I can't freaking wait to buy a 32GB one.

CommodityFetish · 04:44 PM

But note there's no mic on the Touch.

And the SDK can't access add-on peripherals, like a mic.

So yay for VOIP on iPhone, but meh! if you still have to pay for the cell and data plan with AT&T...

Unless you could have the iPhone but drop the AT&T service and use VOIP - can that be done? Within the terms of service?

ubersalad · Mar 6, 2008, 04:43 PM

This will be insane...no more international roaming charges.

What about Touch, with the right software, you can use it as a phone, too!

overanalyzer · Mar 6, 2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommodityFetish

And the SDK can't access add-ons, like a mic.

Actually, I'm not sure that's true. It was stated in rumors before the SDK release that that would be the case, but Apple said today that the SDK is the exact same APIs they're using at this point. So it should actually allow for using external devices I think.

CommodityFetish · Mar 6, 2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overanalyzer

Apple said today that the SDK is the exact same APIs they're using at this point. So it should actually allow for using external devices I think.

That would be sweet! I hope that's right... It'd be good to hear an official statement on this.

organic bond · Mar 6, 2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CommodityFetish

But note there's no mic on the Touch.

Actually, there is a mic: http://touchmods.wordpress.com/2008/...t-1500-please/

MacFanBoyIIe · Mar 6, 2008, 05:25 PM

That's sick! Finally! I'm really stoked for Skype on my iPhone.

NeoMayhem · Mar 6, 2008, 05:54 PM

This is great. I will definitely be canceling my cell service as soon as this works well over wifi. I will just keep a prepaid sim in the phone for the few minutes a month I need to make calls elsewhere.

severe · Mar 6, 2008, 05:56 PM

Hey guys.. I'm an iPhone owner that doesn't know much about VOIP, other than the basics.

Once implemented, would one be able to use their current AT&T cell number as access to this feature? Via WiFi, of course.

In other words.. If I wanted to use VOIP, would I have to use a different line to have friends call me in my home?

NeoMayhem · Mar 6, 2008, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spazzcat

I think EDGE will be too slow for this?

Voice over GSM is only 13 kbps, so it could definitely work over EDGE.

jbh001 · Mar 6, 2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by severe

Hey guys.. [I don't] know much about VOIP, other than the basics.

Ditto. What I am interested in is if this means functionality like T-Mobile's HotSpot@Home service.

Will someone please explain this to me?

Thanks.

japanime · Mar 6, 2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by organic bond

Actually, there is a mic: http://touchmods.wordpress.com/2008/...t-1500-please/

Right you are. I've purchased one of these mics and have been using it with their VoIP application. It works great.

foofan · Mar 6, 2008, 10:38 PM

so does this mean i can get it to work with my vonage account?

gauravps · Mar 7, 2008, 03:33 AM

Alright, here's the deal with VOIP for those not in the know. I will use skype as an example because it's all I use, though I know that yahoo and others offer similar services.

It is most useful for outgoing calls, because you can sign in with a username and call other people also signed in to the same service (on their computers or phones) for free.

You can ALSO pay to call landlines, which is something quite reasonable in US/Europe, approximately 2 cents per minute with skype ("SkypeOut").

However, to have people call you while you're signed onto such a service, you have to pay a monthly fee of sorts to have a real phone number that diverts to your skype account when called ("SkypeIn").

I'm in the UK now and on a 6-month contract with 3's "skypephone", which I've been loving - they allow only skype-to-skype voip (in addition to your usual voice minutes), but it's over their 3G network, which is extremely handy for keeping in touch with family/friends in other countries who can sign on to their computers to chat. Especially because it allows one to circumvent timezone differences, as you can be signed on to skype all day long. Of course, the reason for getting the 6-month contract was so that it would run out just in time for the new edition of the iPhone :-P.

b_boy · Mar 7, 2008, 10:56 AM

This is the information I needed to hear in order to get an iPhone. No sense in having an internet gadget that does not have a major class of communication ability like Skype (VOIP). I use Skype everyday, not so sure on my cell phone.

BrownManUPS · Mar 7, 2008, 01:23 PM

This is very awesome. A lot of people had claimed that if VoIP came on the iPod Touch that there would be no competition. While I believe this will shorten the gap, I think this still is an excellent feature to introduce. I think Skype should now capitalize and release a Skype third party software to download on macs to install to an iPhone/Touch and include the earbuds with microphone that iPhones do to give the full consumer experience.

The iPhone (and partially touch) is clearly looking to be the way people will do business for a long time.

Mar 6, 2008, 03:15 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Apple Will Allow Voice Over IP (VOIP) on Wifi During the Q&A Session, Apple indicated that they would allow Voice Over IP (VOIP) applications on the iTunes App Store so long as the applications only ran over Wifi, not cellular networks (such as EDGE). This means that popular internet telephone applications such as Skype could be easily ported to the iPhone. Allowing VOIP to run over EDGE connections would directly compete with AT&T's voice plans, but even Wifi support for VOIP could be very useful. Article Link

Mar 6, 2008, 03:20 PM	#3
overanalyzer macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston, MA USA	The day Skype or another VoIP app comes out post iPhone 2.0, even for WiFi only, I'm definitely dropping Vonage for good (even though they give me free service when I try to cancel). And yes, I know I could hack my phone, but I actually want a supportable product with a solid upgrade path, thanks. __________________ MBP 2.4 Core 2 Duo (work/home) / Mac Pro (work) / 24" Al iMac (home) / Mac Mini (home) / 8GB iPhone 3G

Mar 6, 2008, 03:51 PM	#5
SilvorX macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2002 Location: 'Toba, Canada	This is pretty amazing news, my parents live in a rural community without a GSM tower (but a couple CDMA towers) so when I "need" to make calls through my current phone, I use Skype. This will be handy if a VOIP based app arrives onto the iPhone, that is if the iPhone ever comes to Rogers __________________ 800Mhz iBook G3, White iPhone 3G, Canon SD1000 Digital Camera and a 24 of beer! It's better to burn out than fade away

Mar 6, 2008, 04:01 PM	#6
Nanaki macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2007	the best news ever This will make the iPhone the most coveted platform on the planet. I can't freaking wait to buy a 32GB one.

Mar 6, 2008, 04:42 PM	#7
CommodityFetish macrumors regular Join Date: May 2006 Location: Syracuse, NY	But note there's no mic on the Touch. And the SDK can't access add-on peripherals, like a mic. So yay for VOIP on iPhone, but meh! if you still have to pay for the cell and data plan with AT&T... Unless you could have the iPhone but drop the AT&T service and use VOIP - can that be done? Within the terms of service? __________________ Exploring Alternative Music Notation Systems: musicnotation.org Last edited by CommodityFetish : Mar 6, 2008 at 04:44 PM. Reason: clarified wording

Mar 6, 2008, 03:17 PM	#2
psychofreak Retired Join Date: May 2006 Location: London	Awesome...hopefully a Jailbreak app will come fore VoIP-On-EDGE

Mar 6, 2008, 04:43 PM	#8
ubersalad macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2008	This will be insane...no more international roaming charges. What about Touch, with the right software, you can use it as a phone, too!

Mar 6, 2008, 05:25 PM	#12
MacFanBoyIIe macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	That's sick! Finally! I'm really stoked for Skype on my iPhone.

Mar 6, 2008, 05:54 PM	#13
NeoMayhem macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2003	This is great. I will definitely be canceling my cell service as soon as this works well over wifi. I will just keep a prepaid sim in the phone for the few minutes a month I need to make calls elsewhere.

Mar 6, 2008, 05:56 PM	#14
severe macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2007	Hey guys.. I'm an iPhone owner that doesn't know much about VOIP, other than the basics. Once implemented, would one be able to use their current AT&T cell number as access to this feature? Via WiFi, of course. In other words.. If I wanted to use VOIP, would I have to use a different line to have friends call me in my home?

Mar 6, 2008, 10:38 PM	#18
foofan macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hartford, CT	so does this mean i can get it to work with my vonage account?

Mar 7, 2008, 03:33 AM	#19
gauravps macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2008	Alright, here's the deal with VOIP for those not in the know. I will use skype as an example because it's all I use, though I know that yahoo and others offer similar services. It is most useful for outgoing calls, because you can sign in with a username and call other people also signed in to the same service (on their computers or phones) for free. You can ALSO pay to call landlines, which is something quite reasonable in US/Europe, approximately 2 cents per minute with skype ("SkypeOut"). However, to have people call you while you're signed onto such a service, you have to pay a monthly fee of sorts to have a real phone number that diverts to your skype account when called ("SkypeIn"). I'm in the UK now and on a 6-month contract with 3's "skypephone", which I've been loving - they allow only skype-to-skype voip (in addition to your usual voice minutes), but it's over their 3G network, which is extremely handy for keeping in touch with family/friends in other countries who can sign on to their computers to chat. Especially because it allows one to circumvent timezone differences, as you can be signed on to skype all day long. Of course, the reason for getting the 6-month contract was so that it would run out just in time for the new edition of the iPhone :-P.

Mar 7, 2008, 10:56 AM	#20
b_boy macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2005	This is the information I needed to hear in order to get an iPhone. No sense in having an internet gadget that does not have a major class of communication ability like Skype (VOIP). I use Skype everyday, not so sure on my cell phone.

Mar 7, 2008, 01:23 PM	#21
BrownManUPS macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Carmel, Indiana	This is very awesome. A lot of people had claimed that if VoIP came on the iPod Touch that there would be no competition. While I believe this will shorten the gap, I think this still is an excellent feature to introduce. I think Skype should now capitalize and release a Skype third party software to download on macs to install to an iPhone/Touch and include the earbuds with microphone that iPhones do to give the full consumer experience. The iPhone (and partially touch) is clearly looking to be the way people will do business for a long time. __________________ Switched: May 29th 2007 Macbook \| Unibody CE \| 2.0 GHz \| 4GB RAM iPhone 3G(S) 16GB MR Marketplace Bazaar \| Twitter \| Blog

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